Sports Psychology therapists in Madison, WI
Browse Sports Psychology therapists in Madison, Wisconsin. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
Sports
Melissa Drinkman, Pathways To Connection
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, DBH, LCSW
At Pathways To Connection, we utilize sports psychology and psychotherapy to enhance mental well-being and performance. We focus on helping individuals address emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges by providing a safe space for self-reflection, growth, and healing. This can help people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues, supporting you in improving their overall mental health. We also focus on helping you improve your mental resilience, motivation, focus, and emotional control, enhancing your ability to perform under pressure. We use techniques such as visualization, goal setting, and mindfulness, to empower you to overcome mental barriers and achieve peak performance.
14 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI (Online Only)
Sports
Orka Health and Wellness, PLLC
Counselor/Therapist, MSW, LICSW, LMFT, LPCC
Integrating mental health support with athletic performance requires a specialized understanding of the "athlete's mindset." Whether you are a competitive student-athlete (ages 10+), a collegiate performer, or a weekend warrior, our Master’s level, clinically licensed therapists help you bridge the gap between your mental well-being and your physical goals.
The Mental Edge: Therapy for Athletes & Performers
In sports, mental health is performance. We help athletes move past the mental blocks that keep them from their full potential, while ensuring they remain resilient individuals outside of their sport.
How We Support Athletes
We address the unique pressures of the athletic world using evidence-based clinical tools:
Identity & Self-Esteem: We help athletes build a sense of self that isn't solely tied to their stats or win/loss record—a crucial step for long-term mental health.
Injury Recovery: Navigating the grief and frustration of being sidelined, helping you maintain a positive mindset during physical rehab.
High-Conflict Systems: For youth athletes, we help navigate the "high-conflict" dynamics that can arise between players, parents, and coaches.
Our Specialized Youth Approach (Ages 10+)
For younger athletes, we utilize specialized interactive software to help them visualize goals, track their emotional "game film," and build the self-esteem necessary to thrive both on and off the field.
Your Performance Roadmap
Every athlete’s journey starts with a full assessment to determine where your mental "blind spots" are.
Clinical Assessment: We look at the intersection of your life and your sport.
Goal Setting: We set specific markers for success—such as reducing pre-game panic, improving focus, or healing from a past injury.
Collaborative Plan: We discuss a treatment plan together that respects your training schedule and competitive season.
We know that athletes have demanding schedules. We make it easy to get the support you need:
Online Therapy: Meet with your therapist from home or while traveling for games.
Free Consults: Meet with a therapist to ensure they "get" your sport and your goals before you dive in.
5 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI (Online Only)
Sports
Heinig Health and Wellness Counseling
Psychologist, Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, M.S. Health Psychology, M.A. Clinical Psychology, PSYPACT Providers
Here at HHAWC, we offer psychotherapy services to help athletes and active individuals enhance performance, build mental resilience, and navigate the psychological demands of sport and competition. Our approach focuses on developing skills such as focus, confidence, motivation, emotional regulation, and effective response to pressure and setbacks. We also address challenges including performance anxiety, injury recovery, burnout, and transitions within or beyond athletic involvement. Treatment is individualized and collaborative, supporting both mental well-being and optimal performance in training, competition, and daily life.
7 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI (Online Only)
Sports
Mosaic Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Whether you’re an athlete looking to improve your performance, manage competition stress, or overcome mental barriers, sports psychology can give you the edge you need to succeed. Our therapy services are designed to help athletes of all levels build mental toughness, enhance focus, and develop strategies to handle pressure, setbacks, and performance anxiety. Using techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and visualization, we support you in boosting confidence, increasing motivation, and achieving peak performance. Together, we’ll work to develop a mindset that empowers you to perform at your best, both on and off the field.
11 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI
Sports
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 Madison, WI
Madison is home to the University of Wisconsin — one of the top research universities in the country — and serves as Wisconsin's state capital, giving it an unusually high concentration of academics, researchers, and government professionals who collectively represent one of the most therapy-positive demographics in the Midwest. The city's progressive political culture and high rate of higher education strongly correlate with high therapy utilization and acceptance across multiple demographics. UW Health and SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital provide institutional mental health resources, with a well-developed private practice community serving Willy Street, Atwood, and the Near East Side. Madison's growing Latino, Hmong, and East African communities are increasing demand for multilingual and culturally grounded therapists.
Sports Psychology therapists in Madison, WI Statistics
Sports Psychology therapists in Madison, WI average 18 years of experience and charge around $232 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (77%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (45%), and Behavioral Therapy (45%).
Average years in practice
18 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$232
Accept insurance
26%
Offer sliding scale
61%
Gender ID
| 56% |
Female |
|
| 41% |
Male |
|
| 3% |
Non-Binary |
|
Session Type
| 55% |
Online Only |
|
| 45% |
In Person and Online |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 77% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 45% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 45% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 39% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 35% | Family Systems Therapy |
| 32% | Integrative Therapy |
| 29% | Internal Family Systems (IFS) |
Ages Served
| 100% | Adult |
| 87% | Young Adult |
| 65% | Senior |
| 55% | Teen |
| 26% | Children |
Client Focus
| 65% | Women |
| 61% | Men |
| 42% | Military / Veterans |
| 39% | Christian |
| 39% | Persons with Disabilities |