In this episode of Chat By The Pitch, we sit down with Dr. Hilary Cauthen — clinical sports psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, and author of Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate. Dr. Cauthen opens up about her journey as a competitive runner, her TEDx talk on the toxic culture of sport, and how trauma shows up in ways athletes, coaches, and parents often overlook.

We dive into the invisible pressures athletes face — from injuries to fear of evaluation, from peer criticism to the weight of coach expectations. Dr. Cauthen shares how coaches can be emotional role models, why free play matters, and how clubs need to normalize mental performance coaching as a proactive tool instead of a last resort.

If you’re a parent, coach, or player, this conversation will change how you view resilience, identity, and wellbeing in sports.

Key Talking Points

• Why trauma is the “invisible teammate” athletes carry

• Lessons from Dr. Cauthen’s running career and early challenges

• How coaches shape athletes as emotional role models, not just tacticians

• Fear of evaluation and fear of failure: the biggest barriers young athletes face

• Free play as a tool for risk-taking, growth, and creativity

• Parents’ role in supporting players post-game (car ride conversations that build confidence)

• Why professional clubs and youth programs must invest in mental performance coaching

Quotes from Dr. Hilary Cauthen

• “Trauma is your teammate now. It can be your best teammate that helps you thrive or a detrimental one that keeps you on the bench.”

• “Mental health is not mental illness. We all have mental health; it’s about how we manage our thoughts and feelings.”

• “Connection is essential. Coaches need to be present, make eye contact, and assess how athletes show up to practice.”

• “Free play allows athletes to make mistakes, take risks, and grow without fear of punishment.”

• “The two biggest fears athletes carry are fear of evaluation and fear of failure.”

• “Coaches are emotional role models. Their feedback can shape an athlete more than a parent’s words.”

Connect with Dr. Hilary Cauthen

🌐 Website: www.txopps.com

🎥 YouTube: Watch Here

🎙️ Podcast: Highs & Lows of X’s & O’s

📚 Book: Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate

📸 Instagram: @drcmindset | @toppstalks

✖️ X: @TOPPSTIP

👍 Facebook: @TXOPPS

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#ChatByThePitch #DrHilaryCauthen #SportsPsychology #YouthSports #MentalHealth #TraumaInSports #Coaching #SoccerParenting #MentalPerformance #Resilience #AthleteWellbeing

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Thanks to Soccer Coach Weekly for supporting the podcast.
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