About Us

We consider our work one of life's greatest honors.

 

Meet The Athlete Insight Team

  • Kate Bennett, PsyD

    In-person & Telehealth

    Specialties
    Eating disorders, sport & performance enhancement, anxiety, perfectionism, career/life transition, confidence & resilience, sport trauma, return from injury

    Read Bio

  • Amy Laurent, MD

    In-person & Telehealth

    Specialties
    Medication Management

    Eating disorders, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, substance abuse

    Read Bio
Item 1 of 5

Hi, I’m Dr. Kate Bennett, a three-time national champion, clinical & sport psychologist, author, speaker, and founder of Athlete Insight.

 

We’re so glad you're here.

Hi there, I'm Dr. Kate Bennett! I have a passion for helping athletes overcome the roadblocks holding them back from achieving their full potential, and it didn't just begin when I became a therapist. My career began in sports medicine and evolved to sport psychology and coaching before specializing in the performance and mental health needs of athletes. 

During my time in coaching, I was fascinated by the link between mental health, physical health, and sports performance, and that prompted me to return to grad school to study clinical psychology. In 2008, while attending grad school, I felt like my background in sport psychology and coaching were coming together, and I was driven to put my experiences to work for athletes.

I had no idea I was about to need those tools for my most difficult client yet.

  • In August of that year, I began to have some health problems that eventually led to a diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was 28 years old and enjoying success in the cycling field, with big goals for myself. While my medical team was optimistic about my cancer prognosis, I knew that months of chemo and radiation would take a toll on my studies and cycling goals, and I braced myself for the treatment. I was determined to send a loud message to my body about my ability to overcome this obstacle, so before I started chemo I traveled to San Diego and learned to surf.

    As expected, the effects of the cancer coupled with the regimen of chemotherapy caused extreme fatigue and muscle aches. In spite of these setbacks, I was determined to stay active and motivated, and I continued to hike and ride straight through treatment. I told my oncologist that it was my goal to win a national cycling championship once I had conquered my cancer, and that plan motivated me to keep moving, even on the days I felt like my athletic superpowers waned.

    I finished up chemo in December, followed it up with radiation, and in February of 2009, I received the welcome news that my cancer was gone. I was elated, but I still carried the effects of the chemo and radiation, making recovery slow. I got back on my bike and continued to rebuild my stamina. I was making plans and setting goals!

    In August of 2009, eleven months after my cancer diagnosis, I competed in the USA Cycling Track Nationals and won! Two days later, my team and I broke the previous record for team competition, and won that as well.

    As I stood on the podium that day, with not just one but two national championships, I was overcome with gratefulness for the support and tools I had to overcome the setbacks I experienced. I knew then I could help others do the same.

    You might be wondering, where that third national championship title plays into this story. Well, 15 years later, I returned to elite sports to compete in a different cycling discipline: Downhill Racing. I clenched my third national championship in August 2024.

    My downhill championship called upon every mental skill that I know and teach.

    Whether you are coming back from a life setback or looking to improve your confidence and competitiveness, I can help you move past the roadblocks to achieve the goals you have for yourself! I hope you'll join me here.

 You may be interested in my book or those I've co-authored.

Eating Disorders in Special Populations

by Fries and Sullivan and featuring “Eating Disorders in Athletes” by Kate Bennett, PsyD

Cycling Science

by Cheung and Zabala and featuring “Motivation and Mental Training” by Jim Taylor, PhD and Kate Bennett, PsyD

Our mission & values.

We are on a mission to empower athletes to thrive in life and sport, and we deeply value:

 

  • We believe that no two stories are alike and that every athlete deserves equal opportunities to support both their performance and mental health. Not only do we appreciate the impact of diversity, we champion an inclusive and equitable culture within Athlete Insight to meet the needs of all athletes. Your story will be heard with curiosity, empathy, and compassion. We also honor individual values. You will be encouraged to live an authentic life congruent with your own beliefs, values, needs, and ambitions.

  • We take a strength-based approach to therapy and utilize each client's inherent strengths to build a foundation for change. You will be empowered to build upon your natural strengths to develop new insights, skills, and knowledge. The result: A stronger, wiser, more confident, and more resilient you. No two stories are alike, and that is honored here.

  • We promote overall health (emotional/psychological, physical, relational, and spiritual) and we will provide support and/or referrals as appropriate to address individual needs.

  • Personal and professional integrity are core values of this practice, and we promise to meet your individual needs with honesty and sincerity.

  • We understand the importance of trust and safety in the therapeutic relationship. Therefore, it is our #1 priority to establish safety through honesty and transparency for the entirety of our work together.

  • We honor the importance of teamwork in the therapeutic relationship. You will be empowered to assert your needs and share your concerns throughout therapy. We recognize that you are the expert on yourself, and the therapeutic relationship exists to help you navigate obstacles that interfere with your ability to thrive in life and sport.

    We also strongly value a professional team approach when circumstances warrant. We will lead your treatment team and coordinate care with confidence and experience.