Sports Psychologist Los Angeles & Across CA
Mental Health Support for Athletes: thrive on and off the field
You’ve been on the podium — so why do you now feel defeated?
Being an athlete means a few things — you know what it takes to show up and work hard, push your body to its limit, and keep going even when you’re exhausted. You know the thrill of victory and the sting of defeat after giving your all.
But being an athlete also exposes you to challenges that non-athletes rarely face — the heartbreak of losing a season or career to injury, the pressure to perform for yourself and others, navigating complex relationships with coaches or teammates, and the struggle to maintain your sense of self after retirement.
Working with a Sports Psychologist in Los Angeles can help you navigate these challenges. A Sports Psychologist Los Angeles professional can guide you in building resilience, managing performance pressure, and reconnecting with your confidence — both on and off the field.
As an athlete, you experience things that non-athletes rarely do — some rewarding, some challenging, and some a mix of both:
Recognition and status within your school, campus, or community — which can feel exciting but also comes with pressure to perform.
A deep, intimate connection with your body — a source of pride, but one that can frustrate you when injuries or underperformance occur.
A highly structured schedule spanning days, weeks, seasons, or years — providing discipline and organization, but sometimes limiting experiences your peers enjoy, like parties or trips.
Opportunities to earn through NIL or professional play — which can be rewarding financially, yet may carry the expectation to support your family through your sport.
A unique athletic community — teammates, coaches, and competitors offer camaraderie, but navigating these relationships can be complex and demanding.
A strong sense of personal power and resilience — which can make it harder to face areas outside of sports where you feel inexperienced, vulnerable, or overwhelmed, because it doesn’t feel like the “real you” you know on the field.
Working with a Sports Psychologist in Los Angeles can help you manage these challenges. A Sports Psychologist Los Angeles professional supports you in building mental resilience, improving performance under pressure, and finding balance between your athletic life and personal growth.
It doesn’t have to feel like this — sometimes we all need a teammate.
Maybe you’re struggling with a difficult relationship with your family, coach, or significant other. Maybe an injury or loss is affecting you mentally, or anxiety and depression are creeping into your life 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 Los Angeles, I meet you where you are and work with the whole athlete — the whole person — to help you reconnect with your true self. Together, we’ll take action, make meaningful changes, and get you back to the version of yourself that’s ready to thrive — both on and off the field.
Your therapist, in action!
Athletes are different, and they deserve someone who truly understands. I got into this work to help people like you — because I am one.
Most therapists don’t fully grasp what it’s like to live an athlete’s life: the constant fatigue, the soreness, saying no to parties or trips your friends are enjoying, and the sacrifices you make for your team. You know what it takes to put in the work, compete, and win. You know the thrill and satisfaction of performing at your best.
That feeling is amazing when the shots are going in, matches are being won, and your body feels strong. But when a season — or career — is disrupted by injury or setbacks, it can be devastating in ways that are 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 the frustration of working 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 Los Angeles, I work with your life, your training schedule, and the strengths and experiences you’ve developed as a competitive athlete. Together, we’ll address the challenges that bring you to therapy — even if they aren’t directly related to competing — so you can thrive both on and off the field.
Sports Psychologist 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: 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 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 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.