Sports Psychology

Peak Performance, Injury Recovery, Biofeedback

Schedule Consultation
Listen to Andrew talk about Sports Psychology on National Broadcast Radio FM.com!

Peak Performance

Mental training is just as important, if not more important, than physical training. Its what separates elite athletes from all other athletes. Its the difference between having fun and playing under the weight of expectation.

Playing sports is one of the most joyful and exhilarating parts of my life. This is often the case for young athletes when they start playing a sport – they do it because it’s fun! Unfortunately, the love of playing sports often fades – replaced by fear of failing, self-doubt, and one’s self-esteem being wrapped up in their athletic performance.

Approaching your sport with a growth mindset is vital to enjoying your sport fully (combating the fear of failure) and to using sports as a platform for growth and development.

Schedule a Consultation

Whole Athlete Approach

An athlete’s performance is only the tip of the iceberg – the part that we all get to see. There is much more underneath to them as an athlete and as a person. Cultivating balance in an athlete’s life is critical to their athletic success (performance) and their general well being. Many athletes believe that their sport is who they are and, therefore, their performance has a direct effect on their self-esteem. Peak performance is achieved when an athlete is freed from this expectation. Finding balance allows the athlete to see that their sport is what they do, not who they are. It can be a big part of their identity, but is not all they are. We help athletes cultivate a sense of balance in their lives and a sense of purpose in their athletic pursuits.

Sports Injuries

Injuries are apart of sports but that doesn’t make them any easier to deal with when they happen. To say it is difficult to be sidelined by a major injury would be a huge understatement. Your day to day life is drastically altered when you are injured. You no longer have the stress relief of exercise, the social outlet of their team and positive feedback that comes from performing well. Your identity as an athlete may feel like its been ripped away. Seeking support during these times can be invaluable to navigating the challenges that accompany managing injuries – such as anxiety, chronic pain, depression and loss of direction.
Schedule a Consultation

Biofeedback

Being “In the Zone” is the elusive state that all athletes are seeking. What does “In the Zone” mean and how do you get there? Its just the right combination of focus and relaxation, and it can be trained. Biofeedback Training takes something that that is unconscious, like heart rate, and makes it conscious through visual feedback (graph on a computer screen) or audio feedback (sound effect).  By bringing it into your awareness it gives you the opportunity to consciously change it. This feedback is invaluable information for an athlete training that state of focused relaxation. Biofeedback Training can also help with pain management, stress management and sleep issues.
Learn More

Parenting Athletes

Parents provide the environment for their young athletes to grow and thrive. Plants do not grow in harsh conditions, and so to athletes don’t fully blossom unless they are in a nurturing, supportive environments. Kids pick up on the smallest reactions from their parents – it’s important to be thoughtful about how you are communicating, both verbally and non-verbally, with your developing athlete.

Typical Session

We will use practical tools such as breathing exercises, visualizations, and biofeedback during sessions to help with focus, relaxation and emotional regulation. Determining your goals, laying out the steps to achieve them, and identifying potential barriers are important parts of the process. My hope is to help you examine and overcome what is holding you back from enjoying your sport to the fullest and achieving your highest potential.
Get Started

Nutrition & Wellness

The way an athlete takes care of their body directly effects their level of performance, athletic longevity, injury resilience and overall mental health. We will address all aspects of wellness including sleep habits, sport-life balance, tools for relaxation, daily maintenance and realistic nutrition goals.

Meet the Sports Counselor

I am a lifelong athlete, former Division I Soccer player and student of all aspects of sports, especially the mental side of the game. I am fascinated by watching a tennis match and seeing the moment when the momentum swings as one player’s confidence swells while the other plummets. I enjoy working with athletes of all sports, ages, genders and ability levels to help them achieve their goals – whether that’s finding more enjoyment, overcoming performance anxiety, reaching their “potential” or addressing a specific challenge they are encountering (hitting slump, managing anger, inconsistent performance).
Fees:

Individual Sessions: $100 per session (50 minute sessions)

Biofeedback: $50 per session (30 minute session)

Team Sessions: Variable. Determined after talking to coach to assess team needs.

 

For individual sessions

Insurances accepted: Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, Healthgram

All other insurance providers: I can provide a “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement

*Depending on the nature of the counseling, this type of counseling may or may not be eligible for insurance reimbursement

“

Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.
— Mike Singletary