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...

"We're witnessing something extremely rare, something that may not ever come around again," Premier's Dr. Carly Anderson comments on Simone Biles' return to greatness following her outstanding showing at the 2023 World Gymnastic Championships. Read the full article at DW.com....

Premier Sport Psychology is thrilled to welcome Dr. Lauren Zimmerman to its team as a Postdoctoral Resident. A native of Rothsay, Minnesota, Lauren received her Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wyoming and works with individuals of all ages and levels of sport. Lauren also assists with psychological testing for the University of Minnesota Athletics Department.  Learn more about Lauren, her background, and what brought her to Premier! (more…)...