Sport & Performance Mental Health in Ontario
Mental health support for athletes, coaches, and sport organizations navigating the psychological demands of competitive sport.
Sport places real psychological demands on people. Performance pressure, injury, identity tied to results, team dynamics, and transitions out of sport can significantly impact wellbeing over time.
In this practice, sport and performance mental health is approached as clinical care, not motivation coaching or surface-level mental skills training. Mental health is the foundation that allows performance to function. People come first, performance follows.
The goal is sustainable performance and longevity in sport, supporting athletes in continuing to do what they love in ways that protect both wellbeing and career over time.
Support for Athletes
Individual therapy for athletes may support:
Performance anxiety and chronic pressure
Emotion dysregulation (over- or under-regulation)
Injury recovery and fear of return to play
Eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns
Sport-related trauma, hazing, or moral injury
Identity challenges and transitions out of sport
Substance use or maladaptive coping
Interpersonal difficulties with teammates or coaches
This work is not about pushing emotions aside or becoming "mentally tougher." It focuses on building the capacity to respond effectively under pressure — in sport and in life.
Support Through Transitions
Transitions are often the most vulnerable points in an athlete's career. Injury, deselection, changes in competitive level, retirement, or shifts in role can disrupt identity, confidence, and emotional stability.
Therapy provides space to process these changes, regulate intense emotions, and develop a sense of self that is not solely dependent on performance.
Support for Coaches and Sport Organizations
Mental health in sport is shaped not only by individuals, but by culture, systems, and leadership. This practice offers consultation and support for coaches, teams, and organizations, including:
Mental health consultation and program development
Psychoeducation on mental health literacy and early warning signs
Coach and staff training to support athletes appropriately and within scope
Guidance on responding to mental health concerns in high-performance environments
Support around team dynamics, communication challenges, and cultural stressors
Why I Do This Work
As a former competitive soccer and softball player, I understand the intensity and pull of sport — the connection to the game, the team, the outcome, and the sense of self that performance can bring. I also know the other side: the emotional impact of loss, injury, demotion, and the eventual decision to step away.
Like many athletes, I was coached to push emotions aside and leave everything on the field — often at the expense of mental wellbeing. Those experiences continue to shape how I approach this work.
Clinically, I have seen high rates of emotion dysregulation, disordered eating, body image concerns, interpersonal challenges, trauma related to hazing, and self-injury within sport environments. Often these concerns take precedence over performance goals — not because athletes lack motivation, but because mental health needs are already demanding attention. In many cases, the work becomes about stabilizing wellbeing first. We are often playing catch-up.
Training and Experience in Sport Contexts
I serve as a Mental Health Consultant with the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO), providing mental health wellness checks and psychoeducational workshops to athletes, coaches, and organizations at national and Olympic levels.
I am also the Mental Health Lead for Cycling Canada, supporting the development and implementation of mental health pathways, consultation, and education within the organization.
My clinical training in DBT, trauma-informed care, and eating disorder treatment supports work with the mental health challenges most commonly seen in sport, with attention to safety, emotional regulation, and long-term wellbeing.
Mental health is not separate from performance. It is foundational to it.
Getting Started
For athletes
If you're struggling with the mental demands of sport, book a free consultation to talk through what's happening and whether therapy feels like a good fit.
For coaches and organizations
If you’re interested in consultation, workshops, or training, reach out to discuss your needs and what support may be helpful.