Developing mental toughness and resilience can be a challenge for many athletes. Training and competing at a high level can take a toll on your mental health and well-being, and psychological factors can impact performance.

At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, our sport psychologists will help you develop the skills necessary to rise above performance struggles, whether they’re mental, physical or a combination of both. Our goal is to help you feel prepared to perform at your best, both on and off the field.

Our expertise in mental health and its impact on sports performance can give you a distinct advantage. We understand the unique demands of athletic culture. Our goal is to help every athlete manage the stress of competition, support recovery and build quality relationships. Ultimately, this can improve your performance both on and off the field.

What is sport psychology?

Sport psychologists play an integral role in the Sports Medicine department at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. We want to treat the whole athlete and work to enhance the mental, behavioral, emotional and relational components of performance.

This comprehensive approach to sports medicine integrates mental health and well-being with physical health and performance. Sport psychologists at Ohio State are licensed clinical or counseling psychologists with a specialty in sport psychology.

We listen to athletes to understand their worlds and unique needs. We teach skills to cope with emotion effectively, including treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders and the emotional aspects of injury. Athletes spend countless hours training their bodies, and sport psychologists add an important skill set by training the mind. Athletes and other performers who manage their energy, stay focused, bounce back quickly from mistakes and work harmoniously with their teammates have a distinct performance edge.

The sport psychologists at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center can help with concerns that impact not only sports performance, but also daily life. Because of this, sport psychologists don’t only work with elite athletes.

Putting athletes’ mental health on the podium, too

Sport psychology experts in Ohio State Sports Medicine discuss the importance of mental health care for athletes at all levels.

Read the article on Health & Discovery

Services offered by Ohio State sport psychologists

Our sport psychologists are members of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, and they’re embedded in the Sports Medicine clinics throughout the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center system.

We commonly help athletes with a wide variety of concerns including:

Developing confidence
Performing under pressure
Mental skills development
Concentration problems
Recovery from injury
Managing anxiety
Overcoming performance slumps or blocks

We base our services on a thorough assessment of your needs and work with you to develop an effective plan to reach your performance goals.

Clinical counseling

We recognize that personal concerns can influence athletic performance. We specialize in assessing and treating those elements that extend beyond the playing field. Confidential counseling can address issues related to relationships, anxiety, depression, injury rehabilitation, stress management, grief or loss, trauma, identity, adjustment, body image and substance abuse.

Consultation

We host seminars and consult with coaches, athletic trainers, physicians, professional athletes, entire teams and others regarding performance at the individual as well as organizational level. Consultations can range from one-on-one meetings to discuss goals and strategies to interactive team or organizational sessions to build team unity and develop mental skills.

Athletic performance enhancement

One-on-one or group mental skills training can focus on goal setting, confidence, relaxation, imagery, focus, motivation, coping with pressure, overcoming fear, slump busting, energy activation, team cohesion, self-talk and pre-performance routines. With these tools, you'll be better equipped to achieve your goals and stay "in the zone" in your performance domain.

Who can benefit from seeing an Ohio State sport psychologist?

While our typical clients are high-level athletes, we see people of all athletic abilities, and even nonathletes, with issues related to their job performance, identity development or relationships.

People might benefit from working with us if they’re:

An elite athlete dealing with performance anxiety, difficulty managing slumps or handling pressure.
An injured athlete or former athlete struggling to develop their identity outside of sport.
Someone with intense training schedules wanting better time management skills to be successful in both athletics and daily living.
Athletes dealing with depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder or a substance use disorder, whether directly related to sports or not.
Anyone with an eating disorder.
An executive or employee with a demanding job who is struggling with anxiety or other workplace stressors.

Anyone who wants to work on improving their performance in any facet of life can see a sports psychologist.

Benefits of working with a sport psychologist

Besides helping to improve your mental health and overall well-being, working with a sport psychologist at Ohio State is beneficial because:

We understand the unique challenges of athletes – Whether it’s strict training schedules or the emotions of losing and winning, we know the impact the game can have on you.
We’re embedded in a nationally recognized Sports Medicine program – Our sport psychologists collaborate with other medical providers, such as sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, dietitians or surgeons, to bring you the best possible care all around.
Seeing a psychologist in a sports-centric environment can be accessible – Working with a sport psychologist can sometimes feel more comfortable for athletes, and we can provide them with comprehensive care for their physical, mental and nutritional needs.
Your performance can improve and so will your overall quality of life – Improving your mental and emotional well-being and learning skills to manage life’s ups and downs, whether on or off the field, can have real, lasting benefits.

How to make an appointment with a sports psychologist at Ohio State

Call the main Sports Medicine phone number at 614-293-3600 and ask to schedule with one of our expert sport psychologists. We offer both in-person and virtual visits. Several of our sport psychologists are certified through Psypact, allowing them to provide telehealth services in 42 states.

Your sports medicine physician, physical therapist or primary care doctor can also refer you to and connect you with our care.

Our providers who specialize in sports mental health and performance