Julie Shiller, MS, CSCS, CMPC Candidate, who is also pursuing her clinical licensure. She is an AthMindset® Mental Performance Practitioner and sport and performance therapist with Align Bay Area Sport Psychology. A former youth athlete who left sport without the body-confidence and mental-health support she needed, Julie now channels that lived experience into helping athletes and coaches thrive as whole people.

With more than 15 years in coaching and human performance—including extensive work as a strength and conditioning coach—Julie guides growth across the physical, mental, and emotional domains. She is also a trainer for Positive Coaching Alliance and the founder of The Other 23 Hours Coaching, where she supports athletes in the transformational moments that happen outside of practice and competition.

Whether she’s working with youth competitors, collegiate teams, or coaches seeking to build healthy, high-performing environments, Julie brings empathy, evidence-based practice, and a holistic perspective to her work.

Chapters

0:00 — Athlete Mindset & SportsEpreneur
0:17 — Cold open + energy check
1:09 — Welcome & introduction to Julie Shiller
2:00 — Julie’s background: coaching, performance, and lived experience
4:10 — Leaving sport without support & why it matters
6:45 — Athlete identity and body confidence
9:30 — Eating disorder awareness in athletics
12:10 — Why the “other 23 hours” matter most
15:05 — Coaches as culture-setters
18:40 — Starting with the coach before the athlete
22:15 — Building team-wide support systems
26:30 — Youth and collegiate athlete considerations
30:05 — Integrating physical, mental, and emotional performance
34:10 — What healthy sport environments actually look like
38:20 — Advice for coaches and practitioners
41:31 — Closing reflections & appreciation

Information and short-form content on athletes and eating disorders
Go here for resources and education

A note on body confidence: The sense of comfort, acceptance, and positive attitude a person has toward their own body. It’s not just about appearance—it’s about how you feel in your own skin, respecting and appreciating your body’s abilities, and being less influenced by societal pressures or unrealistic ideals.

For athletes, body confidence is particularly important because it affects performance, recovery, and mental health. Athletes with strong body confidence are more likely to trust their bodies, maintain healthy habits, and enjoy their sport without being hindered by anxiety or shame about their appearance.

More content by SportsEpreneur on athlete mental health:

Why players are taking control of their health | The pressure placed on college athletes | Teaching resilience in youth sports

Connect with Julie Shiller:

• LinkedIn | Instagram
• The Other 23 Hours Coaching

Connect with the host & podcast production team:

• Lisa Bonta Sumii: LinkedIn | Instagram
• SportsEpreneur: LinkedIn | X

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of SportsEpreneur
Produced by KazCM and also featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.
Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

If you or someone you know is struggling

If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, please reach out for support:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

International resources: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

You’re not alone, and support is available.

In this episode of Athlete Mindset, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, sits down again with Dr. Kweku Amoasi, PsyD, CMPC — licensed psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant®, USOPC psychological services provider, and Chief Wellness Officer for Blaquesmith Consulting.

This conversation explores the rising mental health challenges athletes face: suicide prevention, stigma, high-pressure environments, financial realities tied to NIL, and what it actually takes to support athletes across college and pro sports. Dr. Amoasi also reflects on his keynote at the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports Annual Conference and the powerful role social workers play across the sport ecosystem.

Lisa brings her dual lens as a clinical social worker and Certified Mental Performance Consultant® — as well as her identity as a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the author of The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Life. Dr. Amoasi brings the energy and brotherhood of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Both Lisa and Dr. Amoasi are proud members of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Their ongoing dialogue centers on serving the whole athlete — and supporting the caregivers who support them.

Episode Chapters

0:00 — SportsEpreneur & Athlete Mindset
1:22 — Welcome + why this part two matters
1:33 — Dr. Amoasi’s background & roles
2:35 — Fraternity pride + community as healthy grounding
3:18 — Athletes as “superhuman” & stigma of vulnerability
4:50 — Why athletes choose silence
6:52 — Medication vs self-medication in sport
8:22 — “Mental spotters” + invisible weight
9:24 — What parents and coaches can do early
10:14 — Mental Health First Aid in athletic settings
11:40 — Early intervention & normalizing tough conversations
12:33 — The evolution of sport psychology (NBA, NCAA, USOPC)
14:55 — Embedded counseling vs traditional campus services
16:30 — Psychology becoming as normal as the training room
17:49 — NIL pressures: identity, development, time, money
18:54 — The “three things” rule for college athletes
20:03 — NIL reshaping college sports entirely
22:04 — Brain development + responsibility overload
23:06 — Stress → risk behaviors
24:17 — Reflections on the Alliance for Social Workers in Sport keynote
26:26 — Why social workers are essential in sport
29:28 — Multidisciplinary care in the athlete ecosystem
31:04 — Loving the whole athlete
33:02 — Advice to emerging sport psych + social work professionals
35:47 — Ethics, boundaries, & trusted circles
37:39 — Parallel process for clinicians supporting high-visibility athletes
38:51 — Why every layer of the system needs support
39:56 — Closing appreciation + reflections

