For athletes struggling in their transition following athletic retirement, we always encourage finding a professional therapist or sports psychologist to work with. A trained professional can help you work through what you are feeling and thinking and help you identify specific areas where they can assist you in your transition. We encourage you to work through the resources found on our website with your therapist, as it is helpful to do so.
In looking for a therapist that is right for you, we highly recommend seeking one who understands athletes, and if possible, is trained in grief & loss, sport injury, sport transition and/or athletic identity loss. While we at Sidelined USA don’t employ or recommend specific therapists, the following is a list of tips and sources we have found helpful with finding such a professional.
Websites to help with your internet search:
* You'll need to find someone licensed in your state. Keep in mind many offer virtual appointments now so you aren't necessarily limited to your immediate area.
* Look for someone with a background in sports performance, then pull up their website and see if they indicate more specific clinical interests such as sport injury, sport transition or athletic identity loss.
Check your state college/university websites for sports psychologists:
If the state college/university employs a sports psychologist, email them and ask if they also have a private practice and take outside clients or if they know of any good sports psychologists who do, making sure to mention that you are especially interested in one who has worked with sport injury, sport transition or athletic identity loss.
*Not all therapists are a fit for every client. If one therapist isn’t a fit for you, that doesn’t mean therapy failed. It just means it wasn’t the right person for you. We encourage you to keep an open mind and try again with a new therapist!