Photo of Abigail Speights Johnson, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in Arkansas
Abigail Speights Johnson
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, APRN, PMHNP, MSN
Verified Verified
Bentonville, AR 72712
Abigail has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, both psychiatric and medical. As an experienced healthcare provider, Abigail utilizes her 8 years of experience to assist her patients in improving their quality of life. Abigail provides medication management. It is her goal to help identify the root causes of her patient’s current symptoms by extensive lab testing, ordering genetic testing, and a thorough evaluation. Abigail has developed a referral network with trusted therapists when ongoing therapy is needed. Abigail believes that working together as a team is the best approach to gain successful outcomes for her patients.
Abigail has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, both psychiatric and medical. As an experienced healthcare provider, Abigail utilizes her 8 years of experience to assist her patients in improving their quality of life. Abigail provides medication management. It is her goal to help identify the root causes of her patient’s current symptoms by extensive lab testing, ordering genetic testing, and a thorough evaluation. Abigail has developed a referral network with trusted therapists when ongoing therapy is needed. Abigail believes that working together as a team is the best approach to gain successful outcomes for her patients.
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Sports Performance Psychiatrists

How does sports psychology work?

Sports psychology helps athletes identify and overcome challenges, such as perfectionism or a fear of failure, and improve key mental skills, such as confidence or concentration. By applying principles and techniques from psychology, such as goal-setting, visualization, positive self-talk, and emotion regulation, sports psychologists help athletes improve their performance on the field and their well-being overall.

How long does treatment for a sports-related problem take?

The duration of sports psychology treatment depends on the athlete’s individual challenges, goals, the complexity of the interventions used, and even on the length of the season. A performance anxiety issue may be treated with a short-term treatment, like Cognitive behavioural therapy, while issues such as depression, substance abuse, or severe anxiety may require longer-term treatments.

How effective is treatment for sports performance problems?

Sports psychology has been shown to improve performance and help athletes manage their emotions. Sports psychology can be effective in boosting performance, team dynamics, and injury rehabilitation. Over the past decade, nearly every professional sports team in every major sport has added a sports psychologist to its staff. Many colleges have done the same, and even some high school programs have done the same. Olympic hopefuls may consult with sports psychologists starting in elementary school.

What are the limitations of sports psychology?

Sports psychology may have several limitations. Every athlete is unique and may respond differently to sports psychology treatments. Therapy can help an athlete reach their potential; it can help athletes cope with injury and pain, but it cannot change the physical limitations that may be affecting an athlete’s performance.