Episode Topics

• Suicide prevention and athlete vulnerability
• Stigma, “superhuman” identity, and why athletes don’t speak up
• Mental Health First Aid in sports
• Evolution of sport psychology in NBA, NFL, NCAA, and USOPC spaces
• NIL pressures: performance, academics, money, identity
• Social workers’ critical role in sport
• Balancing ethics, visibility, and care
• Building a trusted professional circle
• Supporting the whole athlete — and the whole ecosystem

Featured Links

• Alliance of Social Workers in Sports
  https://www.aswis.org/
• AASP – Association for Applied Sport Psychology
  https://appliedsportpsych.org/
• The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Life
  https://athmindset.com/workbook
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
  https://oppf.org/
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  https://www.deltasigmatheta.org/

Connect with Dr. Kweku Amoasi

• Licensed Psychologist
• Certified Mental Performance Consultant®
• Psychological Service Provider — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee
• Chief Wellness Officer — Blaquesmith Consulting | https://blaquesmith.com/
• Author, keynote speaker, mental health advocate
• Proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaquesmith/

Connect with the host & podcast production team:

• Lisa Bonta Sumii: LinkedIn | Instagram
• SportsEpreneur: LinkedIn | X

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.
Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

If you or someone you know is struggling

If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, please reach out for support:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

International resources: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

You’re not alone, and support is available.

In this episode of Athlete Mindset, we feature an appearance Lisa made on The Sports Backdrop podcast to discuss the mental health dynamics of youth sports, focusing on the pressures young athletes face. The Q&A style discussion includes how coaches can manage different levels of emotions among their players and the critical role of parental behavior in youth sports. This episode, "The Pressure Placed on Kids in Youth Sports," also touches on the growing trend of specialization in youth sports and the importance of teaching athletes to control the controllable.

"The Pressure Placed on Kids in Youth Sports" Topics:

1. Pressure on kids in youth sports
2. Coaches managing different levels of emotions with athletes
3. Resilience
4. Parental behavior and parental self-awareness in youth sports
5. Specialization in youth sports
6. Control the controllable

Click here to Contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the host & podcast production team:

Lisa Bonta Sumii: LinkedIn | Instagram

SportsEpreneur: LinkedIn | X

Related content:

Youth Sports Mental Health | Parents, Coaches, and Resilience

Mental Health in Youth Sports

Mississippi State University + Dr. James Barnes | Education, Youth Sports, and Marketing Insight

Music credit: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

In this special panel episode of Athlete Mindset, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, is joined by four standout basketball players—Lucas Williamson, Maya Chandler, Aher Uguak, and Anaya Peoples—for a raw and thoughtful conversation in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Together, they explore the emotional weight of elite competition, personal setbacks, and the human side of sport. From dealing with pressure and injuries to navigating identity, criticism, and support systems, each athlete opens up about what mental wellness really looks like at the college and professional levels—on and off the court.

Key Takeaways from “Beyond the Game: Mental Health in Elite Hoops”

• Mental health challenges are common—even at the highest levels of basketball
• Injury, isolation, and performance pressure can weigh heavily on athlete identity
• Talking openly about mental health in the locker room builds stronger team culture
• Overseas careers bring both growth and emotional strain from being far from home
• Female athletes face unique mental and physical challenges that deserve attention
• Letting go of control and embracing uncertainty is a powerful mental skill
• Criticism is often just perspective—athletes must choose what they internalize
• Support systems like therapy, teammates, and mentors are vital to long-term well-being

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Lucas Williamson: LinkedIn
• Maya Chandler: LinkedIn
• Aher Uguak: LinkedIn
• Anaya Peoples: LinkedIn
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “Beyond The Game: Mental Health in Elite Hoops”:

• Overcoming Adversity: Lucas Williamson’s Journey Through Injury and Faith
• Hoops and Healing with Bianca McCall, Reach-In Now
• AthMindset | Coach Chris Meadows Talks Basketball, Development, and Mindset

Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

In this episode of Athlete Mindset, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, sits down with professional boxer Chris Billam-Smith. Known as "The Gentleman," Chris shares the mindset that’s guided his rise from late-blooming amateur to world champion. He opens up about the power of consistency, the role of family in grounding his identity, and how he mentally prepares for the demands of the ring. Chris also discusses the importance of breathwork, emotional regulation, and the inner shift that happens when the gloves go on. Through it all, he reflects on being more than an athlete — striving to grow as a husband, father, and person.

