Sport Psychology for Athletes: Now Offering Telehealth at Mental Fitness Clinic
As a psychologist specializing in sport and performance psychology, I’m always looking for new ways to positively impact the athletic community. That’s why I’m excited to announce that I have joined the team at Mental Fitness Clinic!
Currently, I am available to work with clients on an out-of-network, fee-for-service basis. However, I will soon be paneled with AETNA. This means that student-athletes from the University of Southern California (USC), Stanford, Whittier College, and many other institutions will be able to work with me through their student insurance plans.
Mental Fitness Clinic
Mental Fitness Clinic (MFC) is a group practice established in 2015 by my colleague Neevon Esmaili, MD, a sports psychiatrist based in Southern California. The practitioners at MFC provide psychiatry, psychotherapy, and neuropsychological testing for athletes and performers at all levels. The MFC office is located in West Los Angeles. However, I will be available to provide clinical sport psychology services via telehealth to clients in Long Beach, the South Bay, and throughout California.
I first met Dr. Esmaili several years ago through my role as the chair of the Los Angeles Psychological Association (LACPA) Sport and Performance Psychology Special Interest Group (SIG). I am always looking for speakers for the SIG, and Dr. Esmaili frequently lectures on sports psychiatry. In addition to delivering a formal presentation on sports psychiatry for the SIG, he is an active member who regularly attends meetings and shares his insights. I’ve learned a lot from him!
Dr. Jason von Stietz and Dr. Neevon Esmaili with the Campbell Hall High School football team after leading a mental health and applied sport psychology workshop focused on teamwork, communication, and performance under pressure.
Applied Sport Psychology Workshops
Dr. Esmaili and I have also had the pleasure of collaborating on applied sport psychology workshops for high school athletes. Together, we have worked with about a dozen teams at schools such as Campbell Hall and St. Francis. He leads the psychoeducational portion of the workshops, empowering student-athletes with information about relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), overtraining, bullying, concussions, mental health issues, and substance use. Then, I take over with the fun part! I lead team-building activities—often involving improvisational comedy—that provide high school athletes with a fun and supportive environment where they can practice focus, communication, and teamwork under pressure.
Psychotherapy for Athletes
As a psychotherapist for athletes and performers, I specialize in helping clients with performance anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and insomnia. However, I also work with athletes facing a variety of mental health and performance challenges, including depression, generalized anxiety, body-focused repetitive behaviors, trauma, and recovery from sport-related injuries, including concussions.
Reach Out to Work with Me
Check out my bio on the MFC website to learn more about my experience and my new role on the team. If you think we’d be a good fit, contact the MFC admin staff to schedule an appointment. If you’d like to learn more about scheduling an applied sport psychology workshop, reach out to me for a free consultation.