Sports Counseling

The primary difference between a sports psychologist and a therapist is the scope of treatment. A sports psychologist, and other sports performance service providers such as athletic counselors and sports counselors, are dedicated to enhancing athlete performance through the development of mental skills rooted in sport psychology. Performance focused mental skills can include creating pre-competition routines and focus plans, strategies for building confidence, learning controlled breath-work techniques, engaging in visualization or imagery, and strategies for managing performance anxiety.  On the other hand, a therapist provides clinical support to diagnose, manage and treat mental health symptoms (such as depression, anxiety, and trauma, etc..) and promote overall mental health within all aspects of a person’s life.

The field of Applied Sport Psychology embodies the intersection of athlete mental health and athletic performance. A sports counselor, or a sports psychologist, helps athletes improve both their sport performance and mental health. A sports counselor understands the interconnection between an athlete’s performance and mental health. A sports counselor takes a holistic approach to therapy that aims to improve both an athlete’s performance under pressure in competition and mental wellness in life beyond sport. Sports counselors often draw from common therapy modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support the athlete through a lens of Sport Psychology.

At Headstrong Mindset, you can choose the payment option that is best for you. Dr. Brooke Rundle is in-network with the following health insurance companies: Aetna Colorado, Carelon Colorado, Cigna Colorado, Optum Colorado and Anthem (BCBS), and Cigna Colorado. For payment out-of-pocket, sessions are billed to a credit card on file after each session. Monthly Superbills can be provided for out-of-network clients and sliding scale options are available for those who financially qualify. The advantage to paying out-of-pocket is that you do not need to jump through insurance hoops or have a formal mental health diagnosis in your health record.

Whether or not your health insurance will cover your sessions with a sports psychologist depends on a number of factors. Firstly, your sports psychologist, or sports counselor, must be a licensed clinician credentialed by your health insurance company to be considered “in-network”. Secondly, your health insurance coverage and the amount of your session co-pay depends on your specific health insurance plan. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance provider in advance of your first appointment to confirm your in-network vs out-of-network health benefits.

The price of an individual 50–60-minute session with a sports psychologist can typically range from $100 to $300 depending on your location, the session format (in-person vs Telehealth), and the provider’s experience. For sports psychology services in Colorado, Dr. Brooke Rundle charges $200 for an in-take session and between $150 to $170 for ongoing 45-to-55-minute sessions.  

Sports psychology consultation for coaches is important because coaches experience many of the same symptoms and obstacles that athletes do over the course of a season. Working with a sports psychologist can help coaches manage their own performance anxiety, improve emotion regulation, overcome mental fatigue and career burnout, improve relationships with your athletes and members of your coaching staff, and support the recovery from sport-related trauma. At the end of the day, coaches need support too and sessions with a sports psychologist are one of the best tools for improving the mental health and performance of coaches.

Yes, seeing a sports psychologist is almost always worth it, especially if you are experiencing performance anxiety, mental fatigue or career burnout, low confidence and self-esteem, relationship conflicts with your teammates and members of your coaching staff, or are recovering from a sport-related injury or sport-related trauma. You can learn more about what sports psychologists do here.

To schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with Dr. Brooke Rundle, click this link to get started.