Meet the trainers
Meet the trainers
Hello! We are two licensed therapists with decades of experience with sports and mental health and have a deep passion for the well-being of athletes. We work directly with athletes, coaches, teams, administrators, and parents. We know that longevity in sports must include healthy systems for training and competition. We’re here to make the conversations simple and easy!
Free Trainings
We are so glad you are here! We’re focused on athletes and mental health and will talk about it every chance we get. The big ideas are discussed in brief, basic training videos - and you can take as many trainings as you want and learn valuable skills, concepts, and strategies. Access is freeeeee. And some trainings include handouts for download.
Learn with us when you have the time. And, obviously, show up in you pajamas if you prefer.
* You can start and stop the trainings at your own pace.*
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Athletes and Teammates
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Worried - What to Say
It can be so hard to know how to let a teammate that you are worried about them. We don’t want to say the wrong thing and we want them know we care. We check in about the complexity in this video.
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Worried - What to Do
Let’s check in about what to do when you’re worried about a teammate. We review the issues of under responding and when it makes sense to approach a coach about it.
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Coach and Parent Relationship
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Tricky Dynamic
This video discusses the tricky dynamic that can emerge between coaches and parents/caregivers. Sometimes roles are unclear and there may even be a pre-established friendship that makes expectations and communication even more important. Walk through some key suggestions in this video.
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Access and Conversations
Part of the parent/caregiver and coach dynamic is the access that coaches offer for conversations and check-ins. Watch this video to ensure these conversations go well!
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For Parents: What Do I Do?
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Issues, Coaches, and Communication
It’s tough for parents and caregivers to know how to best handle issues that come up with coaches. Deciding when to step in, when to let something go, and when to have a coach conversation can be tricky. We walk through this complexity in this video.
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Quit the Team or No?
It’s tough to know when to walk away from a team/sport - and even tougher to sort through if there’s a problem that may be solvable. Check out this video for some tips to work through these decisions.
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Coach Has a Kid on the Team
We know that sometimes it goes really well when the coach has a kid on the team, and sometimes it presents some challenges. We walk through important points to think about when navigating what to do in these situations.
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For Coaches: What Do I Do?
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How to Talk About Effort
We’re guessing you have been frustrated with an athlete’s effort at some point. As a coach, you need their effort to meet performance goals. We talk about how to best approach athletes when their effort seems to be changing/has changed.
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Nervous about Mental Health Conversations
We have heard from coaches that they are sometimes nervous to check in about mental health - often afraid of making it worse. We offer some easy tips for these conversations to go well, and so that they happen.
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When You Notice a Change in an Athlete
You’ve noticed a “change” in an athlete (e.g., mood, motivation, body language) and you don’t know what to do. We break down a few key strategies so that these conversations are effective.
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For Athletes: What Do I Do?
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How to Talk to Your Coach
We know it’s tough to know how to talk to a coach about how you’re doing. We break down how to approach these conversations when you have a trusting relationship and what to do when you don’t.
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You Need Support
Sometimes athletes develop symptoms that may actually lead to a mental health diagnosis. In this video, we break down how to consider having that conversation with a coach. We break down how little or how much to share.
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Dealing with Eating/Exercise
Food is hard – and if you are an athlete, you have to exercise. It’s tough to know when one of these may be an issue or if it’s just part of athlete life. And then, if it’s an issue, what do you do about it? We break this down to help start the conversation.
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Parent Fundamentals
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Coaching Fundamentals
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Why Mental Health Matters
Coaches, you have a lot on your plate. We break down the most important factors to consider regarding mental health and athletes.
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A Coach's Role
Healthy environments are critical for athletes to reach performance goals.
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Now What?
We know change isn’t easy. Yet, we all need to make adjustments here and there.
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Athlete Fundamentals
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What is Mental Health?
What even is mental health? And why does it matter in athletics? We break down the basics just for athletes.
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Turning Toward Self
It’s a skill to learn how to turn toward yourself and use coping strategies.
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Okay, But Now What Do I Do?
It’s great to learn a lot of things, but what does that mean in real life?
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Ethical Coaching
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Building Relationships with Athletes