Sports Psychology

create a better environment of mental health. While traditional talk therapy may address issues from the past (which may nevertheless be of great benefit to some athletes), CBT focuses more on issues in the here and now, helping an athlete overcome issues that range from anxiety to eating disorders to sleep issues to addiction. Finally, clinical sports psychologists often work with a physician to prescribe medication for an athlete. Prescription medication can help address an issue by itself, or it can be a powerful aid when used with other therapy methods. Clinical

Simone Biles and Olympic mental health

American gymnast Simone Biles shocked the nation and the sports world by withdrawing from the women’s team final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Biles claimed that the “mental’s not there,” saying that her body and mind were not aligned. Biles, and hundreds of other American Olympic gymnasts, had suffered abuse from former team doctor Larry Nassar, who is currently serving a life sentence in prison. “I should have quit before Tokyo,” said Biles. Jess Bartley, director of mental health services for Team USA, noted the extreme stress of the competition, saying that Team USA provided an anonymous mental health support line for athletes at the Olympics, as well as a 50-page emergency action plan for issues like depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse.

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Sports Psychology