The International OCD Foundation recently launched a web series aimed at bringing awareness to the impact that OCD and anxiety has on the athletic community. The series will take the form of panel discussions including a variety of experts. The first episode in the series…
What do you do if you want to be vaccinated, but you have an intense fear of needles? What do you do if you have a phobia- an intense, excessive, persistent fear of an object or situation? In a recent article in the Los Angeles…
Who wants to get poked and prodded with needles? In reality, not many people actually enjoy getting a shot in the arm. However, many people are currently finding themselves in a dilemma. On one hand, they fear finding themselves infected by covid-19, or worse, a…
Most athletes experience anxiety in some form. Often it is helpful in motivating them to consistently train hard in hopes of performing their best. However, when anxiety impedes their daily functioning and impairs their ability to perform, it becomes a detriment to their mental health.…
Although the stigma surrounding mental health is subsiding, it is still commonly believed that elite athletes must be as mentally healthy as they are physically fit. However, just as it would be ridiculous to assume that an athlete was incapable of breaking a bone or…
Does Pure-O OCD really exist? Is it possible for someone with OCD to have obsessions but not compulsions? Although there are people with OCD who do not engage in physical compulsions, these same people are likely engaging in mental compulsions such as compulsively worrying or…
Part of being an effective sport psychology and mental health professional is staying in contact with colleagues in order to support each other and exchange ideas. CBT SoCal’s Dr. Jason von Stietz is the co-chair of the Los Angeles County Psychological Associations (LACPA) Sport Performance…
What was life even like before the pandemic? In many ways, we have grown accustomed to social and physical distancing, hand sanitizing, and Zooming or video chatting. As the pandemic is nearing its end, more and more restrictions will be lifted. CNN Health recently published…
Is anxiety just another habit? Dr. Judson Brewer discusses his book Unwinding anxiety in an online interview with the Friend’s of the Semel Institute. In their discussion, he lays out how anxiety, like other habits, can be identified, better understood, and adapted into something more…
CBT SoCal’s Dr. Jason von Stietz recently had the honor of presenting at the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) West Regional Conference, which was hosted by California Baptist University. Dr. von Stietz’s presentation was titled, Providing team building and mental skills training for a…
The pandemic has impacted the world of sports at every level, including elite amateur sumo wrestling. CBT SoCal’s Dr. Jason von Stietz recently met with journalist Yunyi Wang to discuss how the covid-19 has impacted his work with the U.S. national sumo wrestling team in…
As Black History Month has just wrapped up, I thought I’d offer some quick reflections on unique issues affecting mental health in the African American community. Mental health concerns like depression and anxiety can of course impact all populations. However, there are specific historical, sociological, and cultural issues…