Psychotherapy for Athletes
Whether you’re looking to elevate your performance, reduce pre-game jitters or transition after injury, working with a sports psychology expert can help.
What is Psychotherapy for Athletes?
Whether you’re a college athlete, professional competitor, or play in a recreational league on the weekends, the mental side of sports matters. Being an athlete often comes with a specific lived experience and mentality that often only other athletes can understand. For those that have played since a young age, being an athlete has informed the way that you think, even your personality, in a way that translates to how you approach other areas of life like school and work. Sports psychology can help athletes all levels build mental skills, confidence, emotional regulation and resilience that serve you both within and outside of your sport. While it can sometimes focus on peak performance training, our Sports Psychology program often supports athletes who are suddenly faced with injury, are transitioning to life after (or outside of) sport, and other transitions such as adjusting to life as a new D3 or D1 athlete and beyond. We also work with athletes who experience anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD and other mental health symptoms that interfere either with their game or show up elsewhere in relationships, school, and life.
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Our Approach to Therapy for Athletes and Performance Coaching
Led by Brie Scolaro, LCSW, Director of Sports Psychology and a former collegiate ice hockey goalie with over 30 years of athletic experience, our program focuses on using therapy approaches that athletes respond best to:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other behavioral treatments. Athletes respond well to these therapies because they are structured, short-term (8-12 sessions), focused on building skills, and require practice to see results. Just like our sport!
Biofeedback, a cutting-edge technology that can be used in-office and remotely to help athletes achieve peak performance, build focus and regulate emotions. This is a series of skills that can be used before, during and after games and that you will take with you long after the therapy process ends.
Stress Management and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to manage anxiety, stress, depression and other mental health symptoms that show up for the athletes we work with.
Weekly coaching for accountability, mindset shifts, and game prep, such as for college students navigating D1 and D3 challenges or anyone looking to advance their game. Weekly coaching can also be helpful for athletes that no longer play, but that respond well to a coaching dynamic when it comes to advancing in school or work.
Read our blog post on Sports Psychology: Mental Health Strategies from the Locker Room to Everyday Life
What Our Clients Have to Say
“After suffering my whole life and then having what I’d constitute as a mental breakdown, I’m living generally an anxiety free life without using medication.”
“I was having anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia last year and started seeking help. I am now a much more balanced, mindful and calm person who feels empowered with an armada of useful strategies and techniques to manage and regulate stressful situations in my life.”
“Dr. Scolaro is an incredibly gifted therapist who has helped me learn and practice vital CBT skills that have changed my life”
Why Mental Performance Training Matters in Sport
Athletes spend years training their bodies but the mind often gets left behind. A sports psychology specialist can help you:
Build resilience and bounce back from injury, rejection, or burnout
Improve confidence or concentration before big games or tryouts
Strengthen emotion regulation during competition
Recover from setbacks and overcome fear of failure
Use positive self-talk, visualization, and pre-performance routines
Mental conditioning is proven to increase performance consistency, reduce anxiety, and support athletes during life transitions. These are the same mental tools used in elite performance coaching for professional sports, entertainment industries, and corporate leadership.
Who We Help: Athletes, Performers, and High-Achievers
Our therapists support athletes and performers across a wide range of identities, ages, and goals. Clients include:
Middle and High School athletes balancing pressure, growth, and school stress
College athletes and NCAA competitors managing expectations, scouts, and team dynamics
Adult recreational athletes looking to regain confidence and joy in sport
Elite, pre-professional, or pro-level athletes pursuing peak performance coaching
Performers, creatives, and high-achievers across music, dance, business, and more
Meet Our Clinical Directors
Brie Scolaro, LCSW, (they/them), Director of Sports Psychology
Brie Scolaro, LCSW is a clinical social worker and the founder of our Sports Psychology Program. At the intake process, you can request to work with Brie directly or a sports therapist on our team Brie personally recommends. Brie understands first hand what it is like to be an athlete and the types of stresses that can come with. After spending years working in standard therapy spaces, Brie realized a need for dedicated psychotherapy for athletes - a group of individuals who are ready to put in the work and respond well to a specific coaching style unique to sports.
Brie is a former collegiate athlete and has over 30 years experience as an elite ice hockey goalie. Their accolades include playing for college men’s D1 and D3 teams, being inducted into the University of Delaware Hall of Fame and being invited to two professional women’s hockey camps. Brie currently coaches recreational hockey and is actively conducting research on the experience of LGBTQIA+ athletes. Brie is a member of the Alliance for Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS) and a Heartmath Certified Biofeedback specialist. Brie’s specialties include performance psychology, fear of failure, executive function, ADHD, and therapy for athletes.
Dr. Anya Scolaro, Psy.D. (she/her), Clinical Director
Dr. Anya Scolaro is a licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Director of Aspire Psychotherapy. Her specialties include ADHD, OCD, LGBTQIA+ identity, exposure therapy and anxiety disorders. She has extensive experience in diagnosis, neuropsychological assessment, and customized treatment planning. As the first point of contact for all new clients, Dr. Scolaro ensures you're matched with the therapist best suited to your goals. She provides therapy and couples counseling with a focus on evidence-based practices, mindfulness, and affirmative care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started with sports therapy at Aspire?
Take the first step by booking a 30-minute virtual intake ($175) with one of our Clinical Directors. We’ll learn more about your background, mindset goals, and performance challenges to match you with the right therapist. Book Your Intake Now
What happens in the intake session?
Research shows that the strongest predictor of successful therapy is the match between the therapist and the patient. That means the best therapist is the one that you feel you can trust. Sometimes it takes 1-2 months of working with someone to see if they are a good fit.
Can I work with Aspire if I’m not based in NYC?
Yes. Aspire offers both in-person sessions (Upper East Side & Upstate NY) and online therapy across New York State. We support athletes who travel, compete, or attend school outside NYC with flexible, virtual appointments.
What types of therapy and coaching do you provide?
We provide sport and performance psychology, CBT, ACT, biofeedback, and mindfulness-based approaches. Whether you’re looking to enhance performance, manage mental health, or build resilience, your therapist will create a personalized plan for your needs.
Can I talk about more than just sports?
Absolutely. Our therapists support the whole person—beyond the sport. Clients often explore confidence, family issues, LGBTQIA+ identity, ADHD, anxiety, grief and loss, and broader life transitions in their sessions. Therapy is tailored to meet all of you.
What if I’m not sure who to work with?
That’s what we’re here for. During your intake, we’ll match you with the therapist or coach best suited to support your journey, based on your sport, mindset goals, and clinical needs.
Get Started with Therapy for Athletes Today
If you are an athlete looking to improve your mindset, elevate performance or manage mental health, working with a sports psychology expert can help. Our program is built by athletes who know what works.
The process begins with a 30-minute intake with one of our Clinical Directors, who will conduct a brief assessment and then match you with the right sports therapist on our team. After 15 years in the field, we’ve built a process that we know works, and we invite you to join us.
Our Office Locations
We offer telehealth and hybrid therapy sessions at two locations in New York State. Reach out today to schedule your intake appointment and start seeing your therapist remotely or in-person.
Upper East Side Office
312 E 85th St Suite 1A, New York, NY 10028
Upstate New York Office
Healing Arts Center, 3457 Main St Floor 2, Stone Ridge, NY 12484