Key Takeaways from “Chris Billam-Smith | Consistency, Character, and the Champion’s Mindset”

• Why Chris embraced boxing at 16 after years of team sports
• The power of personal accountability and control in individual sports
• His personal mantra: “Consistency Builds Success” — and how it shaped his career
• The role of family and fatherhood in evolving his mindset and motivation
• How breathwork and recovery support his physical and mental performance
• Balancing the “gentleman” persona with the inner competitor in the ring
• Lessons in humility, identity, and life beyond the sport

More about Chris Billam-Smith:

Chris Billam-Smith, also known as ‘The Gentlemen’, made his professional debut in 2017 under the tutelage of Shane McGuigan. Raised on the sunny shores of Bournemouth, the Commonwealth, British, European and former WBO world Cruiserweight Champion stands with a professional record of 20 wins, and 2 losses (13KO’s). Chris got to live out his fairytale story of becoming world champion at the AFCB vitality stadium, home to his beloved cherries in May 2023 fighting in front of all his friends and family. He dedicated his win to his mum who was suffering with Cancer at the time, as well as how wife Mia. Ambassador to the Dorset Children’s Foundation and as a supporter of the Bournemouth foodbank, Chris has just come away with a win on the huge Eubank vs Benn card, fighting at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. He now looks to become 2X world champ.

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Chris Billam-Smith: LinkedIn | website
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “Chris Billam-Smith | Consistency, Character, and the Champion’s Mindset”:

• From Adversity to Aspiration: Mariah Mazon’s Softball Journey and Mental Game
• Who You Are, Not What You Do with Kelsey O'Connor
• The True Athlete Project Series: Building a Compassionate World Through Sport with Sam Parfitt

Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

In this episode of the Athlete Mindset podcast, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC sits down with Lucas Williamson, a professional basketball player in the NBA G League. Lucas shares his challenging journey through two season-ending injuries, discussing the mental and emotional toll they’ve taken and how he’s worked to find joy amidst adversity. From journaling and therapy to leaning on his faith and community, Lucas offers valuable insights into maintaining mental health and resilience. His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of vulnerability, gratitude, and connection in navigating life’s toughest moments.

Lucas also opens up about his spiritual journey, including his decision to fast during Ramadan to reconnect with God, and how his faith has been a cornerstone in his recovery process. This episode is a must-listen for athletes and anyone facing setbacks, offering practical strategies and heartfelt wisdom for overcoming challenges and rediscovering purpose.

Key Takeaways from "Overcoming Adversity: Lucas Williamson’s Journey Through Injury and Faith"

• Intentional Mental Health Practices: Lucas emphasizes journaling, therapy, and social support as critical tools for protecting mental health during tough times.
• Faith as a Pillar: His Christian faith and spiritual practices, including fasting during Ramadan, have helped him find meaning and resilience through adversity.
• Therapy for Athletes: Lucas encourages young athletes, particularly Black male athletes, to try therapy, addressing concerns about confidentiality and stigma.
• Gratitude’s Impact: Expressing gratitude boosts joy, optimism, and confidence while reducing anxiety, benefiting both the individual and those around them.
• Community Connection: Building and leaning on a supportive community is essential for mental health and survival, especially during periods of grief or loss.
• Process Over Outcome: Lucas highlights the importance of valuing the journey and daily blessings over fixating on end goals like career milestones.
• Learning from Adversity: Reflecting on past challenges, Lucas shares how his second injury taught him to be more outward, vulnerable, and connected, contrasting with his inward approach the first time.

More about Lucas Williamson:

Lucas Williamson is a professional basketball player currently competing in the NBA G League. Before turning pro, he attended Loyola University Chicago where he was a member of Loyola’s legendary runs, including a sweet 16 and a final four. He was also named 2x defensive player of the year and won tournament MVP in his final season at loyola. Unfortunately his pro career is off to a rocky start as he’s suffered 2 season ending injuries in his 3 year pro career. As he continues to get healthy to return to basketball he has been sharing his experience and trying to find the joy in his own personal journey in hopes to relate and inspire other athletes that may go through similar experiences.

