What does it take to sustain performance (athletic, academic, leadership)? Scan the internet for words of wisdom and you'll come across dozens of suggestions. In this episode (and her last as an intern for now), co-host Sarah Policano details her top 5 mindset skills - keys for development as an athlete and student at Bucknell University. We detail the 5 skills and highlight those that serve as the foundation of Emotional Intelligence Skills, critical for anyone to develop. Episode Highlights: - Mindset skills for peak performance. - Elements of self-motivation. - Sarah's development of skill ..read more

Body image is a top concern among mental health professionals working with adolescents and young adults. We dig into the range of challenges among students and student athletes susceptible to distorted body image, the domino effect with other eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia), psychological health and performance. Other related topics include the perception of "healthy," pressure of social media, and misinformation around diets, supplements, and workout plans from non-credentialed "expert" influencers. Episode highlights: - The nature of body image challenges among students. - Dialogue abo ..read more

Are you coachable? Talented high school and college athletes are in full swing practice mode as the fall semester and sports season quickly approaches. For any student, student-athlete, performer, or professional who aspires toward excellent performance in whatever their chosen endeavor a massive question looms: "Are you coachable?" Seems like the question should have an obvious answer - "Of course I am!" In this episode we dig into the mental challenges of being coached - or receiving critical feedback from evaluators including the range of ways students unknowingly respond that may impact pe ..read more

While athletes and students strive for excellence, many experience psychological distress when pressure to perform intensifies. This occurs too often in athletes and students, especially when they land in a narrow view of defining "success." We dig into the common metrics students and athletes use to define success and the range of mental health effects of too much pressure, the impact of excessive pressure on performance, self-concept, and highlight how world class athletes are including mental health professionals on their development team. Episode highlights: - Pressure in sports and academ ..read more

Athletes encounter a host of psychological hurdles when recovering from injury. In this episode we dig into the challenges of coping mentally during recovery, decisions to re-commit to playing, awareness cues for realistic expectations, trusting our body to perform again, and the risks when athletes choose/are told they can no longer play. I have worked with dozens of athletes in a range of these circumstances. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to include a mental health professional as a part of the recovery team. Episode highlights: - Personal athletic injuries - Normalizing psyc ..read more

In this episode we dig into the pros and cons of social media on student and student-athlete development. Key areas like self-concept, self-confidence, body image, professional readiness, and relationship building, and intimacy are highlighted. Targeted action steps for students to develop “healthy” engagement with social media apps at a critical time of development! Episode highlights: - Social media & branding, NIL presence. - The motivation behind interacting on social media. - Who is validating and authoring your life? - Great read! “The Crowd” by Gustave LeBon. - Creating a personal b ..read more

Response to failure (perceived or real) is a critical skill for developing athletes & students. A lack of this skill has significant implications on self-confidence, mental health challenges (depression, anxiety, substance use), and general enjoyment of the activity. We dive into the normalcy of failure and highlight how it is a necessary experience to fuel personal strength and ongoing success. Specific examples and action steps are included to increase self-awareness and provide strategies to implement. At the end of the episode, be sure to stick around for a brief exercise to help devel ..read more

Life is an ongoing sparring match with stress. The mental and physical implications of ignoring stress are massive. In this episode we dig into performance and chronic stress among student athletes and college students, highlighting the health (mental and physical) risks if ignored. We also explain the nature of stress, what cues to look for, and action steps listeners can apply immediately to better manage stress. Be sure to stick around after the episode - I’ll walk you through an easy exercise I often utilize with athletes/performers that can be used across a range of athletic, academic, an ..read more

The jump from high school to college for a student-athlete carries many new challenges. Athletic, academic, and psychological hurdles loom large - even for the most gifted, successful high school athletes. In this episode we dive into those challenges, highlight the importance of prioritizing mental health, and the vast resources for student-athletes to connect with on campus. Intern & co-host Sarah Policano (Bucknell University Student Athlete) sheds valuable insights and tips for soon to be college student-athletes. Episode Overview: Introducing student-athlete Sarah Policano. A Runner’s ..read more

Dr. Joel & co-host Mia Fusillo dig into self-esteem and highlight influencing factors, relationship with anxiety & depression, challenges of real self versus ideal self, and the risks of relying on social media for self-value ..read more