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Dr. Carly Anderson was featured in USA Today’s specialty section, where she discussed the role of superstition in sports. She explained how rituals and superstitions provide athletes with a sense of control, helping to reduce anxiety and enhance confidence. While these habits may not directly influence performance, they can serve as a powerful psychological tool. Dr. Anderson also highlighted the connection between superstition and the placebo effect, emphasizing how belief itself can shape an athlete’s mindset and experience. We’re proud to see Dr. Anderson’s expertise recognized on a national stage! Read the full article in USA Today to learn more about her insights into the psychology behind sports superstitions. Read the full article here....
"Harlan Austin, Ph.D., principal sport psychologist with Premier Sport Psychology, says this concept comes up often in his work, especially with ultrarunners and triathletes. “The amount of time that they have to put into the training component for these super long races sometimes can really take up a lot of their life,” he tells Runner’s World. “And when the scale gets tipped so far in one direction, we can definitely run the risk of burnout, or just not having enough space or time in our lives for those other aspects of wellness that certainly help make a well-rounded person.” The article "8 Dimensions of Wellness: How to Improve Your Health & Running" emphasizes a holistic approach to well-being beyond physical fitness. It outlines eight wellness dimensions, such as physical, intellectual, emotional, environmental, financial, occupational, social, and spiritual, stating that neglecting any one of these can impact overall health. Experts, like Dr. Harlan Austin, sugg...
A Minnesota native, Dr. Ben Merkling serves as a Sport Psychologist and Vice Director of Clinical Services at Premier Sport Psychology. Ben works with athletes ranging from youth to Division 1 collegiate athletes and professionals, and specializes in trauma therapy, anxiety, depression, injury rehabilitation, mindfulness, goal setting, and mental blocks. Why did you get into/pursue a career in sport psychology? I have always loved sports- all sports! As a young athlete, I found the mental side of the game difficult until I was able to find my own high performance mindset late in my career. After my athletic career ended, I found myself very drawn to psychology, and I was fascinated by the inner workings of the mind, emotions, and behaviors. I studied psychology in college and by the end of college, I knew I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could about psychology. I also wanted to share this information with others, so I wen...