perform under pressure

enjoy the game

Clinical Sport Psychology for Athletes with Anxiety or OCD

CBT Informed by Mental Skills and Improv

Dr. Jason von Stietz, clinical sport psychologist, pictured with his gray cat beside the title "Clinical Sport Psychology."
Dr. Jason von Stietz, clinical sport psychologist, pictured with his gray cat beside the title "Clinical Sport Psychology."

Does any of this sound familiar?

There are times when you feel locked-in. You trust your training, compete freely, and enjoy the game. Then something changes. You start overthinking, your confidence takes a hit, or anxiety follows you onto the field, court, stage, or into the weight room. If that sounds familiar, sport psychology can help you get back to performing and enjoying your sport again.

Where do we go from here?

We'll start by getting a better understanding of what you're experiencing, how it's affecting your performance, and what you'd like to be different. Together, we'll develop a plan that fits your goals.

As therapy progresses, we'll practice new ways of responding to anxiety, self-doubt, racing thoughts, OCD, or other obstacles that can interfere with performance. We'll apply those strategies during the situations that matter most to you so they're easier to use when the pressure is on.

Our goal is simple: help you perform under pressure, enjoy your sport, and build skills that continue to serve you long after the game is over.

  • You don’t need to get rid of these experiences completely.

    You need to learn how to perform alongside them.

  • You don’t have to choose between being mentally healthy and being competitive.

    In fact, the skills that support mental health — flexibility, awareness, resilience — are the same ones that support high-level performance.

    Great athletes rarely feel “perfect.”

    Instead they learn to stay present and perform anyway.

    I work with:

    • High school athletes

    • Collegiate athletes

    • Competitive and elite performers

    Including athletes who are:

    • Highly driven and self-critical

    • Struggling quietly despite strong performance

    • Looking for both performance improvement and mental health support

  • Movie House Sport Psychology

    I host a podcast exploring the mental side of sport through storytelling, performance insights, and a bit of creativity.

    Check it out on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

    The Mentally Fit Athlete

    I also co-host a podcast that explores the mental side of sport and performance. Each episode is an informal open conversation filled with practical takeaways useful for coaches, athletes, and anyone interested in performance and wellbeing.

    Check it out on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

Dr. Jason von Stietz leading a sport psychology workshop with Campbell Hall varsity baseball players during an improv exercise and discussion of mental skills.
Dr. Jason von Stietz leading a sport psychology workshop with Campbell Hall varsity baseball players during an improv exercise and discussion of mental skills.

How we’ll work together

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

The gold standard for navigating OCD and intrusive thoughts. We look at the patterns keeping you stuck, building practical strategies to handle performance anxiety without letting it dictate your actions on the field or court. We’ll use specialized approaches such I-CBT, ERP, and CBT-I.

Mental Skills Training

Performance-specific tools designed to sharpen your focus, establish flexible routines, and maintain confidence when the stakes are highest. You will learn to trust your training when it matters most.

Applied Improv Principles

Sport is unpredictable. By blending improv principles into performance psychology, you will develop cognitive flexibility—the ability to stay completely present, drop rigid expectations, and adapt to whatever the game throws at you.

Workshops & team sessions

Every team faces challenges. Communication breaks down, frustration builds, confidence takes a hit, or athletes become so focused on their own performance that they lose sight of the team.

My workshops use interactive team-building activities and improv exercises to help athletes practice communication, teamwork, staying present under pressure, and responding constructively to mistakes and feedback.

Learn more

Clinical sport psychologist Dr. Jason von Stietz leading an athlete mental health workshop for the University of La Verne athletic department.

A Bit About ME

I’m a clinical sport psychologist who works with athletes navigating anxiety, OCD, and high-performance pressure.

My background in weightlifting, shaped by coaching influenced by the philosophy of Tommy Kono, taught me that performance is about responding to pressure rather than eliminating it.

Today, I integrate cognitive behavioral therapy, mental skills training, and principles from improv to help athletes compete with clarity and flexibility when it matters most.

Ready to get started?

If you’re ready to strengthen your mental game and enjoy your sport more fully, I’d be glad to help.

Schedule Consultation