Sports Psychology at The Morgens Group

WHAT IS SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY?

Sport Psychology is a discipline of psychology dedicated to the scientific study of people and psychological factors as applied to sports, as well as the influence sports have on the emotional and psychological well-being of athletes.

Sports Psychologists work with athletes, teams, coaches, and parents of athletes in a variety of different roles ranging from consultation, performance enhancement, motivation, wellness and injury recovery, and managing interpersonal relationships as they relate to sports.

At the Morgens Group, we utilize evidence-based, cutting-edge performance enhancement techniques that have demonstrated consistent results in the field of Sport Psychology. Our training in cognitive behavioral approaches and experience working with elite, college, amateur, and youth athletes allows us to deliver effective individualized mental skills training programs across all sports.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to help the athletes and coaches in Greater Boston / Eastern Massachusetts achieve personal and sport-related goals through psycho-educational workshops, team/coach consultations, and one-on-one counseling sessions. We recognize the critical role of mental training and take a holistic and collaborative approach that facilitates optimal performance and psychological well-being.

Sports Psychology Professional Services

INDIVIDUAL SPORTS COUNSELING

Our individual counseling sessions are geared to help athletes achieve the advanced mental skills that are critical for for success in sports. Most athletes spend several hours a week training their body to perform. Those who also take the time to train their minds typically recognize the positive results on performance relatively quickly. Athletes seek a sports psychologist to address many different sports-related problems. The most common ones are listed below:

COMMON DIFFICULTIES ATHLETES ENCOUNTER
►	Inconsistent Athletic Performance or Incongruent Practice and Competition Performance
►	Worry About Performance / Increased Anxiety
►	Performing Below Ability or difficulty improving skills
►	Ineffective Goal Setting / Maintaining a Healthy Exercise Program
►	Difficulty Maintaining Concentration / Making Mental Mistakes
►	Managing Personal or Team Loss / Catastrophizing Events
►	Coping Through Injury / Re-developing Confidence
►	Managing Success or Worrying about Success
►	Sense of Athletic Unfulfillment / Poor Motivation
►	Transitioning Out of Competitive Sports
►	Balancing Multiple Roles
►	Changes in Mood, Personality, Sociability, or Self-Esteem
►	Lack of Family Support

INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM CONSULTATIONS Individual Consultations are offered for athletes who want …
	♦	Team building exercises to increase cohesion and communication
	♦	Successful preparation for competitions
	♦	Achievement of laser-like focus and concentration
	♦	Development of mental "toughness" during competition
	♦	Strong resilience from sport set-backs, such as an injury
	♦	Energy regulation and generation of positive internal states
	♦
	♦	Confidence enhancement strategies (mental imagery, goal setting, positive self-talk. etc.)

	CONSULTATIONS FOR COACHES Offered to coaches who would like to…
	♦	Better manage challenging athlete/parent situations
	♦	More successfully handle problems related to high-pressure performance situations
	♦	Improve team relationship problems
	♦	Build a sport environment that leads to success
	♦	Learn strategies that increase motivation
	♦	Communicate in a way that leads to positive results
	♦	Find more effective ways to manage emotions

INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS FOR PARENTS Offered to parents who would like to…
♦	Help their athlete better manage their athletic, academic, and social life
♦	Effectively deal with difficult coach issues
♦	Communicate in a way that supports their athletes mental, physical, and emotional well-being
♦	Help their athlete manage failure and the pressures of competition

PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS

Professional workshops are available for teams, students, parent groups, athletic departments, academic in-services, and other professional providers wishing to learn more about any of the following:

♦	Critical Mental Skills for Peak Performance: A 5 Session Workshop to Enhance Performance
♦	How to Balance School, Sports, and Social Relationships: A Workshop Geared for High School and Collegiate Athletes
♦	Career Termination Issues for College Athlete
♦	What is your Mind Telling You? Positive Self-Talk Strategies
♦	Team Building and Effective Communication
♦	Diversity in Sport
♦	How to be an Successful Team Leader
♦	Managing Substance Abuse Issues in College Sports
♦	Student Athlete Eating Disorders
♦	Supervision

SUPERVISION

Supervision is given to graduate students or health professionals looking to learn more about the field of sport psychology.

Sport Psychologist: Jessica Lutkenhouse, Psy.D.

Dr. Jessica Lutkenhouse is a licensed psychologist and Certified Health Service Provider. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Sport Psychology from LaSalle University and completed her training at The Ohio State University and Princeton University. Dr. Lutkenhouse has extensive experience providing sport psychology individual and group consulting services to athletes, teams, and coaches wishing to utilize evidence-based psychology to improve performance.

FAQs
How old does an athlete need to be to benefit from a sports psychologist?
	Athletes can be seen as young as 7 years-old.

Does Sports Psychology apply to dancers?
	Yes, dancers, as well as musicians, are very commonly seen by Sports Psychologists.