Sports Psychologist Brentwood & Across California
Mental Health Support for Athletes: thrive on and off the field
You’ve been on the podium — why do you now feel so defeated?
Being an athlete means a few things — you know what it means to show up and work hard, to push your body to its limit, and to stay disciplined even when you’re tired. You understand the thrill of a win and the disappointment that comes after giving your all and still coming up short.
But being an athlete also comes with challenges that others might not face. The pain of losing a season or career to injury, the constant pressure to perform, managing relationships with coaches or teammates, and even struggling to rediscover your identity after retirement — these are all real experiences.
That’s where working with a Sports Psychologist in Brentwood can make a difference. A Sports Psychologist Brentwood professional can help you strengthen your mental resilience, manage performance anxiety, recover from setbacks, and build a balanced mindset both on and off the field.
As an athlete, you experience things that non-athletes rarely do — some are rewarding, some are challenging, and some can be both:
Attention and recognition within your school, campus, or community — which can feel thrilling but also comes with intense pressure to perform.
A powerful, intimate connection with your body — a body that can inspire pride but also frustrate you when injuries or underperformance occur.
A structured daily life shaped by practices, games, and seasons — providing organization and discipline, but sometimes at the cost of social experiences your peers enjoy, like parties or trips.
Opportunities to earn through NIL or professional play — a chance to generate income, but sometimes accompanied by the expectation to financially support your family.
A unique athletic community — teammates, coaches, and even competitors offer support and camaraderie, but navigating these relationships can be complex and demanding.
A sense of personal power and resilience — which can make it challenging to face areas outside of sports where you feel inexperienced, vulnerable, or unsure, because it doesn’t align with the “strong you” you know on the field.
It doesn’t have to feel like this — sometimes we all need to team up.
Maybe you’re struggling with a challenging relationship with your family, coach, or significant other. Maybe an injury or a tough loss is affecting you mentally, or anxiety and depression are creeping in and you just can’t shake it. You know something isn’t right — and it’s not supposed to feel this way.
You don’t have to face it alone. As a Sports Psychologist in Brentwood, I’m here to meet you where you are. I work with the whole athlete — the whole person — to help you reconnect with your true self. Together, we’ll take actionable steps to regain confidence, resilience, and a sense of balance, so you can return to the athlete and the person you’re meant to be.
Your therapist, in action!
Athletes are different, and they deserve someone who truly gets it. I got into this work to help people like you — because I am one.
Most therapists don’t understand what it’s like to live an athlete’s life: the constant fatigue and soreness, saying no to parties and trips your friends are enjoying, the sacrifices you make for your team. You know what it means to put in the work, to compete, to win. You know the satisfaction and thrill that comes from performing at your best.
It feels amazing when the shots are going in, matches are being won, and your body feels strong. But when a season — or career — is derailed by injury or setbacks, it can be devastating in a way that’s hard for non-athletes to understand.
I HAVE BEEN THERE.
I know what it’s like to train and compete year after year, and the emptiness when it’s suddenly taken away — through injury, being cut, or graduating from collegiate sport. I also know what it’s like to work with well-meaning therapists who didn’t fully understand my life, my sport, or my mindset. That’s why it’s so important to work with someone who does.
As a Sports Psychologist in Brentwood, I work with your life, your training schedule, and the strengths and experiences you’ve built as a competitive athlete. Together, we’ll address the challenges that bring you to therapy — even if they aren’t directly related to competing — to help you thrive both on and off the field.
Therapy for athletes can help you…
Make peace with the painful losses, injuries, or disappointments
Experience closer, deeper relationships with less conflict
Use your experiences in sport to solve the challenges off the field
Knowing, trusting, and maximizing your strengths
Disrupt and reduce your performance anxiety in sport
Unlock potential in sports, career, or relationships
Seeing yourself as a whole, complicated, and powerful self
Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy for Athletes
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No— my approach is infused and informed by performance psychology, but this is psychotherapy and focused on mental, emotional, and relational health. I am a licensed clinician who specializes in this work for the athlete population because when I was competing, and after retirement, I could see how impactful it would have been to work with someone who had also lived it.
There is a spectrum for athlete mental health work in Brentwood: on one end is pure Mental Skills aka tools, plans, and hacks for how to prepare your mind for performance, and on the other is Clinical Mental Health/Psychotherapy for Athletes which is a broader more foundational approach how your whole life informs who you are as an athlete and a person. This is often where many performance issues start, and if you want the problem actually fixed you have to go where it actually is.
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I see Brentwood athletes of all genders in all sports.
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I focus my work on Athletes 15 and older. If your child is younger than this I am happy to provide referrals. Here is a list of the types of competitive athletes I specialize in:
Elite High School or College-Bound athletes
Collegiate athletes
Professional athletes
Elite Amateur athletes (especially endurance sports)
Outdoor/Adventure Athletes
Retired Athletes of all ages
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If you are interested in only doing work that is non-clinical mental skills, please refer to the Performance coaching on this page. During the consultation we can discuss your situation and goals and determine what is the best path for us to work together. I strongly recommend an openness to deeper work as we can still integrate skills work into it.
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I am glad you asked because I love talking sports AND playing sports. Growing up in Morro Bay, CA was spent playing organized basketball, wrestling, and 4 years of pop-warner football; when I wasn’t at practice I loved being outside building bike jumps and catching waves down at the beach. I started distance running in high school in Brentwood, Portland, Oregon, competing in both Cross Country and Track. I ran 4 seasons each of XC and Track for Pomona College; Highlights include 2x SCIAC 5000 Meter Champion and being named 1999 NCAA All American in Cross Country. Since graduation I have run 5 marathons (including Boston 2018) and am passionate about road and gravel cycling, skiing, snorkeling, and anything to do with the mountains. I am a huge Dodgers fan and love watching EPL, European Cycling and anything having to do with winning a championship.