PREMIER PARENTS

Every athlete has another gear. We can help yours find it.

what is

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY?

Sport Psychology is a specialization within the field of psychology that focuses on the mental and emotional operations of performance. It includes a range of services, from performance restoration and optimization, to mental health services to help athletes contend with the pressures associated with sport, and to feel and perform at their best..

HOW

WE HELP

Premier Sport Psychology helps student athletes of all ages and ability levels become physically strong and mentally stronger. The skills developed in our sessions will increase your athlete’s self-awareness, optimize focus and motivation, enhance resilience, build confidence, manage emotions and performance anxieties, and teach your athlete to perform at his or her best under stress, on-demand, and when fatigued.

OUR

SERVICES

Premier Sport Psychology provides comprehensive mental performance services across three overlapping domains.

Performance Coaching. Mental performance coaching addresses the mental and social dynamics of performance that are not related to mental health. Athletes will map their mindset, identify their performance goals and tendencies, and develop skills to optimize the way they think and feel before, during, and after performances. Virtual sessions are available.

Mental Health Counseling. Premier’s licensed psychologists help athletes and non-athletes alike to diagnose or treat mental health conditions, including but not limited to: depression; anxiety disorders; and body dysmorphia. It’s common for student-athletes to see our psychologists after unsuccessful attempts at counseling with general therapists, as our sport psychologists understand the lives, values, and demands of modern athletes, and have experience treating mental health concerns in these environments.

Testing and Assessments. Premier offers ADHD testing for individuals 14 years of age and older, and is certified to administer a range of assessments to better understand your athlete’s unique composition, and to build customized strategies to enhance both performance and mental health.

WHAT TO

EXPECT

While every athlete will bring with them their own set of goals, challenges, and sensibilities, the process for receiving mental health or performance coaching services remains fairly consistent from athlete to athlete.

Intake

The first session of performance coaching or mental health care consists largely of information gathering and relationship building. Your sport psychologist or mental performance consultant will talk to your athlete about what they want, what’s holding them back, and what they’d like to achieve in the short, intermediate, and long term. Based on those answers, your provider will work with your athlete to build personalized strategies to address your athlete’s obstacles and achieve his or her goals. Practical homework designed to build and apply new skills and approaches is often assigned, and followed up on in future sessions.

For our clients under 18, we encourage parents to join the first portion of our intake session and provide their insights on their child’s needs and circumstances. We believe that parents are experts in their children, and use their insights to further inform our strategies and care.

Ongoing Support

Subsequent sessions are designed to develop and work a plan for optimal mental performance and wellness. This includes following up on assigned mental training, monitoring progress, fine-tuning strategies to meet the changing needs of your athlete, and implementing additional mental skills training, as needed.

The number and frequency of further sessions will be discussed at the conclusion of the intake, and based on the schedule of your athlete, the nuances of their presenting challenges, and the scale and timelines of their goals.

You are encouraged to share any questions or concerns you may have throughout this process with your provider.

WHY PREMIER

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY?

Premier Sport Psychology works with athletes of every age and ability level, from professionals and teams in your child’s favorite sport, to athletes in their early grade school years. We have a division devoted exclusively to research and work in youth athletics, and understand the unique demands of modern youth sports.

Our testing and assessment division was created with young student-athletes in mind, and ensures that your athlete will receive the most personalized, scientifically-reliable services the field has to offer. All of our treatments and services are supported by the AASP and are NCAA- and NIAAA-compliant.

ADHD

Testing

Premier Sport Psychology offers comprehensive ADHD testing and diagnostic services for athletes and non-athletes ages 14 years and older. Testing is conducted on-site in a discreet, comfortable, interactive environment, and our treatment interventions align with the best practices in the field.

Questions? We have answers, and offer a free, no obligation 15-minute phone consultation with our Director of Clinical Assessment to
determine whether ADHD testing is right for you or your child.

YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT ADHD

ADHD begins in childhood and can interfere with functioning in multiple areas of life. It is treatable through testing and variety of medical and behavioral interventions.

Take our free Youth ADHD Screener.

ADULT ADHD

Undiagnosed ADHD can continue into adulthood, and impact focus, work, and interpersonal relationships. Symptoms can be managed through effective testing and treatment.

Take our free Adult ADHD Screener.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE COST OF A SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SESSION?

Individual sessions cost $195 per session. Five-session bundles can be purchased for $850.

ARE YOUR SERVICES COVERED BY INSURANCE?

We do not accept direct payment from insurance companies, which means we cannot submit a claim to your insurance provider. If you are looking to be fully or partially reimbursed by your insurance company for services rendered, and you have received a mental health diagnosis from one of our sport psychologists, you will be responsible for submitting claims to your insurer. We can provide you with itemized receipts to support your claim, but cannot guarantee reimbursement. For most insurance companies, we are considered “out of network” providers, so the cost of services will be out of pocket. If you are planning to submit a claim, you may want to contact your insurance provider first and discuss your benefits. Some helpful questions to ask are: does my plan cover mental health services? If so, do you cover out of network providers? Do I have a session limit?

 

Many of our clients who don’t have insurance that will reimburse/cover the cost of sessions use their Health Savings or Flex Spending (HSA/FSA) to pay for services. However, we strongly recommend checking in with your insurance provider to ask what specifically you can use those accounts for, as many insurance companies have restrictions. We can process payment from an HSA/FSA via credit or debit card.

WHAT HAPPENS IN A SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SESSION?

Our sessions are tailored to each individual, so sessions will vary based on the presenting issues and disposition of the client. That said, our ambitions in one-on-one sessions remain largely the same: to understand the client’s goals, and the impediments to those goals. Once those understandings are in place, we will work with the individual to address, accept, or remove the impediments, and create a pathway to optimizing performance and achieving the goal.

IS SPORT PSYCHOLOGY ONLY FOR ATHLETES?

Not hardly. While “sport psychology” is the name given to the field, the origin and aim of all sport psychology is more accurately described as “the psychology of performance,” or the mental operations behind all performance. The tools used in sport psychology sessions apply as naturally to performing in the classroom, in relationships, or in admissions or professional settings as they do to field, rink, court, or mat. We’re building skills to perform better as people, not merely as athletes.

CAN PARENTS JOIN THEIR ATHLETES IN SESSIONS?

Yes. While most of our youth athletes prefer one-on-one sessions, we also offer one-on-one sessions with parents, and group sessions with parents and athletes together. We’ll work with you and your athlete to determine which type of sessions work best for you and your goals, and can modify our plan if new needs or issues arise.

DO YOU OFFER REMOTE SESSIONS FOR CLIENTS WHO LIVE OUT OF STATE?

Yes. We offer performance services for athletes anywhere in the world. We’re also able to offer mental health services to individuals in PSYPACT participating states. Please contact us to see if you are eligible, or visit PSYPACT’s informational site here.  For more information on Premier’s virtual sessions, click here.

 

We recommend that individuals with serious mental health concerns or experiencing severe symptoms seek immediate care from health care providers in their area.

DO YOU OFFER ADHD TESTING?

Yes. Premier Sport Psychology offers full ADHD testing and diagnostic services for individuals 14 years of age and older. Testing is not sport-specific and is available for athletes and non-athletes alike. Learn more.

THE PREMIER SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

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