Sports Psychology and Psychiatry
What are sports psychology and sports psychiatry?
Sports psychology and sports psychiatry focus on the mental health needs of athletes of all levels and sports. Your mental health affects how you feel physically and how well you perform. It impacts your relationships with teammates, coaches and loved ones, as well as how you feel about the sport.
At UT Health San Antonio, we take a whole-athlete approach to optimizing your health and sports performance. This focus includes your mental health. When your mental health is in peak shape, it shows in your athletic performance.
What conditions do sports psychology and sports psychiatry treat?
Our sports mental health experts help teens and adults manage a range of athletic performance-related mental health concerns. Our care team can help you overcome psychological obstacles that impact performance, which can help you elevate your game to a new level.
Sports-related mental health concerns include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Conflict issues with coaches, teammates and loved ones
- Depression and other mood disorders
- Eating disorders and nutritional concerns
- Intense feelings, such as anger (emotional dysregulation)
- Overtraining and burnout
- Performance-related fears, anxiety and stress
- Post-injury recovery and return to play
- Transitioning out of a sport-centric life
Why choose UT Health San Antonio for sports-related mental health services?
We’re the only center in South Texas that brings together sports mental health experts as part of a comprehensive sports medicine program. These specialists come from athletic backgrounds. They understand the complex interactions between mental health, physical health and sports performance.
Our comprehensive sports mental health care services include:
- Sports psychologists and counselors: Our sports psychologists and licensed mental health counselors offer personalized counseling services that support the unique needs of athletes.
- Board-certified sports psychiatrist: Some patients also receive care from one of the region’s only board-certified sports psychiatrists. Our fellowship-trained child and adolescent psychiatrist treats teen and adult athletes.
- Support for all skill levels: We offer personalized care for teen and adult athletes who compete at elite, academic and recreational levels.
- Team approach to care: We partner with you and your referring provider to address your physical and mental health needs. Your care team may include sports medicine doctors, sports performance training specialists and dietitians. When appropriate — and only with your permission — we may include family members and coaches.
What to expect with sports psychology and sports psychiatry services
A sports-focused mental health provider will conduct an initial assessment to learn more about your concerns and treatment goals. You may complete questionnaires to screen for conditions such as mood disorders.
At the end of this first session, your provider will review treatment recommendations and next steps with you. We’ll customize a care plan to address your unique mental health needs and goals.
Sports-related mental health services we offer
Our sports psychology and psychiatry providers use the latest evidence-based approaches to improve your mental health. Treatments we offer include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): We help you identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns that affect performance. You learn helpful ways to build confidence and manage stress, anxiety and other concerns.
- Family counseling: We help young athletes learn how to set healthy boundaries, manage parental expectations and get the family support they need to thrive.
- Individual counseling: Our one-on-one counseling sessions help you manage anxiety, depression, eating disorders or other issues.
- Medications: When needed, our sports psychiatrist prescribes medications and provides ongoing medication management for depression, anxiety and other diagnosed conditions.
- Mental skills training: We help you learn and use strategies — such as visualization, mindfulness, positive self-talk and preperformance rituals — that can improve your concentration, focus and performance.
- Self-determination theory (SDT): We use this motivational theory to promote independent decision-making, build confidence and competence in your sport and strengthen connections to your teammates.