Therapy for Athletes NYC
Being an athlete comes with a unique set of challenges.
The pressure to always perform at your highest level. The identity exploration that often happens after time in your sport has ended. In some cases, toxic training environments that take a huge toll on one’s mental health.
While there is an expectation that athletes need to be “strong”, this does not mean you don’t deserve mental health support. I firmly believe athletes deserve competent mental health support.
If your time as an athlete has left you…
Feeling unclear about your identity outside of your sport and searching for what is next
Battling patterns of perfectionism that once served you, but now constantly leave you feeling ‘not good enough’
Processing the experience of toxic or abusive coaching that has left an impact on your sense of worth
Needing to learn balance rather than operating at 100% at all times
Grieving the loss of an experience that had such a strong impact on your self development
Or maybe your sport led to body, food or anxiety struggles
then it is likely you would benefit from working with a therapist who knows what it is like.
My background in competitive gymnastics is what me passionate about supporting other athletes. I was homeschooled for the sport during a period of my life and fully understand what it is like to train as an elite and collegiate athlete. I always remember feeling like it was so hard to describe to others what this experience is like unless someone had been through it themselves.
For a long time (and still often today), mental health in sports was never taken seriously. I imagine you may have had coaches in your life who portrayed mental health struggles as weakness. These messages may have you still feeling hesitant about reaching out for support. The truth is, they were wrong: it takes immense strength to reach out for help
In our work together, we can process your past or current experience with athletics and what it’s impact has been. The traits you developed through sport that you are grateful for (maybe your discipline or resilience) and the parts of you that it may may have impacted more negatively (maybe perfectionism, disordered eating or anxiety)