The Athlete Identity
- When identity is tied to performance
- The role of social group
- Competition reinforcement
- External validation: “pats on the back”
- Safety and connection in sport
Pain Addiction & Overtraining
- Pain as lifestyle
- Overtraining & over-performance
- Fear of failure, disappointment, or letting others down
- Balancing training & life
Judgment, Comparison & Social Media Pressures
- Overcome cyberbullying
- Help clients manage judgment, comparison, jealousy
- Recruiting risks a& team discipline
- Set appropriate limits
The Toll of Performance Through Difficulty & Abuse
- How to treat the emotional impact of performance
- Long-term outcomes of anger, shame, depression
- Give clients support to express pain and get help
- Overcome learned negative coping patterns
Sports Psychology Techniques for Stress
- Arousal regulation: Managing stress, anxiety, and activation
- Applied performance strategies
- The importance of pre-event routines
- How mindfulness and “flow” can help
- Biofeedback and relaxation techniques
The Coath-Athlete Relationship
- Counselor’s role
- When poor communication is the problem
- Approaching common challenges
- How to navigate “victimhood” narratives
- Awards, recognition, and abuse concerns
Help Clients Navigate Perfectionism
- Why we strive for perfection
- Cultivating a recovery mindset
- The limitations of talent
- Failure as a core life skill
Skills to Support the Athlete’s Internal Struggle
- The roots of self-hate & internal criticism
- Harsh judgment from upbringing
- Unrealistic self-comparisons
- When outside pressures get magnified
- Identity struggles, “not good enough”
Disordered Eating & Sleep Issues
- Counselor’s role: Education, support, referral
- Identify and treating common eating concerns
- Recognize unique sleep concerns for athletes
- Travel & time zone effects on mental health
Youth Sports & Developmental Risks
- Parent identity/social status tied to athlete success
- The impact of different parenting styles
- Systemic challenges to youth athletics
- Psychosocial risks
- Staying aware of equity concerns
The Recruiting Process
- How to navigate with “Lawnmower” parents
- Help clients understand where they belong
- Tips to support clients correspondence with schools
- Keys to having successful campus/team visits
Special Populations & Life After Sport
- Identity development during transition
- Higher stakes, financial pressures, and public scrutiny
- Grieving sport identity, community, competition
- Risk of substance use for pain & mental distress
- Using sport skills in career & life, maintaining competitive drive
- Networking, staying healthy, finding purpose


