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Skadi Sport Psychology

YOUR GO-TO FOR HOT TAKES IN THE MENTAL HEALTH & PERFORMANCE SPACE

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Feelings of Never Being Enough: A Guide to Perfectionism for Athletes
Featured Post

Perfectionism: Your Secret Weapon or Silent Saboteur?

Hi Reader,Calling all perfectionists in the house! For so many athletes, perfectionism feels like both a blessing and a curse. It’s what gets you out of bed for those early morning workouts. It’s what pushes you to dig deep when your legs are screaming to stop.It has a lot of different forms, and has created some interesting debates in the sport psychology world (good? bad? both?), but if there's anything I've learned, it's definitely a personality trait that you can't simply turn off. No one...

5 days ago • 2 min read
Self Compassion for Athletes how to navigate negative self-talk

Hi Reader,You know that voice in your head after a bad race, a missed shot, or a tough training session?The one that says: "You’re not good enough." "You’ll never make it." "Everyone else is better than you." Yeah, that one. It’s brutal, isn’t it?If you’ve ever caught yourself spiraling into harsh self-criticism, you’re not alone. Negative self-talk is one of the most common mental barriers athletes face.And here's the weird part. The inner critic is not making you better. It’s holding you...

12 days ago • 1 min read
Calling All High School coaches! Is Your Team Culture Helping or Hurting?

Hi Reader,Let’s be real—coaching high school athletes is about so much more than training plans and race-day strategies.It’s about those moments that keep you up at night. Like when your top athlete pulls out of a race with a “stomachache” that’s really about anxiety. Or when you overhear a joke and wonder if your team culture is unintentionally pushing athletes away.Sound familiar? Your role as a coach goes far beyond teaching technical skills or improving race times. You’re shaping the...

19 days ago • 2 min read
Digital wellness and doing it for the 'gram': social media and athlete wellness

Hi Reader,Let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind lately (& on the minds of many of you, likely): social media.It’s a love-hate relationship, isn’t it?On one hand, it’s great to connect with teammates, share your wins, and find inspiration from other athletes. I love the sense of community I get from it, and the opportunity to connect with others regarding my random adventures. I've even done a surprising amount of networking on Instagram. (It's how I found some of you!)On the other...

26 days ago • 2 min read
brain health & performance: what female athletes need to know

Hi Reader,Spring (can we call it spring?!) conference season has arrived! The Paralympics have arrived! This past week, the Skadi team attended TRIA's Female Athlete Summit, where we got to nerd out over (and present on) some of our favorite topics in female athlete health and performance. It was great seeing and connecting with some of you while we were there. For those who weren't able to make it and want the cliff notes from my talk on the importance of prioritizing brain health, this...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read
How long does sport psych take? A guide to results

Hi Reader,I just got back from a week in Tucson, and let me tell you—it was exactly what I needed. 🌵☀️ One of my favorite things to do during my training camps is to let Strava map out a course for me based on preferred terrain and distance. Adventures were had! I saw a lot of wildlife, had a few questionable cattle encounters, testing the limits of my tires, and I may or may not have unintentionally trespassed on private land. I also got in some quality mileage and NO SUNBURN...

about 2 months ago • 3 min read

Hi Reader,Let’s talk about something that might make you raise an eyebrow: working with a therapy intern.I get it. The word “intern” can make you think of someone fumbling through their first day, spilling coffee, and asking a million questions.But when it comes to therapy interns or pre-licensed providers, that couldn’t be further from the truth (especially when working in tightknit settings like Skadi).So let's talk about who they are and what to expect. Therapy interns are in the final...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Self Confidence without Apology for Female Athletes

Hi Reader,You know that moment when someone says, “Just be more confident!” and you want to roll your eyes so hard they might get stuck? Yeah, me too.If you’re a female athlete, you’ve probably heard this advice more times than you can count. And while it’s well-meaning, it’s also wildly unhelpful.Here's why: Confidence for women in sports comes with a catch.Be confident, but not too confident.Be competitive, but don’t be aggressive.Be a leader, but don’t be bossy.It’s like walking a...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Hi Reader,You know that feeling when everything just clicks?Your body feels strong, your breathing is steady, and you’re crushing your intervals or your circuit workout like a total boss. Despite how much we know and love those days (and how much we crave them), they’re not the key to long-term success.It may sound counterintuitive, because society and social media often glamorize those "best" days--but what if the trick to becoming a better athlete is simply about making your average days...

2 months ago • 2 min read
Low & Slow Breathing: The Athlete's Guide to Better Recovery

Hi Reader,Let’s talk about two things that can make or break your performance: sleep and breathing.I know, they sound basic. But trust me—getting these right can truly improve how you train, recover, and show up every day. Step One: Breathing You’ve probably heard it before: “Just take a deep breath.”Generally, a decent concept, but here’s where things go awry—most people hear “deep” and think “big.” They gulp in air, puff out their chest, and end up overdoing it.This approach, known as...

2 months ago • 2 min read