Integrated care dedicated to athletes’ overall health
Sports are a great opportunity for young athletes to develop social, emotional, and leadership skills. However, the growing intensity of youth sports can take a toll on athletes’ well-being.
The Sports Behavioral Health Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital supports the emotional and behavioral health of young athletes who receive care in the Sports Medicine Division. We recognize that sports injuries often affect more than just an athlete’s body: Injuries can affect an athlete’s behavioral health and make them more prone to injury.
We are one of the only behavioral health clinics in the country embedded within a clinical sports medicine program. This cutting-edge approach allows us to work closely with our multi-specialty colleagues and ensure athletes receive the full range of services they need to thrive in their lives and in their sports.
Sports-specific behavioral health
A sports injury can disrupt the structure of an athlete’s daily life, connection to their social group, or identity as an athlete. For others, the pressure to compete at a high level or maintain a certain body type can lead to fear of failure, depression, anxiety, disordered eating, or eating disorders.
We are committed to helping athletes cope with the mental and emotional impact of injury, manage the pressures of competitive sports, and address the physical and emotional toll of unrealistic expectations. We work with athletes at all levels of ability: from those training for the Olympics or performing with the Boston Ballet to those playing on local or youth sports teams.
Behavioral health services
Depending on an athlete’s needs, we can help them address:
- Injury-related feelings of loss or depression
- Return-to-play anxiety and fear of reinjury
- Body-image issues
- Eating disorders and disordered eating
- Perfectionism
- The mental side of athletic performance
- Life beyond sports
Mental skills training
Our mental skills specialist helps equip athletes with tools to maximize performance and (if injured) cope with rehabilitation and time away from sport. For instance, athletes develop skills such as:
- Confidence
- Motivation
- Self-talk
- Goal setting
- Anxiety and arousal control
Clinical services
Our goal is to ensure all patients receive timely care from providers skilled to meet their specific needs. Patients referred to our clinic will have an evaluation with one of our behavioral health experts. When athletes have additional needs, we help coordinate care with specialized providers. After making a referral, we follow up with the patient and their family to ensure continuity of care.
Research
In collaboration with our colleagues in the Sports Medicine Division, we are exploring the psychological and behavioral health implications of sport participation in young athletes.
Not just a physical thing: The psychology of sports injuries and recovery
An athlete’s psychological response to injury can either delay or enhance their physical recovery.
Much of our research is compiled in Psychological Considerations in the Young Athlete. Co-edited by our clinic directors, Drs. Melissa Christino and Emily Pluhar along with Dr. Lyle Micheli, this is the first-ever book to address the growing issue of psychological problems in young athletes.
Other areas of research include:
Athletic identity in youth athletes
How does athletic identity (AI), the degree of an athlete’s personal connection to sport, affect young athletes’ participation in sports activities, risk of injury, and coping strategies?
Psychology and recovery from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
With the rising rate of ACL injury in younger athletes, we are looking at how psychological factors, such as self-esteem, feelings of lost control, and psychological distress may affect athletes’ physical recovery and return to sport after ACL injury.
Mental health in specialized athletes
Given the increasing competitiveness of youth sports, young athletes often feel pressured to train and perform at near-professional levels. We are studying links between sports specialization and depression, anxiety, burnout, and harmful behaviors such as overtraining and eating disorders.
Mental skills training
How effective is mental skills training in helping athletes develop mental toughness and coping skills when faced with the pressures and challenges of competitive sports?
