The CSSJ Making Moves podcast presents the Humanistic & Holistic Approach for Athletic Performance episode, featuring our student CSSJ representative as host, Mady Acosta, interviewing Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, the CEO and founder of Athmindset® and Dr. John O’Brien, PsyD, and former elite-level soccer player who played for the U.S. in two World Cups and the Olympics.

Highlights from this episode, where Mady interviews Lisa and John about the humanistic and holistic approaches to athletic performance:

@ 3:40- Learn about John O'Brien’s transition from athlete to clinical psychologist

@ 6:35- Lisa shares about the need for mental health culture for physical and mental performance

@ 7:00- Considerations for coaches, trainers, and athletes alike about mental performance coaching

@ 9:20- John talks about his origin story and the “then versus now” of mental health in sports

@ 11:25- The reality of being a high-performance athlete and mental tools to consider for success on and off the field

@ 12:40- Learn how Lisa helps her athletes respond to the pressures and stressors

@ 14:37- Understanding mental performance can apply on and off the field, "more than just a player"

@ 16:00- The significance of Simone Biles thanking her therapist

@ 17:10- John explains his work with world-building, sand play and sand tray

@ 20:20 - Lisa teaches techniques of mindfulness, control and acceptance, "control the controllables"

@ 22:00 Utilizing release cues and gestures for managing performance perfectionism

@ 25:45- Tools and dialogue that John O'Brien uses with his patients

@ 28:20- John’s advice for those transitioning out of high-performance athletics

@ 30:40- Lisa talks about her recent AthMindset podcast episode with Yale athletes and how extracurricular activities benefit the players identity

@ 33:00- John O'Brien encourages individuals, "If something is scary, there is probably some value in it"

@ 34:20- Lisa wants athletes to know they are not alone; support is available!

You can connect with our guests:

Lisa Bonta Sumii:

IG:

https://www.instagram.com/lisa_bontasumii/

https://www.instagram.com/athmindset.io/

Lisa Bonta Sumii is the CEO & Founder of AthMindset®, a diverse team of sport psychology professionals promoting the mental health of youth, collegiate, Olympic-hopeful, and professional athletes. https://www.athmindset.io/

Lisa’s podcast, Athlete Mindset, can be found anywhere you listen to your podcasts. She hosts conversations with athletes, former athletes, and anyone in the sports ecosystem on their stories and takes on mental health in sports.

https://sportsepreneur.com/podcast/athmindset/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athlete-mindset/id1643948698

John O'Brien:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-45469916

Funding:

Funding for Making Moves was provided by Cal State University East Bay and the Center for Sport and Social Justice. Make sure to catch all past and future episodes of Making Moves, streaming now on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to everyone who made this episode possible!

AthMindset - www.athmindset.io/

SportsEpreneur - https://sportsepreneur.com/