Sports Psychology therapists in Columbia, Maryland MD
We are proud to feature top rated Sports Psychology therapists in Columbia. We encourage you to review each profile to find your best match.
Sports Psychology
Dr. Patricia Webbink
Psychologist, MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology
For 45 years, with great success, my professional colleagues and I have assisted athletes in all kinds of sports: basketball, baseball, fencing, football, bowling, golf, Aikido, Tai Chi, wrestling twirling, gymnastics, running, and more. We also work with whole teams for peak performance. Research shows that the Mindfulness and Visualization techniques, which I pioneered into the practice of psychotherapy 55 years ago, effectively assist athletic success. For example, by focusing attention on body mindfulness and centering, the athlete is better able to focus on peak performance in sports. In addition, players can regulate thoughts and emotions and personal problems that might distract. Imagery (creative visualization) can be used to improve performance and also to increase self-confidence. Research shows that athletes with higher athletic achievement tend to have stronger imaging abilities. With my guidance, such abilities can be developed, practiced, and ultimately much improved. Broadly speaking, Sport Psychology is defined as the study of the psychological aspects of any competitive, recreational, educational, or health-related physcial activity. I offer free monthly Zoom workshops where I facilitate a balanced state of mind using Mindfulness and Guided Imagery techniques. My colleagues are other licensed therapists and sportscasters! Please feel free to call for a consultation: 301-229-8000.
56 Years Experience
In-Person Near Columbia, MD
Online in Columbia, MD Maryland
Sports Psychology
Marc Feinberg
Pastoral Counselor/Therapist, CBC
Great athletes train their bodies — champions train their minds. Sports psychology unlocks the mental edge that separates talent from greatness. Pressure, fear, and self-doubt can sabotage performance, but mental mastery transforms them into fuel for focus and confidence. Through visualization, emotional control, and belief training, athletes learn to turn setbacks into comebacks and nerves into power. The goal isn’t just to win — it’s to perform with freedom, clarity, and joy. When your mind and heart align with your purpose, your potential becomes unstoppable. Every victory begins in the mind — and greatness follows where belief leads.
26 Years Experience
Online in Columbia, MD Maryland
Sports Psychology
Dr. Kimberlyann Marsden
Psychologist
I have a passion for working with athletes of all levels. I have a unique perspective because I have experienced sports from many different perspectives: child athlete, collegiate- All American, coach ( from child recreation level to Division 1), parent of athletes, sports psychology researcher and therapist. I take a holistic approach to working with athletes which means I look not only at sport performance but how the athlete is functioning in life- their overall health and well-being. Sessions may include sport specific techniques for performance enhancement, general stress reduction and breathwork techniques, cognitive strategies to enhance mind-set and self-efficacy.
26 Years Experience
Online in Columbia, MD Maryland (Online Only)
Sports Psychology
Stuart Hellebrand, M.S., C.Ht.
Hypnotherapist
Hypnosis is a valuable tool for those seeking a competitive edge in sports performance. I have been involved with sports performance improvement since the 1970’s through my work with sports competitors to include recreational golfers, collegiate middle-distance runners and swimmers, marathon runners, and others. Noteworthy, among my clients, has been a CIF track and field champion, a swimmer on Cal Berkeley’s 2X national championship team, a collegiate middle-distance champion, and a marathoner who successfully completed the Mount Everest Marathon.
Addressing the performance aspects of sports through hypnosis complements physical training and can lead to breakthrough performances. My use of hypnosis works by reprogramming negative self-talk, empowering performance through affirmations and guided imagery, boosting confidence, and reducing anxiety. In that pre-competition jitters or fear of failure can derail an athlete’s mindset, hypnosis employs subconscious relaxation techniques and guided imagery to reduce cortisol levels and promote a calm composed state of mind, while fostering a winning attitude.
Studies have shown the efficacy of hypnosis in sports. For example, a 2016 review in the International Journal of Sports Science highlighted significant performance improvements in athletes who used hypnosis compared to those who did not. Those who used hypnosis reported better focus, reduced pre-competition anxiety, and enhanced execution of skills after hypnosis sessions.
In sports performance counseling, my use of hypnosis facilitates vivid mental imagery, allowing athletes to visualize successful performance. Research has shown that mental rehearsal can strengthen neural pathways, helping the body to perform as if it has already achieved the desired outcome. Using hypnotic relaxation to tap into an athlete’s subconscious allows the competitor to tap into their commitment to training, discipline, and goal achievement in a stress-free manner.
59 Years Experience
Online in Columbia, MD Maryland
Sports Psychology
Dr. Elizabeth Coldren
Psychologist, PSYD, PSYPACT
I work with adult athletes, including those competing professionally, internationally, or at other elite levels. My focus is not on coaching your performance, but on supporting you as a human being who also happens to be an athlete. I work with people across all stages of their careers: the early years of building identity and navigating expectations, the intensity and visibility of peak competition, the disruption of injury, and the uncertainty that can come with transition or retirement. I work with athletes who are in the thick of their careers and those who are on the other side of competition, asking, “Who am I now, if I’m not defined by sport?” Even when things look successful from the outside, it can feel isolating to hold so much pressure, expectation, and visibility on your own.
Many athletes I see are navigating relationship strains connected to training, travel, and time away; the expectations and sacrifices that come with elite sport; pressure from coaches, sponsors, media, or social media; life in the public eye with very little true privacy; perfectionism, self-criticism, and the sense that you can never fully relax; family expectations; worries about long-term health or injury; questions of trust; and wondering who you are if you are not always competing, winning, or pushing through. There is often a deeper challenge of finding meaning, identity, and purpose beyond sport.
Confidentiality is central to this work. My office is intentionally private, with no shared waiting room or overlapping sessions, so you can arrive and leave without being seen by other clients. You are not just an athlete or a brand, you are a person navigating a complex life, relationships, health, and big decisions about the future. Our work centers you as a whole human, so you have a stable place to sort through what you are navigating and how you want to move forward.
26 Years Experience
Online in Columbia, MD Maryland
Sports Psychology therapists in Columbia, Maryland Statistics
Sports Psychology therapists in Columbia, Maryland average 22 years of experience and charge around $211 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (87%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (52%), and Family Systems Therapy (43%).
Average years in practice
22 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$211
Accept insurance
17%
Offer sliding scale
48%
Gender ID
| 48% |
Female |
|
| 44% |
Male |
|
| 4% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 4% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 52% |
Online Only |
|
| 48% |
In Person and Online |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 87% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 52% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 43% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 43% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 39% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
| 35% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 30% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
Ages Served
| 100% | Adult |
| 78% | Young Adult |
| 61% | Teen |
| 61% | Senior |
| 30% | Children |
Client Focus
| 57% | Women |
| 52% | Men |
| 43% | Military / Veterans |
| 39% | Jewish |
| 35% | Black / African American |