Sport Psychology for LGBTQIA+ Athletes
At Umbrella Collective we recognize that the separation of sports by gender leaves many LGBTQIA+ athletes feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome. LGBTQIA+ athletes experience unique psychological stressors and discrimination that hinder participation and performance. Trans athletes across the country are currently under attack by exclusionary participation policies. The use of derogatory language among teammates, discrimination from coaches, and harassment from spectators in sports often results in transgender and gender non-conforming athletes experiencing lower self-esteem (Cunningham et al., 2018) and higher rates of substance abuse, depression and suicide (Rankin & Weber, n.d.). However, we also know that dedicated and affirming support for mental health and performance can lower burnout rates, decrease performance anxiety, increase confidence and promote the overall mental health and well-being among LGBTQIA+ athletes.
That’s why Umbrella Collective provides LGBTQIA+ inclusive and gender affirming counseling for athletes. No matter where you are in your athletic career, you can find queer affirming support here. We believe that Pride Night exists every you time you compete, and we want to help you bring your whole authentic self into your competition space. Whether you’re navigating coming out to your teammates and coaches for the first time, or overcoming mental obstacles that impact your performance, we provide LGBTQIA+ affirming mental support to empower your identity and optimize your performance.
“In a 2021 research study among 1000 collegiate athletes conducted by Out Sports, the Sports Equality Foundation, and the University of Winchester, 82% of queer athletes said they received a positive reaction from their teammates when coming out, 13% were neutral, and only 5% were negative.”
What is Sport Performance Psychology?
Sport Performance Psychology helps athletes learn how to perform at their optimal level consistently under pressure and increase their enjoyment while competing. Through a combination of psychological assessments and individual counseling sessions, we’ll develop a customized performance improvement plan targeting both your mental health needs and performance goals. You will learn foundational mental skills and gain personal insight into the connection between your mental health and athletic performance.
What mental skills can I expect to learn?
Mental skills are sport-specific psychological skills that contribute to an athlete’s ability to perform at their best (Weinberg & Gould, 2019). Mental skills include focus, confidence, coping with adversity, peaking under pressure, goal setting, mental preparation through performance routines, motivation, imagery, emotion awareness, emotional regulation, and more.
What Sport Psychology Assessments are Available?
Assessments in Sport Psychology can help you determine more than just strengths and weaknesses. Sport Psychology Assessments can identify sources of confidence, performance anxiety, and motivation that impact your performance and relationships. Sport Psychology Assessments can also help you determine if a team culture or style of coaching feels supportive and safe for coming out. Your therapist will determine which assessments will be most beneficial to support your mental performance training. Below are a some examples of the types of Sport Psychology Assessments we can provide athletes to improve performance.
Sport Motivation Scale Revised (SMS-II)
ACSI-Athletic Coping Skills Inventory
Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS)
Automatic Self Talk Questionnaire for Sports (ASTQS)
Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2)
Mental Toughness Questionnaire
Performance Profiling
Sport Anxiety Scale (SAS-2)
Sport Competition Anxiety Test
Trait Sport-Confidence Inventory (TSCI)
Motives for Physical Activities Measure (MPAM-R)
Autonomy Support Questionnaire (ASQ)
The Sport Climate Questionnaire (SCQ)
Coaches’ Controlling Interpersonal Style
Emotion Regulation Inventory
Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI)
Your Counselor for Sport Psychology — Dr. Brooke Rundle (she/they)
Dr. Brooke Rundle (she/they) is dually trained in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Sport Performance Psychology. Dr. Rundle’s approach is deeply rooted in her experience as an NCAA D1 All-American and former professional athlete, paired with their personal journey as an out queer professional. Dr. Rundle is an Athlete Ally Pro Ambassador and member of the Sports Equality Foundation for LGBTQIA+ sports advocacy. Dr. Rundle founded Headstrong Mindset and is an independent mental performance consultant with USA Volleyball’s National Team Development Program (NTDP), in addition to several NCAA collegiate athletes and teams. Dr. Rundle is currently pursuing CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant®) certification through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Brooke Rundle to receive LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, Sport Psychology Assessments, and learn mental skills rooted in Sport Performance Psychology.
