For more than 15 years, Premier Sport Psychology has had the privilege of working alongside athletes and leaders at every level of sport – from Olympians and professional organizations to collegiate programs (Divisions I, II, and III), high school teams, and youth athletes. Across thousands of lives impacted, one belief has guided our work: performance and well-being are inseparable. To perform at one’s best, athletes need not only physical preparation, but also a deep understanding of the psychological factors that drive confidence, resilience, and consistency under pressure. What sets Premier apart is our ongoing commitment to advancing the field of high-performance psychology itself. While many organizations rely solely on anecdotal […]

Welcome back to our two-part series on mental strategies for high-pressure events. In Part One, we explored four foundational tools for athletes: trusting the process, staying in the present moment, reframing nerves as readiness, and controlling what you can. In this second installment, we’ll build on that foundation. We’ll explore four additional mental skills – growth mindset, mindfulness, finding balance, and prioritizing process over outcome – and how athletes at the world stage use them to stay composed, resilient, and at their best when it counts most. Embracing a Growth Mindset Elite athletes make mistakes. They miss plays. They get scored on. The key difference between average and exceptional is […]

This is the first installment of a two-part series exploring how athletes can prepare for high pressure events. In Part One, we’ll focus on the first four strategies for navigating challenges in sport and life – starting with the importance of trusting the process. Competing under intense pressure is part of what makes elite sport so demanding. The bright lights, loud crowds, and high expectations can quickly shift an athlete’s focus away from performing at their best. At Premier Sport Psychology, we believe that how athletes prepare mentally is equally important as how they prepare physically. Our team recently had the opportunity to support Team USA Women’s Hockey at the […]

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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]