Unit3d

When we play sports as a kid, we play because it’s fun. As we get older, things can become more complex. When we are good at a sport, we get more invested in the outcome, more people become involved and invested in our performance, and we can lose the enjoyment of playing. If we can connect with our values, we can reconnect with our “why,” our reason for continuing in our sport. Chris Pomfret is a senior performance psychologist with Condor Performance in Brisbane, Australia. On this episode of Unit3d, Chris shares from across the world strategies for engaging in self-exploration to find out what we value and how that keeps us motivated to continue in the sport that was once played just for fun.

As a former athlete Jeremy Gray understands the mental health challenges that can happen, whether it's due to the stress and expectations of performance or the depression that can happen as a result of the inevitable transition that happens away from sport. He is now an Alabama State Representative working in politics to support athletes through legislation and advocacy. He has brought yoga to the schools in Alabama and created needed change for athletes. Jeremy shares his journey and the work he is doing now in the Alabama State Legislature.

Bill Kvalheim played football in college, but his biggest challenge would hit him once he graduated. Bill had experienced some anxiety and depression before, but without his purpose (which had been playing football), he felt lost and aimless. His depression worsened, his anxiety ramped up, and he finally asked for help to get better. Now he has a new purpose – a mission – to decrease stigma and let young athletes know that it’s ok to ask for help and that they are not alone. Bill has now started the nonprofit, Tackle Depression, which is designed to provide education, mentorship, and resources (including scholarships) for young people struggling with their own mental illness. He shares about his journey on this episode of Unit3d.

Athletes are often hard on themselves, particularly when it comes to past performances. Overly critical post-performance analyses are often inaccurate and unhelpful. Constantly berating ourselves for mistakes or missed opportunities can rob us of joy and create a relationship with our performance that is rife with fear. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Rachel Webb talks about the disadvantage of being hypercritical and not having a more accurate review of our past performances both athletically and emotionally.

The awareness around student-athlete mental health has come so far in the last couple of decades, although we still have a long way to go. Walt Norley was a quarterback at Ohio State and University of Georgia. Although he had success in his athletic career, he was struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness. Later in life he was diagnosed and treatment helped him thrive. He started and developed several tech companies and decided to use his personal experience to raise awareness and help other athletes improve their mental health. Through his data analytics company, OnBalance he is helping athletic departments deliver better mental health services to athletes. Through the podcast Athletes Onbalance he is raising awareness, having dialogue, and supporting the mental health of student-athletes everywhere.

Music is universal; just about everyone has a type of music they love, a favorite song, or soothing sound they prefer. Music and sound has been used in many ways to improve or maintain mental health as well as boost performance. On this episode of Unit3d, Dr. Derek Vigon talks about ways in which music, vibration and sound can enhance mood, soothe anxiety, improve performance and more.

On March 31, 2020 the first episode of Unit3d was released. That could not have happened without the work and guidance of Graham Doty, Unit3d’s producer. For this special anniversary, Graham is the guest on Unit3d, sharing his perspective on the beginnings, growth, and impact of the podcast over the last 4 years of nearly 300 episodes.

We all have our ups and downs, but sometimes we can wonder if our ups or downs are “normal”. It can be hard to know when nervousness is actually anxiety or sadness is actually depression. Dr. Marlon Bailey, psychologist in the athletic department at Vanderbilt University shares valuable insight helping one know when to seek help and encourages listeners that if you aren’t having the experience you want, you can get support in making it better.

Warning: This episode contains reference to suicide and self-harm. If you experience thoughts of ending your life please reach out to someone, including 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Always have hope.Mental illness is obviously not new, but the current push to bring mental health care and reaching out for support has brought the importance of one’s mental health to the forefront of concern for athletes, athletic departments and sport teams.  Hearing about other athletes’ and how they navigate times of mental health struggle can help athletes feel less alone and know different ways to navigate darker times.  Writer and editor Julie Kliegman shares insights she gathered from interviewing some of the most elite athletes in the world, writing about athlete mental health, and from her own life in this episode of Unit3d.  Please check out Julie Kleiman’s new book Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes out now and available on Amazon and other major booksellers.

