Mental Health Services for Athletes
Rise above mental illness.
Take charge of mental wellness.
A Preeminent Leader in Mental Health Care for Athletes
Mental health is your greatest asset in the pursuit of excellence. That is why Athlete Insight specializes in athlete mental health services and strives to break the stigma around mental illness, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, perfectionism, relationship issues, self-esteem concerns, and trauma.
Why Athlete Insight?
Holistic Approach: We are trained and experienced clinicians who treat a variety of mental health conditions. We recognize that athletes face unique challenges that show up both in and outside of sport. In fact, your performance anxiety may be rooted in a mental health problem and we are here to help you sort through it all.
Expertise & Experience: Our team is comprised of sport psychologists, sport psychiatrists, and mental health professionals who are skilled in providing compassionate and informed care for athletes dealing with various mental health concerns.
Safe Space: Athlete Insight provides a confidential and judgment-free space for athletes to express themselves, seek help, and embark on a journey towards mental well-being. We welcome all individuals and offer inclusive services to athletes of all identities. You are most welcome to show up as your authentic self and can trust that your safety is our top priority.
Specialized Services: Athlete counseling and sports therapy designed for athletes by athletes.
Strength-based and Skills-driven: Our program builds upon your strengths to create a therapy approach to support you as an individual. As athletes ourselves, we know that developing news skills and having accountability for behavioral change are critical aspects of improvement. That’s why, at Athlete Insight, you get therapist who will coach you towards mental health.
What Sets Us Apart?
Proven-success: We have supported countless professional, Olympic, Paralympic, collegiate, youth, and masters athletes. No two athletes are alike - and we help each athlete cultivate their own path toward mental wellness.
Whether online or in person, we are here to help you break free and improve your mental health today!
Do you wonder how your mental health impacts your athletic performance?
Do you find yourself wanting to work on your mental health but are not sure how?
Are you looking for effective strategies to improve your mental health?
Are you ready to talk to someone?
If so, let’s chat. Schedule a complimentary discovery call today - no strings attached - we will explore what is going on in your mind and consider the goodness of fit between your needs & our services.
Team up with Athlete Insight today - Where Mental Health Fuels Athletic Excellence.
Stop mental health challenges from continuing to negatively impact you - take your first step in health, healing, and mental strength by booking now.
FAQs
Is it common for athletes to experience mental health struggles?
Yes! We live in a world that believes athletes are super-humans who are immune to mental illness. However, the truth is that mental illness does not discriminate and impacts athletes of all sports and identities. Additionally, athletes can’t just choose to stop having mental illness just like they cannot choose to not have a broken bone.
What resources are available for mental health support in sports?
Mental health resources include therapy, counseling, support groups, and medications. At Athlete Insight, we offer performance enhancement services, therapy, EMDR, and medication management.
How do I know if I actually need professional help?
Like a physical injury, mental illness requires consistent effort and, frequently, treatment to achieve healing. Typically, it doesn’t just go away on it’s own. Sometimes, athletes need professional support to learn how to manage their symptoms and rewire their brain to support mental wellness. If you have been trying to manage your mental health on your own but feel like your symptoms are staying the same or getting worse, we encourage you to speak with a mental health professional to explore how they can help you restore your mental health.
Mackenzi Kirschner Phelan, LPCC
In-person & telehealth services
Help, and the need for it, looks different for every athlete. Truly, there is no blueprint for how, when, or why athletes ask for help; however, taking the first step is the biggest one. Whether you struggle with anxious thoughts while performing, have difficulty connecting with others and building community, or feel confused about finding purpose outside of sport, you’re in the right place.
Every athlete is different and has experienced their own struggles leading them to this point. So, why shouldn’t your therapy process be just as individualized? Using a humanistic and client-centered approach, I focus on each athlete as an individual and utilize techniques that aim to heal a whole person rather than narrowly focus on the athlete.
My priority is to create a cooperative therapeutic environment where you feel safe to explore topics and emotions that are tough to face. Together, we can sort through your challenges to achieve your goals in life and sport.
