Better Habits, Better Healing, Better Performance
THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND ELITE PERFORMANCE
Pro sports look effortless on TV. Behind the scenes, the pressure is constant. This conversation with the Phoenix Suns’ consulting sport and performance psychiatrist reveals what actually sustains elite performance. Her role blends clinical care with the realities of travel, trade deadlines, injuries, and public scrutiny. She is a licensed mental health professional embedded with the team, present at practices, games, offices, and virtually. Trust is the foundation. Care only works when privacy is protected and support serves the person, not the rumor mill.
THE ROLE NO ONE SEES
Players, coaches, and staff all carry stress. They need a place where honesty does not cost them leverage. The psychiatrist’s job centers on confidentiality, clear boundaries, and evidence-based care. Availability matters. So does consistency. When support is visible and reliable, people use it before problems escalate. Safety creates access. Access creates prevention.
WHY QUICK FIXES FALL SHORT
Ketamine came up early. Clinics and anecdotes are everywhere, but caution matters. Ketamine and S-ketamine have evidence for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Even the FDA-approved nasal form requires in-clinic monitoring and is designed to work alongside an antidepressant, not replace foundational care. For athletes, side effects carry career risk. Proven tools should come first. CBT. Mindfulness. Structured sleep. In severe cases, options like TMS or ECT may be appropriate.
The league context matters too. Psilocybin is prohibited. Cannabis is not on the prohibited list, but synthetic cannabinoids are. The takeaway is consistent. Do not chase shortcuts. Build habits that hold under pressure.
MENTAL SKILLS THAT TRANSLATE ON COURT
Mental skills training delivers real upside. Positive self-talk, guided imagery, and stable routines help talent become reliable. Visualizing the tunnel walk, the first shot, and the rhythm of a clean possession primes the brain and body for game speed. The line appears when thought turns into rumination. Worrying about outcomes you cannot control drains performance.
The reframe is practical. Turn worries into tasks. You cannot control a roster move. You can control film study, breathwork, and your pregame routine. CBT targets distortions like catastrophizing and fortune telling. Data and perspective reshape emotion and behavior.
THE MENTAL SIDE OF INJURY RECOVERY
Physical clearance does not equal readiness. Many athletes return with hesitation, replaying the injury and guarding the affected area. That fear disrupts timing and confidence. The team now screens psychological readiness over time, not in a single moment. Questions focus on trust in movement, contact, and skill execution.
The goal is not delay. It is precision. Weak spots guide the plan. More imagery. Gradual exposure. Controlled reps. Confidence rises through measured progress. Acting as if you were never injured works best when paired with structure and proof.
SLEEP IS THE FOUNDATION
Sleep touches everything. Mood. Recovery. Decision-making. There is no universal number. One athlete thrives on seven hours. Another needs nine. Wearables like Oura and WHOOP help spot patterns that erode rest, like late screens, long naps, or travel shifts. Addressing apnea, shortening naps, and aligning bed and wake times restores energy and patience. Better sleep increases emotional bandwidth. That difference shows up in how problems get solved.
RECOVERY TRENDS IN CONTEXT
Cold plunges get attention for a reason. They can elevate mood through catecholamine release and support mental recovery when used safely. Full immersion can stimulate vagal pathways. Still, they are not cures. Like breathwork, journaling, and rituals, they work inside systems. Training load. Nutrition. Mindset.
Rituals matter. Many athletes rely on them. Set music. Set order. That is not OCD unless it disrupts life. Rituals anchor focus. OCD impairs function.
THE HUMAN EDGE
Athletes face heckling, public salaries, and constant demands. They still deal with anxiety, depression, and family stress. The psychiatrist’s goal is to transfer skill. Be present. Be trusted. Then become unnecessary in crisis because regulation tools are already in place.
Box breathing. CBT reframes. Deep work blocks. Staff alignment across physical and psychological care. These create durability. Champions look superhuman. Their edge is human. Disciplined habits. Clear minds. And the courage to ask for help before the noise gets loud.
