Dr. Ben Merkling and the Benefits of Sport Psychology
Premier Sport Psychology
by David Youngs
3M ago
A Minnesota native, Dr. Ben Merkling serves as a Sport Psychologist and Vice Director of Clinical Services at Premier Sport Psychology. Ben works with athletes ranging from youth to Division 1 collegiate athletes and professionals, and specializes in trauma therapy, anxiety, depression, injury rehabilitation, mindfulness, goal setting, and mental blocks. Why did you get into/pursue a career in sport psychology?I have always loved sports- all sports! As a young athlete, I found the mental side of the game difficult until I was able to find my own high performance mindset late in my career. Afte ..read more
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ARTICLE: Dr. Carly Anderson Comments on Simone Biles’ Return to Greatness
Premier Sport Psychology
by David Youngs
6M ago
“We’re witnessing something extremely rare, something that may not ever come around again,” Premier’s Dr. Carly Anderson comments on Simone Biles’ return to greatness following her outstanding showing at the 2023 World Gymnastic Championships. Read the full article at DW.com. The post ARTICLE: Dr. Carly Anderson Comments on Simone Biles’ Return to Greatness appeared first on Premier Sport Psychology ..read more
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Get To Know Dr. Lauren Zimmerman
Premier Sport Psychology
by David Youngs
6M ago
Premier Sport Psychology is thrilled to welcome Dr. Lauren Zimmerman to its team as a Postdoctoral Resident. A native of Rothsay, Minnesota, Lauren received her Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wyoming and works with individuals of all ages and levels of sport. Lauren also assists with psychological testing for the University of Minnesota Athletics Department.  Learn more about Lauren, her background, and what brought her to Premier! What peaked your interest in pursuing a career in the sport psychology and mental health field?I think I always knew that I wa ..read more
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ARTICLE: Dr. Justin Anderson Comments on Challenges for Elite Athletes During COVID
Premier Sport Psychology
by David Youngs
7M ago
“Some players on the bubble felt like they had to grind much harder because they felt they didn’t get the opportunities they would have gotten had it been a full season and Senior Bowls and All-Star games and the Combine. Those guys were feeling shortchanged and it was difficult mentally.” The COVID pandemic and nationwide lockdowns caused stress and uncertainty for individuals of all walks of life. Premier’s Dr. Justin Anderson commented on some of the challenges presented to high-level athletes in a recent article by Matthew Collar of Purple Insider. Read the full article at Purple Insider ..read more
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The Power of Focal Points
Premier Sport Psychology
by Kaity Weimerskirch
8M ago
Where an athlete places their attention is the number one determinant of whether they will find success or not. Because focus is critical to peak performance, it’s important to identify helpful and unhelpful focal points. Being aware of what you are focusing on and how it affects you before, during, and after competitions is essential for maximizing performance. Having productive focal points, or where we place our focus, is a game-changer both in and out of competition. The first step is identifying productive vs. unproductive focal points.  Some examples of productive focal points could ..read more
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ARTICLE: Dr. Carly Anderson Featured in Story Highlighting Student-Athlete’s Passion Off The Court
Premier Sport Psychology
by David Youngs
8M ago
“If you see value in it making you a better person and a more balanced person and a better version of yourself, then we have to prioritize it in your life.” Sport takes up much of an athlete’s time, yet having additional hobbies can create an important sense of balance and improve overall wellness. Premier’s Dr. Carly Anderson was featured in a Minnesota Daily article highlighting Golden Gopher student-athlete Amaya Battle and her off-court passion for photography. Read the full article at Minnesota Daily. The post ARTICLE: Dr. Carly Anderson Featured in Story Highlighting Student-Athlete ..read more
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Dr. Carly Anderson Joins The Go Gopher Podcast with Mike Grimm to Talk Sport Psychology and Mental Performance
Premier Sport Psychology
by Premier Sport Psychology
8M ago
“Go in and give your best effort on the controllables. Crush the process. If the outcome is a bi-product of your best effort, then it’s enough.” In an era of hyper-competitiveness and expectations, capitalizing on the mental side of sport is critical for accelerating growth and development. Premier’s Dr. Carly Anderson joins the Go Gopher Podcast with Mike Grimm to dive into sport psychology and performance and how the mind of an athlete can be the difference between a powerful, productive performance and an underwhelming one. Listen to the full episode on the Talk North Podcast Network ..read more
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Tying Mental Health to Mental Performance: The Wellness Continuum
Premier Sport Psychology
by Kaity Weimerskirch
8M ago
All performers have the goal of reaching their potential and performing to the best of their abilities. A lot of time and effort is spent learning the physical techniques and skills that are required for sport. While the physical part of sport is highly important, peak performance can’t take place without a strong mental base.  Just as physical and mental performance go hand-in-hand, so do mental performance and mental health. One in four people struggle with their mental health; four out of four people have mental health. Having strong mental wellness is required to reach peak performanc ..read more
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Dr. Justin Anderson Featured in Story on Professional Athletes and Mental Health (WCCO)
Premier Sport Psychology
by Premier Sport Psychology
8M ago
“The best thing that we can do to fear is walk towards the fear and understand it,” Anderson said. “When we really step into the fear it’s a lot less fearful than we imagine it to be. But most people try to avoid the fear.” In an era where athletes are faced with high volumes of pressure, Dr. Justin Anderson was featured alongside four Minnesota professional athletes in a story on mental health in professional sports and how athletes are dealing with pressure in today’s world. Read the full story at WCCO. The post Dr. Justin Anderson Featured in Story on Professional Athletes and Mental Health ..read more
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Putting Proactive Mental Health Care in Action
Premier Sport Psychology
by Kaity Weimerskirch
8M ago
Everyone’s mental health journey looks different. It is important to understand that everyone has mental health regardless of what point of their journey they are at. That journey of mental health fluctuates throughout the course of your life. The stressors of everyday life can seem unbearable at times, especially with the mental health crisis at an all time high post-COVID. Taking action to maintain your well-being is essential and the best way to do it is through proactive mental health care.  Here are a few tips to help be proactive with your mental health: Identify & Acknowledge Y ..read more
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