You expect perfection from yourself because for because anything else is unacceptable. In fact, you don’t want to let your teammates down. You’ve learned to ignore the pain. Being hit by a pitch, missing a landing, or rolling an ankle. All because if you don't ignore it, you miss games which means being replaced.
This is just part of being an athlete, right?
Your social life and your identity are heavily intertwined with your sport. Your friends are your teammates and when people think of you, they think of an athlete. Chances are, you can usually be found at practice, lessons, or training. Being an athlete is tough work and so rewarding. We do it because we love it and we push ourselves to be the best that we can be. But it can also leave you susceptible to developing disordered eating behaviors, compulsive exercise, and maladaptive perfectionism.
Maybe it’s time for counseling for athletes
But it can be so confusing. These things weren’t meant to hurt you. You watched what you ate so you knew that your body was being fueled to perform. Plus, you stayed after practice, maybe got some extra cardio or weight training in after the rest of the team had gone home. And you beat yourself up if you didn’t perform to your standards...that missed opportunity to score or momentary loss of focus replay in your mind and you commit to extra practice to assure yourself that it won’t happen again. And I’m going to take a wild guess that these things earn you praise from your coaches, respect from your teammates. But how it all be such a good thing if inside you notice it’s become obsessive and is causing distress. If this sounds familiar, counseling for athletes in St. Louis, MO can help.
How counseling for athletes in St. Louis, MO can help
Being a competitive athlete can also bring added attention to your body. Casual comments about size, strength, and ability become a commentary on how our body “should” look. At the same time, it also teaches us to disconnect from that body. The day after a tough practice may leave us sore, but it doesn’t mean we get to take it easy. We have to ignore that soreness and keep moving forward.
But when does it become a problem? Some questions to ask yourself that may indicate that it is time to talk to somebody include:
Thoughts and concerns about the food you eat dominate your thoughts. Do you shame yourself for not making “good choices” or restrict your diet to the point where it is disrupting other parts of your life like going out to eat with friends?
You feel anxious when you don’t get to work out or train one day. Do you have a rigid training schedule that does not leave room for things to pop up or for injuries to happen?
Harsh judgments about your body dominate your thoughts. Maybe you feel confident about your strength on the field, but when it is time to dress up, your back is too broad, thighs are too big, or you have “man arms.” Or maybe you have intrusive thoughts about needing to be smaller or stronger or whatever would be seen as enhancing your game. Or maybe you aren’t comfortable with your body in any realm.
You’re suddenly unable to play. A major injury keeping you from competing at the same level you once did? Or even graduation leaving you without a team or competitive outlet. You don’t know who you are without it.
To learn about other reasons to start counseling for athletes, check out this article.
As a counselor for athletes, I get it
As a former college athlete myself, I know how easy it is to get swept up in it all, to push yourself, and to want to win. But I also feel very passionately about helping other athletes find a balance between their sport and the rest of their lives. Whether that is working through some disordered eating, perfectionism, body image, or whatever else you are struggling with, I understand the importance of getting back out there. I understand the pressures you face from coaches, teammates, and from yourself.
My approach to counseling for athletes
I approach working with athletes in a similar way as I would any other client...through a HAES framework and an anti-diet approach to fueling the body. I understand that whatever it is we are working on, that it is about more than some behavior we want to stop, but rather that there are experiences and emotions that are hiding underneath that are fueling the problem. I believe one of my greatest strengths as a counselor for athletes is my ability to create a safe environment to talk about those experiences and emotions, even when doing that feels way out of your comfort zone.
Begin counseling for athletes in St. Louis, MO Today!
You know that something just isn’t right. That your thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are standing in the way of living your life. You know it can’t keep going on this and you’re ready for a change. To start your journey towards a healthy relationship with your sport, your body, and your identity, it’s time to begin counseling in Missouri. If you live anywhere in Missouri or Wisconsin, I can help through online therapy services. To get started:
Contact Embodied Self Counseling
Meet with me, Erin, for a 20-minute consultation
Exercise because you want, not because you feel like you have to.
Other Counseling Services Provided in Missouri
Counseling for athletes is not the only service I offer. I previously saw clients in my counseling clinic in St. Louis, MO but now offer online therapy in Missouri and online therapy in Wisconsin. I provide eating disorder treatment for a variety of disorders including Binge Eating Disorder, Anorexia, Atypical Anorexia, binge eating treatment, and eating disorder treatment for men, and Bulimia. In addition, I provide counseling for body image, anxiety, and perfectionism treatment. I also offer eating disorder treatment for men.