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Lucas Williamson: LinkedIn
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “Overcoming Adversity: Lucas Williamson’s Journey Through Injury and Faith”:

• NBA and WNBA Mind Health with Dr. Kensa Gunter
• AthMindset | The Life of an NBA Agent with Josh Beauregard-Bell
• AthMindset | Coach Chris Meadows Talks Basketball, Development, and Mindset

Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

In this episode of the Athlete Mindset podcast, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC welcomes Mariah Mazon, a professional softball player and aspiring sports psychology professional. Mariah shares her journey from a youth softball player in Tulare, California, to a standout two-way star at Oregon State, and now a pro with Athletes Unlimited. She opens up about navigating major adversities, including the COVID-19 season disruption and a hamstring injury during her senior year, and how she leaned on family, physical activity, and mental strategies like meditation and focal cues to stay grounded. Mariah also discusses the unique challenges of transitioning to professional softball, from the pressure of the Athletes Unlimited point system to managing media and fan interactions. Her insights into mental preparation and her vision to create a holistic training facility for young athletes make this a must-listen for athletes and coaches alike.

As she pursues her master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology, Mariah reflects on how her experiences with a sports psychologist shaped her approach to coaching and mental resilience. This episode offers practical tools and inspiration for young athletes navigating transitions and building mental toughness.

Key Takeaways from "From Adversity to Aspiration: Mariah Mazon’s Softball Journey and Mental Game"

• Navigating COVID Disruptions: Mariah leaned on family time, board games, and outdoor activities like running to maintain mental health during the uncertain 2020 season cancellation.
• Mental Recovery from Injury: A hamstring tear in her senior year challenged Mariah’s mindset; she used meditation and team sports psychology sessions to focus on pitching and regain balance.
• Power of Mental Tools: Mariah relies on pre-game meditation, physical focal cues (e.g., grounding her feet), and verbal cues like “WIN” (What’s Important Now) to stay present and manage distractions.
• Pro-Level Challenges: The Athletes Unlimited point system, public leaderboards, mandatory fan interactions, and living in hotels create unique pressures that require mental discipline.
• Overcoming Negative Self-Talk: Exposure to a sports psychologist helped Mariah recognize and shift negative self-talk from harsh coaching, boosting her performance and confidence.
• Transition Tips: Mariah advises young athletes to focus on mental preparation routines, reflecting on successful games to identify what mental strategies work best.
• Future Vision: Mariah aims to open a Central Valley facility offering physical and mental training for young athletes, addressing the lack of resources she faced growing up.

More about Mariah Mazon:

Mariah Mazon is a Tulare, California, native and standout softball player, best known for her dominant two-way career at Oregon State as both a pitcher and hitter. After college, she went pro with Athletes Unlimited Softball League, represented Team USA internationally, and played overseas in Japan with the Toda Medics. She later transitioned into coaching, with stops at Holy Names University and the Academy of Art University. Mariah is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology at California State University, Fresno.

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Mariah Mazon: Team USA
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “From Adversity to Aspiration: Mariah Mazon’s Softball Journey and Mental Game”:

• Sydney Supple | Empowering Women and Northwestern Softball
• Savanah Whatley Opens Up About Mental Health in Life and Softball
• Black Representation and Visibility in Softball with Zoe Conley AthMindset | Black Representation and Visibility in Softball with Zoe Conley

Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

Welcome to the Athlete Mindset podcast, hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC. In this raw and heartfelt episode, Lisa sits down with Marcus Smith II, a former NFL first-round draft pick turned mental health advocate, life coach, and Global Ambassador for All Points North (APN). Marcus shares his journey from anxiety attacks at age eight to a near-fatal moment during his NFL career, revealing how therapy and APN transformed his life. Together, they explore the stigma black men face in addressing mental health, the power of vulnerability, and Marcus’s work with Circle of M to support athletes and youth. Lisa opens up about her own postpartum panic attacks, creating a powerful exchange of lived experiences.

Key Takeaways from "Unmasking Mental Health with Marcus Smith"

• Mental health’s hidden face: It doesn’t have a look, and success can mask deep struggles.
• Cultural barriers: Black men often inherit silence around emotions, fearing judgment or weakness.
• Marcus’s story: From NFL highs to a suicide attempt, healed through therapy and APN’s 30-day program.
• Support matters: A team of listeners and professionals can redefine identity beyond sport.
• Youth focus: Circle of M empowers kids with mental health tools, starting with the feelings wheel.
• Physical weight of pain: Anxiety and depression feel like a vest, lifted through sharing and healing.

