In the Trenches

Gender

Supporting Transgender and Gender Expansive People

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on April 16, 2025

Championing safety for all identities in today’s uncertain world.

Championing safety for all identities in today’s uncertain world.

Body Image

Navigating Body Image and Exercise

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on March 21, 2025

Transitioning out of sports can impact an athlete's relationship with their body, fitness, and self-worth. Learn how to navigate this transition in a healthy, sustainable way.

Transitioning out of sports can impact an athlete's relationship with their body, fitness, and self-worth. Learn how to navigate this transition in a healthy, sustainable way.

Sport and Competition

What "Ted Lasso" Can Teach Us About Athlete Mental Health

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on February 16, 2025

"Ted Lasso" sheds light on athlete mental health, from relationships and identity struggles to trauma and systemic pressures, offering valuable lessons for supporting athletes.

"Ted Lasso" sheds light on athlete mental health, from relationships and identity struggles to trauma and systemic pressures, offering valuable lessons for supporting athletes.

Resilience

Bouncing Back: Overcoming Major Loss in Sports

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on February 10, 2025

Athletes don’t have to be defined by major losses in sports. Learn how top athletes process and recover, stay motivated, and build resilience to come back stronger than ever.

Athletes don’t have to be defined by major losses in sports. Learn how top athletes process and recover, stay motivated, and build resilience to come back stronger than ever.

Sport and Competition

The Changing Landscape of College Athlete Mental Health

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on January 29, 2025

Changes in college athletics, including the NCAA transfer portal, NIL opportunities, roster limits, and expanded seasons, have created a new landscape for students' mental health.

Changes in college athletics, including the NCAA transfer portal, NIL opportunities, roster limits, and expanded seasons, have created a new landscape for students' mental health.

Psych Careers

So You Want to Be a Sport Psychologist?

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on January 9, 2025

Sport psychology can be an exciting career for those with a passion for working with athletes and mental health.

Sport psychology can be an exciting career for those with a passion for working with athletes and mental health.

Relationships

What “It Ends With Us” Reveals About Breaking Cycles of Abuse

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on January 1, 2025

"It Ends With Us" offers a powerful exploration of breaking intergenerational cycles of abuse, demonstrating how courage and self-compassion can create healthier futures.

"It Ends With Us" offers a powerful exploration of breaking intergenerational cycles of abuse, demonstrating how courage and self-compassion can create healthier futures.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual Violence Prevention in Sport

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on December 10, 2024

Sexual violence remains a pervasive issue in sports. Evidence-based programming, community involvement, and institutional accountability are necessary for broader cultural change.

Sexual violence remains a pervasive issue in sports. Evidence-based programming, community involvement, and institutional accountability are necessary for broader cultural change.

Resilience

Mental Strength Is Key for Thriving Amid Life's Challenges

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on December 9, 2024

Developing mental strength is a near-daily journey that allows us to maintain overall well-being in the midst of life challenges and difficult emotions.

Developing mental strength is a near-daily journey that allows us to maintain overall well-being in the midst of life challenges and difficult emotions.

Sport and Competition

Let’s Grab a Dink! A Pickleball Revolution

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on November 6, 2024

Pickleball sky-rocketed in popularity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Players of all identities and abilities continue to “grab a dink” together.

Pickleball sky-rocketed in popularity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Players of all identities and abilities continue to “grab a dink” together.

Cognition

Differentiating Mental Health, Illness, and Performance

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on October 23, 2024

Mental health, mental illness, and mental performance are distinct concepts that impact the way we think, feel, and behave and may or may not be correlated with each other.

Mental health, mental illness, and mental performance are distinct concepts that impact the way we think, feel, and behave and may or may not be correlated with each other.

Sport and Competition

How to Be a Good Pickleball Partner

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on September 26, 2024

Pickleball remains the fastest growing sport in America and doubles partnership can be improved through enjoyment, communication, positivity, adaptivity, and knowing your role.

Pickleball remains the fastest growing sport in America and doubles partnership can be improved through enjoyment, communication, positivity, adaptivity, and knowing your role.

Trauma

Creating Trauma-Informed Sports Environments for Athletes

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on September 22, 2024

Athletes may carry traumatic experiences to sports fields and gymnasiums, and trauma-informed sports environments can be created through key assumptions and principles.

Athletes may carry traumatic experiences to sports fields and gymnasiums, and trauma-informed sports environments can be created through key assumptions and principles.

Sport and Competition

Trauma and PTSD Among Elite Athletes

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on August 27, 2024

Even our “toughest” athletes are impacted by trauma both within and outside of sports. Sports organizations should be prepared to recognize symptoms and refer appropriately.

Even our “toughest” athletes are impacted by trauma both within and outside of sports. Sports organizations should be prepared to recognize symptoms and refer appropriately.

Sleep

Is Sleep the New Performance Enhancing Drug?

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on August 4, 2024

Despite growing evidence that adequate sleep improves athletes' health and performance, sports environments are not conducive to obtaining appropriate sleep.

Despite growing evidence that adequate sleep improves athletes' health and performance, sports environments are not conducive to obtaining appropriate sleep.

Transgender

LGBTQ+ Representation in Sports Is at an All-Time High

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on July 4, 2024

Sports organizations should be prepared to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion practices.

Sports organizations should be prepared to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion practices.

Identity

Why Aren’t We Talking About Regional Identity in Athletics?

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on March 15, 2024

Regional culture is an often overlooked aspect of identity that impacts athletes' experiences. Sports ecosystems should discuss athletes' regional identities.

Regional culture is an often overlooked aspect of identity that impacts athletes' experiences. Sports ecosystems should discuss athletes' regional identities.

Sport and Competition

Hanging Up the Cleats: How to Transition Out of Sports

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on December 20, 2023

Athletes face psychological challenges when transitioning out of their sport. These recommendations could support healthier transitions.

Athletes face psychological challenges when transitioning out of their sport. These recommendations could support healthier transitions.

Sport and Competition

What Is a Sport Psychologist?

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on November 3, 2023

As the field of sport psychology continues to expand, so do the settings and functions you can find sport psychologists operating in.

As the field of sport psychology continues to expand, so do the settings and functions you can find sport psychologists operating in.

Sport and Competition

Coaches' Mental Health Matters

Tess M. Kilwein PhD, ABPP, CMPC on July 27, 2023

Despite athletic coaches facing unique mental health challenges, they have largely been left out of the conversation about mental health support.

Despite athletic coaches facing unique mental health challenges, they have largely been left out of the conversation about mental health support.