Sports Psychology therapists in Newport News, VA
Browse Sports Psychology therapists in Newport News, Virginia. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
Sports
Dr. Thomas Ballas
Psychologist, PhD; PSYPACT
I am a clinical psychologist with specialized expertise in performance enhancement, drawing from my experiences as an operational psychologist in the U.S. Army. During my military career, I worked extensively with individuals operating in high-stress environments, helping them build mental resilience, maintain focus, and perform at their peak during critical missions. These experiences have given me a unique understanding of the psychological demands of high-pressure situations, which translates seamlessly into the world of sports and performance at all levels of competition.
With advanced training in evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based techniques, I help athletes and performers optimize their mental game. Whether you're striving to overcome mental blocks, enhance focus, or build confidence, my goal is to help you unlock your full potential. Together, we will develop a tailored approach to strengthen your mindset, improve performance, and achieve success in your sport or field.
10 Years Experience
Online in Newport News, VA
Sports
Laura Goldstein
Marriage and Family Therapist, LCMFT
Alex on our team obtained his certification in sports psychology in Summer 2025: https://mccounselingcenter.com/alexbleiweis/
14 Years Experience
Online in Newport News, VA
Sports
Alberto Gamarra
Psychologist, Ph. D. NCSP
In today's athletic environment, there are so many "issues" for parents and their student-athletes to overcome. A few of the topics that I have worked with in my 20+ years include: parent/coach dynamics, sideline behavior, athlete motivation, performance issues, concussions, goal-setting, team building, injury recovery, and career termination. Each of these areas is approached with care and individuality that they deserve, no 2 student-athletes present in the same way.
26 Years Experience
Online in Newport News, VA
Sports
Dr. Linda G. Ritchie, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, Certified Hypnotherapist
If you’re an athlete or performer, you may know exactly what you’re capable of—yet find that in key moments, you don’t perform at your best. You might overthink, lose focus, feel pressure, or struggle with confidence despite strong preparation and skill. This gap between what you can do in practice and what shows up under pressure can be frustrating and hard to explain.
I help athletes close that gap by training both the mind and the body to perform consistently under pressure. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we identify and shift the thought patterns that interfere with focus and confidence. With clinical hypnosis, NLP, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/tapping), we work at a deeper level to strengthen concentration, reduce performance anxiety, and condition automatic responses that support peak performance. I also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you stay present, grounded, and fully engaged in the moment—so you can execute rather than overthink.
What’s often missing isn’t ability—you already have the skill set. What’s missing is a reliable way to access that ability consistently, especially when it matters most. Without that, performance can feel unpredictable, and confidence can fluctuate based on outcomes rather than staying stable.
The fact that you’re here suggests you want to perform at a higher level. If you’re willing to train your mind as intentionally as you train your body, I can help you improve focus, build confidence, and perform more consistently when it counts.
27 Years Experience
Online in Newport News, VA
Sports
Jason Powell
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, CST
Behind the discipline, pressure, and public image, athletes are still human - navigating relationships, identity, and the emotional cost of constant performance. My work with professional athletes goes beyond sport; it focuses on the relational and psychological demands that come with success, visibility, and private strain. Therapy offers a discreet space to process the intersections of competition, intimacy, and identity - how performance anxiety, trust issues, or infidelity can quietly affect focus, motivation, and connection at home. Together, we address the emotional load of being depended on, desired, or defined by the game, and build the tools to sustain balance both on and off the field. Sessions are conducted privately through HIPAA-compliant Zoom across twelve licensed states, and in person at 220 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. For high-profile clients, confidentiality and precision are paramount — the work stays focused, contained, and entirely your own.
5 Years Experience
Online in Newport News, VA
Newport News is defined by its location at the heart of the Hampton Roads shipbuilding and military industrial complex — home to Newport News Shipbuilding (a division of HII), one of the country's largest and most strategically significant defense contractors — creating a therapy community serving a large workforce navigating the psychological pressures of national security-adjacent industrial work alongside the region's substantial military population. The city has a large African American population with deep community roots in the Peninsula, and culturally affirming therapists who understand racial trauma, community resilience, and the particular dynamics of working-class Black life in Hampton Roads are an important part of the local landscape. Riverside Regional Medical Center provides institutional mental health resources alongside a private therapy community. Newport News shares the Hampton Roads mental health ecosystem with Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Hampton, and residents often access care across the region.
Sports Psychology therapists in Newport News, VA Statistics
Sports Psychology therapists in Newport News, VA average 17 years of experience and charge around $237 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (78%), Family Systems Therapy (44%), and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (41%).
Average years in practice
17 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$237
Accept insurance
22%
Offer sliding scale
47%
Gender ID
| 52% |
Female |
|
| 39% |
Male |
|
| 7% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 2% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 50% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 50% |
Online Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 78% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 44% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 41% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 38% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 34% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 31% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
| 31% | Internal Family Systems (IFS) |
Ages Served
| 97% | Adult |
| 81% | Young Adult |
| 63% | Senior |
| 56% | Teen |
| 28% | Children |
Client Focus
| 50% | Women |
| 44% | Men |
| 44% | Military / Veterans |
| 34% | Jewish |
| 31% | Christian |