It is well known that athletes do their best to `maintain a positive mindset. They strive to stay focused on their goals and deliberately practice positive self-talk. However, even with deliberate focus and effort, they can still fall into certain patterns of unhelpful thoughts or…
CBT SoCal therapists are often asked to share their expertise with schools, organizations, and communities. Dr. Jason von Stietz was recently invited to speak to a high school sport psychology class taught at Campbell Hall. Campbell Hall is a K- 12 all gender private school…
At CBT SoCal, our therapists are active members of the mental health community. Dr. Jason von Stietz recently joined the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) Anxiety in Athlete’s Task Force. The IOCDF is an organization committed to helping people suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder and related…
In 2018, Kevin Love, former collegiate basketball player for the UCLA Bruins and a five-time NBA all-star, published an essay describing his life-long struggle with depression and anxiety. Love’s essay kicked off a series of high profile athletes disclosing their mental health histories in an…
Suffering a concussion is always a scary experience. Many athletes are justifiably concerned about the long-term health of their brain and how a brain injury, such as a concussion, can impact their functioning later in life. Therefore, it is helpful to understand the facts…
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the dangers of sport-related concussions. Movies such as Concussion starring Will Smith, and the heavily publicized trial of Aaron Hernandez, an upcoming NFL player posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), have highlighted the need…
At CBT SoCal, our therapists often share their expertise by providing didactic trainings for other mental health professionals. Recently, Dr. Jason von Stietz led two separate trainings for the Whittier College Counseling Center (WCCC). Dr. von Stietz previously completed four years of advanced training at…
Professional sports are rife with mental stressors. In Major League Baseball players perform while dealing with hecklers, the risk of disappointing their own fans, being criticized on ESPN, and the possibility of being benched or cut from the team. In a recent article in The…
Simone Biles is not the first high profile athlete to publicly discuss their mental health issues. Recently, Naomi Osaka made news by withdrawing from the French Open in order to prioritize her mental health. Michael Phelps, arguably the most successful Olympian of all time, has…
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…
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…