From joggers on the beach at dawn to cyclists,swimmers, and athletes of all ages and skill levels competing in backyard "races" under a spotlight that hardly ever goes dark. But the human factor cannot be overlooked when the spotlight turns on you. If you typed sports psychologists Los Angeles into a search bar, you may get some idea that the toughest competitor is not on the other side of the net.
What Sports Psychologists Do When the Pressure Is On
Sports psychology work is the work that happens between a player preparing and executing. No matter how long athletes may be in their bodies training, they may still get stuck in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, or might replay a mistake that comes along for the ride into the next contest. Help in this area tends to take an angle on resilience, attention, and how emotions and an athlete's mental game are revealed physically in competition. Adam's website sums it up this way: develop resilience, improve attention, and excel on and off the field. And the title-sports psychologist-can mean different things; a search for sports psychologists in Los Angeles will turn up professionals with different credentials and backgrounds, which can be a helpful place to start.
A New Beginning: always athlete, always human
Adam Boardman is a licensed marriage and family therapist (CA MFT License
#139730) and his practice sees athletes as well as men, overachievers, perfectionists, and couples. The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit that has him on its team page, calls him a "Southern California-based psychotherapist specializing in athlete mental health performance, dedicated to help athletes use sport as a vehicle to become stronger, deeper, more fulfilled human beings." They also call him "a humorist who happens to be an avid cyclist, skier, and runner" - which might go a long way in explaining the tone of his writing: serious about the stakes, but not stiff.
Treatment for The Athlete Who Was Injured, Lost, Or Overextended
Adam's homepage: one of his questions is What if you could come out of your injury a better athlete than you were when you went down? Rest and recovery can be about much more than your physical body. It can also destabilize your sense of who you are when you can't compete. His site also seeks to let the athlete know they are more than a job, more than a sport, more than results. For some, those words are the catalyst for the beginning of their therapy. When who you are is tied to your work in the gym, a bad workout can begin to feel very personal. Work here helps you untangle who you are from what you did.
Why Perfectionism Permeates the Lives of Athletes
Adam is particularly passionate about overachievers and perfectionists - and it's easy to see the connection to sport. Over at his website, he writes about the struggle to stay emotionally balanced when you're living in a world of "never good enough". In high-performance environments, the pressure to excel often pushes away family, relaxation, and happiness. Talking to a therapist is a safe way to combat the internal voice that says you should always be doing more - but still want to.
Synergistic Mind & Body
Pressure resides within the body: a constricted chest, a shallow breathing pattern, the relentless staccato of racing thoughts. Adam can draw upon many different therapies, from somatic experiencing to performance psychology, fitting nicely with the (already physical) mindset of most athletes. He is a happy user of models, metaphors, and images to bring abstract concepts down to the earth and into your body. In the initial work, we will identify what terms and tools work for you and your sport - ensuring everything doesn't end up as a 'so what'.
Outside the Office: the Los Angeles Marathon Link
Adam's dedication to athletes goes far beyond private consultation. As reported in The Hidden Opponent, he started and is the Director of the Medical Marathon Psychology Program at the Los Angeles Marathon, in an attempt to bring more clinical mental health services to competitive athletes. The same website states that he is a regular speaker for athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators, and is working toward getting others across the globe to do the same. He has a Marathon Medical Psych page on his website, under resources, as well as workshops and trainings.
Locate Assistance Near You
However, in considering sports psychologists Los Angeles has to offer, practical considerations may come into play. Adam conducts face-to-face sessions in the Brentwood, West LA, and Santa Monica areas, as well as online to anywhere in California. His office is located at 12301 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 515, Los Angeles, CA 90025. A Good Faith Estimate can be provided on request, and you can text or call 424-279-4779 or email adamboardmanmft@gmail.com. In his listing on Psychology Today, Adam offers a free 15-minute initial consultation.
What to do now
Pressure exists in sport. It just doesn't have to consume your experience in sport. If you're an athlete, parent, or coach of an athlete and want to stop noticing ability getting choked in pressure, asking for support is an act of high performance, not failure. Visit adamboardmanmft.com to find out if this approach is the right match for what you're seeking in sports psychologists in Los Angeles.
FAQs
1. What can sports psychologists in Los Angeles help with?
They keep athletes focused and confident, help them recover after setbacks, teach them to deal with pressure, and develop their mental resilience. Support can also be related to injury, perfectionism, or what is next after sport. The athlete could also get in touch with support prior to a season, after a setback, or when enjoyment is lost.
2. Is Adam Boardman a sports psychologist?
A licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in athlete mental health and performance psychology. Just ask any provider.
3. Who does Adam work with?
Athletes, men, overachievers, perfectionists, couples (gender irrelevant). His practice is inclusive.
4. Is therapy helpful after a sports injury?
It's a question on his website-what would it mean to be, as he asks, "better than the athlete who got injured?"- and there's a page to explore.
5. What techniques are used?
He works with a number of different methods such as somatic work and performance psychology, and enjoys the use of imagery, models, and metaphors to tailor the work to your sport and personality.
6. Will you be doing sessions in person?
Yes, in West LA, Brentwood, and Santa Monica, with virtual sessions available anywhere in California. Office address: 12301 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 515.
7. What is the Medical Marathon Psychology Program?
The Hidden Opponent: Adam created The Hidden Opponent and targets it at the Los Angeles Marathon to raise clinical mental health resources for competitive athletes.
8. Does he communicate with teams or coaching staffs?
According to The Hidden Opponent, he regularly speaks with athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators. His website also features workshops and trainings.
9. How do I start?
Click on the contact page, text or call 424-279-4779, or email adamboardmanmft@gmail.com. Psychology Today has a 15-minute free consultation.
10. How is cost handled?
A Good Faith Estimate is available if asked for. Just make the request when you contact us so you know what to anticipate upfront.
