What Does Mental Health Therapy Look Like for Athletes?

If you've never done therapy before, the unknown is the half of it. If you’re already an anxious athlete, you’re probably walking into the therapy room wondering what the heck to expect. So here's exactly what working with a therapist who understands sport actually looks like, no laying on couches required (unless that’s your vibe). 

Hey, my name’s Emma, I’m an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker that works with athletes and their mental health every day at RYSE Wellbeing. 

What happens in the first session?

The first session is basically a debrief. I want to know about your sport, your schedule, what's been going on, and what you want to be different. I'll ask a lot of questions, and if you want, you can ask me some too. You're allowed to bring your water bottle, sit however you want, and ask me any questions you’d like!

Do we only talk about sport?

We talk about sport and who you are outside of it. I want to know what your life looks like inside and out of sport; your comp schedule, how you feel about your injury, your coach, the mistake you replayed for three days, why training on Tuesday felt terrible. You don't have to explain what a PB is or why adjusting training to an injury is such a mind game. But I also want to learn about your hobbies and what the people in your life are like, because you're a whole person. 

How does therapy actually work?

We plan based on your goals and make adjustments together. Therapy isn't something done to you; together we make a plan for how we're going to address what's going on, then check in and adjust as you need, based on your brain and your pace.

From there, we build the strategies. Understanding why you freeze under pressure is a start, but knowing why has never once stopped it from happening. So we build skills you actually use: at training, on comp day, at 11pm when your brain won't shut off. And we work on the deeper stuff too, when you're ready.

Can therapy fit around a training and competition schedule?

Yes. Sessions can flex around training, comps, and exam blocks. I see athletes in-person in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia.

Will my coach or club find out I'm in therapy?

No. Therapy is confidential; your coach, club, and teammates don't find out unless you decide to tell them. What happens in the session stays between us. The only time we may have to go outside of your confidentiality is if you’re at risk of hurting yourself, someone else, or a child is at risk of being harmed. 

Ready for a new therapist?

Let's make it official!

I'm Emma, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker who works with high-achieving athletes. Book your free 15-minute intro call here.