Individual Therapy

Dr. Sarnell uses a flexible, integrative approach, implementing a therapeutic style that will best meet your needs. She has experience implementing a variety of therapeutic techniques, with specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy, which is an active, present-focused treatment. Dr. Sarnell works with clients to create a safe environment where you can feel comfortable and explore concerns without judgment. She supports athletes and other high performers as they work to understand themselves better, implement effective coping techniques, and improve their overall quality of life.

Athletes may struggle with clinical issues related to their sport, such as debilitating performance anxiety, depression after injury, disordered eating, or post concussion syndrome. Athletes may also have clinical concerns outside of their sport, such as test anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, depression, or relationship concerns. Dr. Sarnell's expertise in both Clinical Psychology and Sport Psychology allow her to support this unique population while treating the whole person.  Her understanding of the sport environment and her ability to provide clinical interventions put her in a unique position to assist athletes as they confront these issues and help them recover.

Sport Psychology Consultation: Individual and Team Sessions

Dr. Sarnell offers a wide variety of services designed to benefit individual athletes, teams and coaches. Dr. Sarnell works one-on-one with athletes to teach mental skills and help them improve their performance. She works with coaches to provide support related to team culture, team cohesion, communication, and other areas that can help them meet their coaching goals.  Dr. Sarnell meets with teams to provide interactive workshops focused on strengthening their ability to work as a team, as well as presentations that focus on mental skills for performance enhancement.

There are many reasons to consult with a sport psychology professional, including:

• Peak Performance: gaining a mental edge and increasing mental toughness

• Coping with pressure from others’ expectations and/or your own expectations

• Managing anxiety: from typical performance anxiety to debilitating performance anxiety

• Increasing confidence 

• Managing emotions and getting in the zone

• Increasing your motivation and enjoyment

• Improving concentration and learning how to stay in the moment

• Learning how to more effectively cope with injury

• Balancing the demands of athletics with those of everyday life

• Coping with life stress and its impact both within and outside of sports

• Coping with depression or anxiety and its impact both within and outside of sports

• Creating a cohesive team and coping with difficult team dynamics

• Retiring from sports

• Committing to an exercise program

Presentations

Dr. Sarnell offers presentations tailored to your team or organization. She is based in Durham, North Carolina and in addition to providing presentations to local organizations, she can provide virtual presentations or travel to work with your team.  If you are interested in having Dr. Sarnell talk to your group, email DrSarnell@gmail.com to set-up a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss what would be most helpful to your team or organization.  Here are some of Dr. Sarnell’s favorite presentation topics:

• Peak Performance Strategies

• Anxiety Management

• Athlete Mental Health

• Goal Setting

• Leadership Skills

• Positive and Balanced Thinking

• Mindfulness

• Confidence

• Disordered Eating

• Self-Care: Finding Balance

• Identifying Motivation

• Overcoming Performance Anxiety

• Sports Parenting

• Coaching to promote positive outcomes

• Coping with Injury