Youth Athlete Performance & Resilience Program

Brain-based psychotherapy for high-performing young athletes (aged 14–17)

Many young athletes experience:

  • Performance anxiety

  • Perfectionism and fear of failure

  • Burnout or loss of motivation

  • Emotional reactivity or shutdown under pressure

  • Confidence and self-esteem challenges

  • Stress related to competition, school, or expectations

  • Difficulties with eating patterns, energy, or recovery

We address these challenges through psychotherapy — while enhancing performance, focus, and wellbeing.

Helping Young Athletes Thrive - On and Off the Field

Adolescence is a critical window for both performance development and mental health.

This program supports young athletes in building:

  • Confidence under pressure

  • Emotional resilience

  • Sustainable motivation

  • Healthy relationships with food, performance, and identity

All grounded in evidence-based psychotherapy and neuroscience.

Motivational Interviewing

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Cognitive-Behavioural

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Emotional Regulation

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Somatic techniques

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Brain-based education

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Motivational Interviewing | Cognitive-Behavioural | Emotional Regulation | Somatic techniques | Brain-based education |

The Brain - Performance Connection

I integrate key factors that influence both mental health and performance:

  • Stress and nervous system regulation

  • Sleep and recovery

  • Energy stability and nutrition patterns

  • Emotional coping and behavioural habits

This allows athletes to perform consistently—without burnout.

Why work with me?

I specialize in the intersection of:

  • Emotional wellbeing

  • Behaviour and habit formation

  • Brain-based performance

  • Nutrition and mental health

I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, and identity—helping them build sustainable, resilient ways of functioning.

My academic research focusses on adolescent brain development and nutrition, and I have been recognized as a leader in this field, including presenting at TEDxSydney on the topic of adolescent nutrition and brain health. As well as my work with adults and adolescents, I have provided education into the link between nutrition, mental health and performance to Olympic athletes, legal experts and presented talks at multiple mental health conferences and congresses.

  • I use a collaborative, strengths-based psychotherapy model tailored to adolescents.

    Core methods include:

    • Motivational interviewing (building intrinsic motivation)

    • Cognitive-behavioural strategies (focus, thoughts, performance)

    • Emotional regulation and somatic techniques

    • Brain-based education (helping athletes understand how they function under pressure

    Therapy is conducted in a way that:

    • Respects the young person’s autonomy and voice

    • Builds motivation for change collaboratively (not through pressure)

    • Focuses on strengths and existing capacities

    • Supports skill development for long-term resilience

  • I focus on what’s already working.

    Your child will:

    • Build on their natural strengths

    • Develop confidence and self-trust

    • Learn skills they can use in sport, school, and life

  • This program helps young athletes become:

    • More confident under pressure

    • Better able to regulate emotions

    • More resilient to setbacks

    • More connected to themselves beyond performance

    Not just stronger athletes—more grounded, self-aware young people.

  • Therapy is conducted in a way that:

    • Respects the young person’s autonomy and voice

    • Builds motivation for change collaboratively (not through pressure)

    • Focuses on strengths and existing capacities

    • Supports skill development for long-term resilience

    • Sessions are provided as psychotherapy

    • Delivered by a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and PhD-trained neuroscientist

    • May be eligible for reimbursement through extended health benefits (depending on your plan)

  • Parents are an important part of the process.

    I provide:

    • Periodic progress updates (while maintaining appropriate confidentiality)

    • Guidance on how to support your child without increasing pressure

Get in touch