University of Texas at Tyler Athletics

UT TYLER ATHLETICS PERFORMANCE AND PSYCHOLOGY

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” Michael Jordan Barriers exist during any great pursuit. Yet sometimes those obstacles are invisible to those around us and exist only in our mind. Everyone everywhere experiences these challenges. Athletes, however, often experience unique challenges with unique stressors. The stigma of seeking help for fear of appearing weak or concerned of what others may think only exacerbates the difficulty. Thankfully, more and more professional athletes are speaking out about their own experiences and challenges with their mental health and the effect it has on their performance and personal well-being. From more intense challenges such as trauma, to those annoying, irrational thoughts that get int the way, you have support, and we are here to help. Our unique skills can assist you and those you want on your care team, dissect the challenge, develop a plan to overcome, and begin working towards climbing over, or working around those obstacles. The goal is to create a Sports Psychology program that can provide individual, group and consultation services to ensure our teams and athletes are performing at peak levels. Together we will work to help you gain the confidence, strength and overall wellness needed to compete at your best. We encourage you to meet with us; you will quickly see that sports psychology is different than what you might expect.

GENERAL STATEMENT

The American Psychological Association (APA) acknowledges Sports Psychology as a specialized development of proficiency in theory, therapeutic interventions, skills training, and consultation/liaison services obtained by a clinician aimed at helping athletes, teams, coaches, and administrators perform at optimum levels (APA, 2008).

 

SERVICES OFFERED
Mental Skills	These skills are developed and utilized in both individual and team sessions. Activities such as goal setting, attention and concentration, emotion management, imagery, relaxation, and other mindfulness-based skills can assist the athlete in enhancing the mental aspect of their sport.
Counseling and Clinical Interventions	“Athletes are first and foremost human beings.”(Christakou, et al., 2022). Athletes commonly experience many of the same life stress, emotional, and mental challenges that others do. Fortunately, athletes have their passion for their sport and their teammates to help them cope, yet sometimes, that is not enough, and that is OKAY! Individual sessions can assist with unhelpful thoughts of self, worry, confidence, eating disorders, substance use, depression, anxiety, and many other symptoms. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. You do not have to walk that path alone; we are here to help.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy	This service can be offered both to individuals and/or teams, coaches, and administrators. The goal for this therapy is to assist the client in learning to identify the interactions between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By learning to be mindful of these experiences, a client can improve their performance both on/off their playing field by learning to change unhelpful thinking patterns, negative thoughts of self and performance, and develop/enhance other mental skills that will aide in performing at their best!
Consultation and Training	Working with a clinician with specific training in sports psychology can benefit individuals AND teams alike! We commonly work with teams to increase cohesion, teamwork, conflict, or simply provide mental skills training in a group setting. This can also include other members of the team including coaches, coaching staff, trainers too! This can be decided on an individual team case by case basis.

LIST OF RESOURCES
Student Counseling Center	The Student Counseling Center is always there for our student athletes and acknowledges the unique challenges they face. At the moment there is a limited opportunity for some student athletes to seek counseling services with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student, who has a background in Health and Kinesiology, international athletic experience, and a passion for working with student athletes in a mental wellness capacity. If this interest you, please schedule an appointment with the Student Counseling Center and be sure to identify yourself as a student athlete. For more information on this opportunity or to simply schedule an appointment with any of the other counselors at the center, simply follow the link below. UT Tyler Student Counseling Center
NCAA Resources on Mental Health	http://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/mental-health-best-practices
UT Tyler Guide To Thrive	UT Tyler Guide to Thrive
What to Do in a Crisis (Students)	Report a Concern ·         Make an online referral using our CARE Report Form. ·         To speak with a member of the CARE Team, call 903.565.5946. ·         To understand a situation involving a student in distress or facing hardship, review the "What to Watch For/Levels of Concern" diagram. CARE Team referrals will be received during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), and are not monitored after hours, on weekends, or during official University holidays. If this is a true emergency or requires immediate attention, please call 911 or UPD Dispatch at 903.566.7300.
On-Campus Resources	Call the Student Counseling Center: 903.565.5746 or Call the 24/7 Crisis Line: 903.566.7254 During Office Hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday) Walk in the Counseling Center: University Center Room 3170. After Office Hours Call UT Tyler Police: 9-1-1 (emergency) or 903.566.7300 (non-emergency). You can also call the 24/7 Crisis Line: 903.566.7254
Off-Campus Resources	Life-Threatening Emergency Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Non-Life-Threatening Emergency Call The Andrews Center Hotline: 1.877.934.2131. East Texas Crisis Center: 903.595.5591 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK (8255)