Injury is almost an inevitable part of the journey for athletes and when it happens it can be a daunting process.  An injury threatens an athlete’s identity, social connections, sense of self-worth, and more.  Trusting the process of recovery or even the process of discontinuing sport often requires support.  Dr. Jack Howard discusses injury in athletes, how to navigate the process, and how to support someone going through it.

Gwen Schemm played soccer at Frostburg State University in Maryland. She was, like many athletes, a high-achieving perfectionist. She spent much of her life seeking external validation from awards, praise, and perfect grades. Transitioning to college was difficult and when she started to struggle with her mental health she felt like she was supposed to be able to do everything on her own. Through counseling and support she learned that she is good enough without all the achievements and that she had the power to quiet her inner critical voice as she amplified the voice in her telling her she is strong and worthy. On this episode of Unit3d, Gwen shares her story of struggle and triumph.

The LGBTQ community faces unique challenges when it comes to feeling and being included in spaces, and this can be especially difficult in the area of sport.  It can be difficult for athletes to find spaces and people who are safe and coming out to teammates and coaches can be a big risk.  Dr. Tess Kilwein talks about some of the difficulties faced by those in the LGBTQ community, how athletic departments and staff can create more inclusive environments, and how athletes can be allies to teammates and friends facing these challenges.  Dr. Kilwein shares about Athlete Ally which is an organization that promotes equal access, opportunity, and experience in sports regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The website for athlete allies (www.athleteally.org) offers many resources including trainings for athletes, staff, and coaches.

As a football player for the University of Michigan, Joe Taylor knew he had so much going for him. As he was challenged by depression, he realized that no matter how great your life is, depression is an illness that can happen for anyone. He reached out for help and learned that people care more than he realized. His experiences made him stronger, and he encourages others to be courageous in asking for help.

Bella Fiorenzo experienced struggles along her way to playing soccer in college, and utilizing sport psychology resources as a collegiate athlete helped her establish a space of support.  As her confidence grew, so did her leadership skills and she was named captain of her team her senior year.  She experienced her use of sport psychology performance-related services as preventative and inspired her to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in sport psychology.  On this episode of Unit3d, Bella talks about her experiences and how these have led her to pursue a career helping other athletes make the most of their time as collegiate athletes. 

Representation matters, and representation can be vital when it comes to mental health professionals available for student-athletes. The fit in the relationship between an athlete and a therapist is vital to healing, and being able to have a therapist that shares a cultural perspective and experience can facilitate that road to optimal mental wellness. Dr. Marcus Dumas (Dr. Du) discusses the importance of the relationship and how to overcome potential barriers to that relationship on this episode of Unit3d.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.The last in our relaxation series for this holiday is done by the Unit3d host, Dr. Josie Nicholson. This is meant to be a deep relaxation and gives a chance to embrace the perspective of the new semester as a chance to start fresh, see things in a new way, and build from a strong foundation. Enjoy letting go of tension in your body and your mind!

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.Our thoughts often take away from our feelings of calm. With practice we can learn to take those thoughts that are not helpful and release them like a leaf that floats downstream. Kristi Boxx, Counseling, intern for Rebel Sport Psych in Ole Miss Athletics, leads us through a visualization to help us release unhelpful thoughts, and find a greater state of relaxation.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because the beginning of a new year can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes in a couple of weeks!  Bella Fiorenzo, pre-doctoral intern at Auburn University and Ph.D. student at St. Louis University brings us this weeks’ time of relaxation with guided breathing and a reminder to engage in self-compassion as we begin this new year.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace. We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.With the holidays coming to a close and the new year started, this is a nice time to pause and release tension from the body. Dr. Allison Rogers, Assistant Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology, Mississippi State University Athletics guides us through this meditation focused on gratitude while relaxing the body.

During the holidays the Unit3d team will be taking a break. Because holidays can be hectic and even stressful, the Unit3d team is once again bringing you a series of guided meditations, relaxations, and visual imageries recorded by various mental health professionals to help give you some peace.  We will be back with great new episodes mid-January.The first of our meditations for the holidays is one we offer to you every year: Power Animal by Dean Worsham, LPD, LMFT.  In this guided meditation, you will be connected with inner strength and wisdom. Happy Holidays!