SPORTS PERFORMANCE & MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Sports challenge athletes in ways that go beyond physical skill. Confidence, motivation, emotional regulation, relationships, coaching, and the ability to respond to pressure can all shape an athlete's experience and performance.
MN Blue Line Therapy combines mental health counseling, sports psychology, and practical coaching insight to help athletes and the people supporting them understand what may be getting in the way and develop practical strategies for growth, both on and off the field.
The focus is not simply on performance. It is on understanding the person behind the athlete and creating an environment where they can develop, perform, and thrive.
Who We Work With
- Athletes and families - Individual athletes in grades 6–12 and the people supporting them
- Coaches and teams - High school and club team coaches
- Athletic programs - Athletic directors and performance staff
- Sports professionals - Skills coaches and college recruitment advisors
Athlete Mental Performance Evaluation
Each athlete completes a structured evaluation designed to better understand the psychological factors that can influence their performance, development, and interactions with coaches and teammates.
The evaluation looks at:
- Psychological strengths and barriers - Factors that may support or interfere with performance.
- Resilience and recovery - How the athlete responds to setbacks, pressure, and challenges.
- Emotional regulation - How the athlete manages emotions, frustration, stress, and pressure.
- Confidence, focus, and motivation - Factors that influence preparation, performance, and consistency.
- Personality and communication style - How the athlete communicates, responds to coaching, and interacts with teammates.
The goal is to provide athletes, families, and coaches with useful information they can apply - not simply a score or profile. The evaluation identifies strengths, potential barriers, and strategies that can support continued development.
Customized Athlete Development Program
Each program is built around the individual athlete and, when appropriate, developed in collaboration with the people supporting them.
The program may include:
- Coaching communication - Helping coaches communicate in ways that support confidence, motivation, and development.
- Practice habits and routines - Building consistent habits that support performance, accountability, and team dynamics.
- Pre- and post-game routines - Developing practical routines for preparation, emotional regulation, and reflection.
- Goal setting and mental skills - Connecting individual goals with specific strategies for practice and competition.
We also help identify the people supporting the athlete - parents, coaches, trainers, and other mentors - and clarify how those relationships can work together to support development.
Ongoing Support and Consultation
Mental performance development doesn't end with an evaluation. Ongoing support gives athletes and coaches an opportunity to review progress, address new challenges, and adjust strategies throughout the season.
This may include:
- Monthly or seasonal check-ins with coaches to review progress and discuss emerging concerns.
- Progress tracking to identify changes over time and determine whether current strategies are helping.
- In-season and tournament support through timely feedback and consultation around performance, stress, communication, and team dynamics.
The goal is to keep communication consistent among the athlete, coaching staff, and support system so strategies can evolve as the athlete develops.
SUPPORTING THE WHOLE ATHLETE
Individual Counseling for Athletes
Dr. Stiehm will help athletes navigate challenges both in sports and in everyday life. Counseling can address anxiety, depression, stress, confidence, motivation, team and relationship challenges, and other concerns that may affect an athlete's well-being or performance.
Dr. Stiehm can help you better understand what may be getting in the way of your performance and well-being. This may include anxiety, depression, stress, confidence, motivation, or challenges within your team and relationships.
Counseling can help athletes better understand themselves, develop practical coping and performance strategies, and navigate challenges both on and off the field. Whether you're working through a difficult time or simply looking to better understand yourself as an athlete, we're here to support you.
What You Will Receive
Following the evaluation, you receive a clear summary of the athlete's strengths, challenges, and areas for continued development.
The report may include:
- Strengths and areas for development
- Potential challenges - such as burnout, anxiety, negative self-talk, or other patterns that may affect performance and relationships.
- Performance under pressure - how the athlete responds in high-pressure situations.
- Practical recommendations - strategies athletes, families, and coaches can use moving forward.
Additional Services
Game Review
Competition gives athletes real-world opportunities to learn about themselves. Game Review uses that experience as a starting point for reflection, skill development, and growth. For individual athletes, it provides a structured therapeutic session built around the athlete's actual competition experience.
When appropriate, the therapist attends the competition to observe the athlete's performance, specific interactions, and team dynamics. This allows the follow-up session to be based on the athlete's actual experience rather than relying solely on their recollection of the game.
Game Review Events provide a structured space for athletes to:
- Process the emotional experience of competition
- Learn from mistakes without judgment
- Recognize strengths, effort, and progress
- Develop greater awareness of how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors affect performance
What Happens During a Game Review?
1. Check-In and Grounding
A brief check-in helps assess how the athlete is feeling physically and emotionally after competition. When appropriate, breathing or grounding techniques may help the athlete settle before reflection.
2. Structured Game Reflection
The athlete and therapist review what happened during the competition, including:
- What went well?
- What was difficult?
- Thoughts and emotions that came up.
- Moments of strong focus or lost concentration.
- Responses to success, mistakes, setbacks, and challenges.
3. Mental Skills Debrief
The athlete and therapist identify which mental skills helped, which were less effective, and what strategies can be practiced before the next competition.
Who Is It For?
- Individual athletes - incorporated into 1:1 therapy.
- Small groups - for several athletes from the same team or program.
- Teams - when appropriate for the setting and goals of the service.
Coaches or parents may participate in a portion of the review when appropriate and consistent with the athlete's confidentiality and the structure of the service.
Why Game Review?
Game Review helps athletes learn from competition without getting stuck in mistakes or perfectionism. The goal is to build mental skills they can use in sports and everyday life.
Game Review - $250
Includes:
- Attendance at the scheduled competition
- Competition observation
- Follow-up Game Review session
Travel outside the local area may involve additional costs, discussed in advance.
A Game Review Event can be contracted without a prior mental performance assessment.
Important Service Information
When the service includes psychotherapy or a therapeutic follow-up session, the therapy must take place within Minnesota. It is provided in accordance with applicable Minnesota laws, licensing requirements, and professional standards.
Home competitions are recommended whenever possible to minimize travel. For competitions outside Minnesota, additional travel costs will be discussed and agreed upon in advance.
Not sure which service is right for you? Whether you're an athlete, parent, coach, or sports program, we can help you determine the best place to start.
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