Sports Psychology therapists in Hickory, NC
Browse Sports Psychology therapists in Hickory, North Carolina. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
Sports
Nour Counseling
Counselor/Therapist
Sports are often treated like they’re just about performance—but for many athletes, it becomes your identity, your structure, and the lens through which you’re evaluated. You’re expected to push through, stay disciplined, and perform no matter what’s happening mentally or physically. There’s constant pressure—coaches, teammates, expectations, comparisons—and very little space to actually process what that does to you. When things start to shift—burnout, anxiety, injury, loss of confidence, or stepping away from sport—it can feel like everything underneath it gets shaken too.
At Nour Counseling, we don’t just focus on performance—we look at the full impact. We help you understand how pressure, expectations, and identity are shaping how you show up, both in your sport and outside of it. From there, we actively build strategies that actually hold under pressure—regulation, focus, recovery, and ways to respond to setbacks without spiraling. We also name the culture of sports itself—the normalization of overtraining, the tying of worth to performance, the lack of space for anything outside of winning—so you’re not internalizing something that was never yours to carry. This is about helping you perform with clarity and consistency, while also building a sense of self that isn’t dependent on how you perform that day.
9 Years Experience
Online in Hickory, NC (Online Only)
Sports
Andrea Elkon
Psychologist, Ph.D.
As a former collegiate volleyball and softball player, I understand that athletic performance incorporates so much more than physical training. I work with athletes who are struggling with anxiety, confidence, focus, or team dynamics. Additionally, I see athletes after they have experienced some major event in their athletic lives; such as acute and chronic injuries, pain, illness, or physical changes with aging. Athletes also struggle frequently with eating concerns and body image. Please feel free to reach out to me to learn more about my approach to treating sports-related performance.
21 Years Experience
Online in Hickory, NC
Sports
Clear Path Counseling and Wellness Center
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA. LPC
Brad provides trauma-informed sports performance counseling and sports psychology coaching for athletes seeking to improve focus, confidence, consistency, and performance under pressure. He works with athletes across multiple sports, including golf, basketball, soccer, baseball, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and football, supporting both competitive and recreational performers.
Many athletes struggle with performance anxiety, confidence blocks, inconsistency, fear of failure, difficulty performing under pressure, or mental barriers that interfere with reaching their full potential. These challenges can affect reaction time, decision-making, focus, emotional regulation, and overall performance outcomes.
Brad takes a holistic, performance-focused approach to sports psychology, helping athletes strengthen mental resilience, improve concentration, regulate performance anxiety, and develop a more confident and stable mindset in competition. Therapy and coaching are tailored to the individual athlete’s goals, sport demands, and competitive environment.
As an experienced trauma therapist and EMDR therapist, Brad integrates EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), mental performance strategies, visualization techniques, emotional regulation skills, and holistic coaching approaches to help athletes identify and reduce mental blocks that may interfere with peak performance. This can include working through past experiences, performance-related stress, or underlying emotional patterns that impact confidence and focus.
Sessions may focus on building pre-performance routines, improving focus under pressure, enhancing recovery from mistakes, and developing a strong, consistent “competitive mindset.” Athletes also work on balancing training demands with mental and emotional well-being to support sustainable performance and prevent burnout.
Brad’s approach is collaborative and individualized, helping athletes create practical mental strategies they can apply in training and competition. The goal is not only improved performance outcomes, but also greater confidence, enjoyment of the sport, and long-term mental resilience.
With the right mental training and support, athletes can overcome performance barriers, unlock greater consistency, and compete with clarity, confidence, and control under pressure.
28 Years Experience
Online in Hickory, NC (Online Only)
Sports
Dr. Samantha Morris
Psychologist, PsyD
I have experience working with athletes from HS, collegiate, professional, and Olympic levels. I have specific knowledge about the stressors that come with being an athlete and performing at high levels. I work extensively with DI college athletes and am listed on the USOPC Mental Health Directory. Some of my interests and specialties within the field of sports psychology include anxiety (including performance anxiety), mindfulness, injury, return to sport after injury, managing chronic health conditions while being an athlete, and high pressure positions.
11 Years Experience
Online in Hickory, NC (Online Only)
Sports
Alicia Townsend
Psychologist, PhD, BCN
Being your best both physically and mentally are crucial for success in sports and other competitive activities. Sport psychology can help you master mental strategies to perform better. Issues such as injury prevention and recovery, fears and anxiety, goal setting and achievement, and more can be addressed with sport psychology. I studied and trained in sport psychology at the University of North Texas, and I can help you improve your physical and mental game.
21 Years Experience
Online in Hickory, NC (Online Only)
Sports Psychology therapists in Hickory, NC Statistics
Sports Psychology therapists in Hickory, NC average 18 years of experience and charge around $234 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (79%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (48%), and Behavioral Therapy (48%).
Average years in practice
18 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$234
Accept insurance
24%
Offer sliding scale
55%
Gender ID
| 50% |
Female |
|
| 44% |
Male |
|
| 3% |
Gender Fluid |
|
| 3% |
Non-Binary |
|
Session Type
| 59% |
Online Only |
|
| 41% |
In Person and Online |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 79% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 48% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 48% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 41% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 34% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 31% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
| 28% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
Ages Served
| 100% | Adult |
| 83% | Young Adult |
| 59% | Senior |
| 59% | Teen |
| 24% | Children |
Client Focus
| 55% | Women |
| 52% | Men |
| 41% | Military / Veterans |
| 38% | Jewish |
| 34% | Black / African American |