Mental Health
Athletes are at significant risk for mental health issues because of the unique challenges they face. Working with a therapist can be key to unlocking abilities in competition and to help do foundational work that improves overall health and wellness. Athletes feel the difference when they’re more at peace with their issues. Athletes at Modern Outlook gain specific skills to improve emotional intelligence that translate over to sport.
Individual Therapy with Modern Outlook
Modern Outlook therapists utilize a range of structured, short-term, problem focused therapy modalities that are rooted in science. Athletes will develop a treatment plan collaboratively with their therapist based on the presenting concerns. Therapy is billable to insurance (see rates)
Common mental health issues in athletes:
- Depressed, anxious or having a hard time adjusting to a new environment like college or a new school.
- Overwhelmed or burnt out with practice, games and academics
- Not sure if they love their sport anymore
- Depressed after injury or are afraid to return after injury
- Worried about pleasing their parents, coaches, teammates
- Eating disorders
- Alcohol consumption/ binge drinking
- Difficulty sleeping
- Interpersonal conflict that’s causing significant stress
College Preparation Program
Register by June 30th, $1400 for 7 sessions: July 8th, 15th, 22th, 29th, August 5th, 12th, 19th from 1:00pm – 2:30pm.
You’ve been recruited to play. You’ve signed your letter of intent. Now what? Take the summer of your senior year of high school to prepare yourself to succeed at the next level in your college athletics program.
Learn how to prepare your mind and get into a performance routine so that your adjustment period is productive and your start to college isn’t shell shock. In Modern Outlook’s College Preparation Program you will be introduced to top performance techniques and routines, and you’ll learn how to define your boundaries from the get go. We prepare our athletes to go into college feeling focused and ready to handle the pressure.
Session 1: Psychoeducation
The neuroanatomy and physiology of sports performance. “Learning the brain science of sports and performance.”
Session 2: Mindfulness
Having an intentional approach to your physical health. “Athletes learn how to manifest their best selves everyday. “
Session 3: Mental Health and Sports
“Module on the connection between mental health problems and how they affect ability to perform. Introduction to mental health coping strategies”
Session 4: Fitness, food, sleep and substances
“Discussion about the difficulties of staying healthy when there is so much pressure on the athlete.”
Session 5: Managing relationships
On teams or with coaching staff. “Structure for awareness of toxic teammates. Management of difficult personalities in sports.”
Session 6: Thinking and performance: The Cognitive Model
“How you think is how you perform. Learning how to analyze thinking and stay away from unhelpful thinking patterns.”
Session 7: Calm Body, Focused mind
“Learning how to calm the body in the middle of competition and quieting the noise in the brain”
program goals
- To improve access to high-quality mental health care to meet the needs of student athletes by offering immediate and ongoing mental health counseling specifically for student athletes.
- To reduce the stigma of student athletes seeking mental health services by improving the sports counseling experience and leading wellness initiatives, shifting cultural attitudes around mental health being a natural part of the student athlete experience.
- To join with all professionals seeking to serve the athlete in a coordinated care effort while upholding confidentiality and unique boundaries of the student athlete.
- To improve overall athletic performance and mental wellness of the student athlete, team and athletic department.
University of Portland Athletic Department partnership
Modern Outlook and University of Portland Athletic Department have teamed up to serve student athletes!
About
Demetrio Sanchez, LCSW is a Therapist and played soccer at Duke and with the US Youth National Team pool. He has served professional and college athletes for 10 years and offers athletic counseling, team workshops, and coaching consultation. Learn more
Ruth Exley, LCSW is a Therapist focusing on athlete mental health and wellness. She is a UP Womens Soccer Alum ’07. Learn more
Security
Modern Outlook works directly with athletes and does not disclose clinical information (unless released by the athlete) to the athletic department or coaching staff.
Sessions
Sessions are typically one hour per week, and can last typically from 4-12 sessions or as defined by the provider and the athlete.
Location
Providers are offering appointments on-site in the Beauchamp wellness office and online over Zoom.
Cost
Modern Outlook is an outside mental health private practice working in connection with UP Athletics. For mental health services, the athlete’s health insurance will be billed directly. See our insurance and rates information.
For athletes who are uninsured or have privacy concerns about billing their insurance, there is opportunity for alternative payment through the Athletic Department. The support team at Modern Outlook will consult with the athlete to determine the best way to pay for care before their first appointment.
Get started
To become a client, please complete our new client interest form. Our support team will contact you on the same day or next business day to let you know we’ve received your form. Your form will be reviewed by our clinical team and then we will call you to discuss your needs, insurance and scheduling your first appointment.