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Marcus Smith II: LinkedIn | The Circle of M podcast | website
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “Unmasking Mental Health with Marcus Smith”:

• Doug Middleton | From NFL to Mental Health Advocacy and Dream Yoga + Wellness
• Marques Ogden | Former NFL Player, Servant Leader, Inspirational Speaker
• Dominique Easley | NFL Veteran Championing Student-Athletes in Underserved Communities

Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

Welcome to the Athlete Mindset podcast, hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC. In this episode, Lisa sits down with Courtney Messina, MA, LPC-S, LCDC, a former Ole Miss soccer athlete, and Senior Director for Outpatient Clinical Operations at All Points North (APN). Courtney shares insights from her work with elite athletes, including her role at APN’s Elite Athletes Program and as a visiting therapist at TCU. They explore why athletes seek therapy—sports injuries, identity struggles, mental performance, and more—while unpacking the unique challenges of transitioning out of sport. From practical tips like prioritizing sleep to society’s need to destigmatize mental health, this coffee-chat-style conversation offers hope and actionable insights.

Key Takeaways from "Mental Health Realities for Elite Athletes with Courtney Messina"

• Common struggles: Injuries, identity loss, and the relentless pressure to perform flawlessly.
• APN’s Elite Athletes Program: Residential care to virtual IOP, serving NFL players and expanding to other sports.
• Strategies: Reframing identity beyond sport, building resilience, and normalizing help-seeking behaviors.
• Society’s role: Prioritizing mental health as integral to overall health and reducing stigma.
• Sleep matters: How rest boosts focus, mood, and emotional regulation for peak performance.
• Injury impact: The loneliness and body image shifts that amplify mental health challenges.

More about Courtney Messina:
Courtney Messina, MA, LPC-S, LCDC, is the Senior Director for Outpatient Clinical Operations at All Points North, leveraging extensive experience in clinical leadership and behavioral health services.

After earning a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Mississippi and a master's in clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at Tyler, Courtney has had the opportunity to work in various settings including community mental health, corrections and inpatient and outpatient facilities treating clients with co-occurring disorders.

Beyond her pursuits at All Points North and as a former Division I athlete at Ole Miss, Courtney is very passionate about working with the Athlete population. She is a visiting senior therapist for the Athletics Department at Texas Christian University and is listed in The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry.

Courtney has been featured in several media outlets, including Treatment Magazine, the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Learning Network, The Dallas Morning News, and Genesis the Podcast.

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Courtney Messina: LinkedIn | website
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “Mental Health Realities for Elite Athletes with Courtney Messina”:

• Mental Strength with Dr. Brook Choulet
• The Intersection of Sports Psychiatry and Performance with Dr. Wilsa Charles Malveaux
• Understanding Athlete Identity with Kim Brady

Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

Welcome to the Athlete Mindset podcast, hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC. This is the third installment of our three-part series with The True Athlete Project. Lisa is joined by Reem Abdalazem, a two-time Olympian in artistic swimming for Egypt (2008 Beijing and 2012 London). Reem is a World Aquatics-certified expert coach and a former collegiate All-American at Lindenwood University, where she captained the team to its first national championship. With over a decade of coaching experience, Reem has led teams to consecutive titles, coached the U.S. Senior National Team and South Africa’s duet to the Tokyo Olympics, and earned the first international Coach of the Year award in the USA. In this episode, Reem shares her journey from athlete to coach, her coaching philosophy of "impact over titles," and how she fosters mental well-being and resilience in athletes across cultures.

Key Takeaways from “The True Athlete Project Series: Coaching with Impact and Mindfulness with Reem Abdalazem”

• Reem’s Olympic journey: From representing Egypt to finding purpose beyond medals.
• Artistic swimming explained: A blend of athleticism, artistry, and teamwork.
• Transition to coaching: How a key mentor sparked her passion for holistic development.
• Coaching philosophy: Prioritizing impact, well-being, and success without trauma.
• Tips for coaches and athletes: Building self-awareness and empowering growth.

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

Support the Athlete Mindset Community: Click Here to contribute to the Athlete Mindset Community.

By supporting the Athlete Mindset community, you will contribute directly to the mental health of athletes. With your amplification, we can ensure more voices are heard and more individuals are impacted. Thank You for making a difference!

Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Reem Abdalazem: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “The True Athlete Project Series: Coaching with Impact and Mindfulness with Reem Abdalazem”:

• The True Athlete Project Series: Building a Compassionate World Through Sport with Sam Parfitt
• The True Athlete Project Series: Embracing Identity and Purpose with Oz Marginean
• Charlie Swanson | This Olympic Gold Medalist's Persistence in the Pool

 Music: Beat Provided By freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot