top of page

Transitions in Sport; Supporting the Injured / Retiring Athlete

If you are an athlete dealing with the emotional overwhelm of chronic injury that has forced you out of the game or forced to retire from sport altogether, you may experience a wide range of emotions.  From low mood and anxiety to suicidal thoughts, a forced leave from sport can leave many with mental health challenges.  

​

I have worked with a wide variety of athletes in sports ranging from soccer, equestrian vaulting, and gymnastics to swimming, BMX, and hockey. Each challenged with the grief that comes with the loss of athletic performance, identity, and the social connection that comes with teams. I incorporate a blend of somatic, CBT, Narrative and EMDR therapies, when appropriate, that can help athletes transition into a new way to engage in sport and exercise.  

How may I support you?

1

Attending to the Loss

The first stage of this mental health support service may include exploring how sport played a role in your life. Whether you are a recreational or elite athlete, we tend to create a strong identity related to our sport or performance.  

​

Through the process of exploration, athletes are able to address the aspects of their athletic career while attending the loss and grief that comes with this challenging transition.  

​

Therapy and counselling are at the forefront of this work and may include CBT, Narrative, Somatic, and EMDR therapy if appropriate. 

2

Addressing Old Beliefs

How do our core beliefs serve us? Whether it is the ever-popular "I'm not good enough" that fuels our motivation to perform or that "imposter syndrome" that can get in the way of athletic performance, addressing core beliefs is key to understanding ourselves and healthy transitions. 

​

This process will guide athletes through understanding and challenging negative beliefs while strengthening self worth with or without sport.    

​

This work may interweave therapy, counselling, and coaching depending upon the needs of each client. 

3

[Re] Creating the Self

This final step integrates a positive psychology approach to exploring values, needs, wants, and the potential incongruence between these and behaviours. 

 

Who are you and who do you want to become? How do you want to relate to sport and exercise moving forward? These and many other questions will be explored to help navigate your transition in sport.  

​

I take an eclectic approach blending counselling and coaching strategies and skills sets to support each athlete in creating their unique mental fitness tool kit.  

bottom of page