Sports Psychiatry
Relief for when trying your best just isn’t enough.
World-Class Sports Psychiatry
Centennial Colorado
Sport psychology and talk therapy are valuable tools for supporting the health and performance of athletes.
They can help us reach goals, overcome mental blocks, and develop a competitive edge.
However, there are times when physiological factors negatively impact both performance and the quality of athletes’ lives despite countless efforts to think positively or be grateful for what they have. Concerns such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, and ADHD can be exhausting to manage.
The care of a specialized sports psychiatrist can be integral to improving an athlete’s mental health.
This is not about weakness. It is not a matter of mental toughness. Sometimes, neurotransmitters lead to brain imbalances that athletes simply cannot outthink, out run, or out meditate.
Psychiatric Assessments
Medication Management
One-time Consultations (For athletes not ready to start taking meds but have real questions and need expert answers to make educated decisions.)
Athlete Insight recognizes that athletes need a variety of treatment options, including the care of sport-specialized medication management.
How Does Sports Psychiatry Work?
Great question!
Step 1: Complete a psychiatric evaluation - This is a one-time extensive information gathering session that is used to support medication recommendations. This session is a 60 minute appointment.
Step 2: Schedule monthly medication management sessions for 2-3 three months following the evaluation - These appointments ensure the medication is working as intended in addition to answering your questions and addressing any concerns that you have. These appointments are commonly 25-40 minutes long.
Step 3: Enter a maintenance plan - Once your symptoms are improving and meds are stable, you will transition to meeting every 3-6 months. These appointments are typically 15-30 minutes long.
We are committed to supporting athletes so that they can live their best lives and perform at the top of their sports.
Are you exhausted from constantly trying to manage overwhelming thoughts?
Do you find yourself trying to get out of the same pattern of behaviors over and over again?
Do you wonder if you have anxiety or depression?
Do you find it hard to sit still even though you know that your body needs to recover?
Are you ready for help?
We can help.
FAQs
Can athletes take medications?
Yes! While each sport discipline has varying rules regarding legal and banned substances, many athletes use medications to support their mental health. Prior to prescribing any medications, we can consult the global DRO as a team to ensure that the medications are not on a banned substance list. If needed, we can complete a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to support the use of a prescribed medication.
What medication works best for anxiety or depression?
Because every individual has their own unique set of genetics and life circumstances, it is not possible to say which medication will work best for your specific need without knowing you. However, we promise to help you identify the best options to help manage your mental health.
Do medications negatively affect sport performance?
This is not a yes or no answer. At Athlete Insight, our goal is to help you identify a medication which best supports your mental health AND has little-to-no impact on your athleticism. This is very possible. In fact, you may find that your sport performance improves once you are able to better manage your mental health.
Will I become dependent on medications?
This is a nuanced question that depends on the type of medication that you take. Rather than answer this with a yes or no, we encourage you to schedule a consultation session. This would allow our sports psychiatrist to learn more about your symptoms and discuss different types of medications with you. This would allow you to receive both an educated and honest reply to the question.
Will I have to take medications forever if I start them?
No! This is a common question and concern, especially among high performing individuals. It is important to remember that YOU are in charge of the decision to take or stop meds. Through the professional relationship that you create with a sports psychiatrist, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and make educated decisions about starting and stopping meds. This is a collaborative relationship. Any recommendations are based on your concerns, experiences, and needs.
How do I know if I am experiencing a side effect?
The only way to answer this question is through conversation. Communication with your sports psychiatrist is a key to finding the right medication and dosage for you. Remember, there is no right or wrong question. Nor is there anything off limits during our discussion. Bring up your concerns, ask about the side effects you are worried about. Let’s talk.
Amy Laurent, MD
At Athlete Insight, I offer psychiatric care to athletes 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.
BS - Loyola University Chicago
MD - Medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Affiliations - Member of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry
Licenses - Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Hawaii, Michigan, Maine, Texas, Vermont, Washington
Specialties
Eating disorders, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, substance abuse
Populations
Late Adolescence (16+yo), Adults