My background as a Division 1 athlete and former assistant team manager at Oral Roberts University has given me a unique insight into the nuanced mental health needs of athletes. Not only did I compete as soccer player, I also had the incredible opportunity to spearhead the recruitment of prospective high school student athletes. Having experienced firsthand the importance of caring for the mind as intentionally as the body, I have a deep understanding of the mental health challenges faced by athletes. I am committed to advancing the conversation on mental health in athletics and provide a supportive environment for athletes to address their challenges, enabling them to optimize their mental health and achieve their peak mental performance.
Experience - I graduated from Wichita State University with a master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Sports Counseling. Prior to joining Athlete Insight, I worked at the WSU Wise Clinic assessing and working with clients in the community in addition to providing counseling in the private practice setting where I assisted clients working through performance anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD symptoms.
License
Colorado
Specialties
Athlete retirement, college recruitment & transition, injury recovery, anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD
Populations
Children (10+yo), Adolescents, Adults
Kate Bennett, PsyD
In-person & telehealth services
Athletes are “supposed” to be mentally tough; however, the truth is that athletes are humans first. As a person, you experience all of the same stress as your non-athlete peers in addition to ALL of the stressors that sport & competition brings along. You might struggle to acknowledge that your mind might not be “tough enough” to handle all of that pressure. I am here to say, it is okay. You can ask for help. In fact, you become stronger and tougher when you know how to effectively manage your headspace.
I meet all athletes exactly where they are at, as humans first. Together, we identify goals that goals will restore your health in addition to support your relationship with food, your body and exercise. Working with me means that you get both a therapist and a coach. My goal is to provide the “right-for-you” tools, strategies, and insights to help you reclaim your physical and mental health. As an action-oriented therapist, my goal is to work myself out of a job by helping you to create meaningful and lasting change in your life.
Experience: I am a clinical sport psychologist, licensed in the state of Colorado. I earned my BS in kinesiology and athletic training from Indiana University and my EdM in counseling and sport psychology from Boston University. My passion for the connection between the mental and physical health of athletes prompted me to return to graduate school at the University of the Rockies. I completed my practicum at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Counseling Center and my pre-doctoral internship at the Western Washington University Counseling Center. I then completed my post-doctoral fellowship at EDCare.
I am a specialist in the treatment of athletes recovering from eating disorders and have presented at numerous national conferences on topics related to athletes and eating disorders, published both a book and book chapter on the topic, and have spoken on many podcasts to help create awareness of the prevalence of eating disorders among athletes.
I spend much of my time with my partner and two children. I embrace every opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Colorado by mountain biking, paddle boarding, hiking, and attending sporting events.
License
Colorado
Populations
Adolescents (14+ yo), Adults
Amy Laurent, MD
In-person & telehealth services
The idea of taking medications to manage your headspace can be scary to think about. Perhaps you think you need to “tough it out” or find yourself staying busy all the time to avoid those unwanted symptoms that make it unbearable to hangout alone in your head.
I am here to help! Taking meds does not need to be scary or shameful. The truth is, there are some aspects of our brains that we simply cannot control. But, meds can help manage those unwanted symptoms. Not because you are weak. Not because you haven’t tried hard enough. Simply, because, you have no control over your brain chemistry.
At Athlete Insight, I offer psychiatric care to athletes recovering from eating disorders in an outpatient setting. I take a collaborative approach with my clients, working alongside them and other members of their team to empower them in leading their healthiest and most balanced lives. As a psychiatrist, I prescribe medication thoughtfully, considering the unique biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to each individual's story. I strongly believe that an athlete's mental health is just as important as their physical well-being, and I view medication management as one of the many tools that can help them achieve optimal performance in a healthy manner. In my leisure time, I enjoy activities such as hiking, running, yoga, reading, and spending quality time with my loved ones.
Experience: I am sport psychiatrist. I completed my undergraduate degree at Loyola University Chicago and medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. During my residency training at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, I served as the Chief Resident. I am proud to be board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a member of the American Psychiatric Association. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work in various settings and with diverse populations.
Currently, I am an active member of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry (ISSP) and am working towards additional certification in Sports Psychiatry. I have applied my expertise and understanding of athletes as the former attending psychiatrist of the Athlete EDGE Program at EDCare. In this role, I worked as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide care to elite athletes who are on the path to recovery from eating disorders.
Licenses
Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Vermont, Texas & Washington
Populations
Late Adolescence (16+yo), Adults