Performance Anxiety Therapy for Kids and Teen Athletes in North Hills, PA
Your kid used to love their sport. Now practice feels like pressure, and game day feels like dread. They cry before games, or they’ve started asking to skip practice altogether. The same perfectionism that used to push them forward is starting to wear them down.
I work with young athletes and performers carrying more pressure than they can hold, and I help them find their way back to actually enjoying what they do.
You've watched your kid go from excited to anxious. From confident to shrinking before they even step on the field, the court, the stage.
I work with kids as young as 4 through teens and young adults, athletes, dancers, performers, and high-achieving kids dealing with performance anxiety before games or recitals, burnout from pushing too hard for too long, perfectionism that turns one mistake into a crisis, and confidence that doesn’t match what they’re actually capable of.
For younger kids, I use play therapy. It’s a natural way for them to work through what they can’t yet put into words. For older kids and teens, I draw from CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and somatic-based approaches, real tools they can actually use when the pressure hits.
Beyond Sports and Performance
Sports and performance are where I focus, but they’re not all I work with. I also see kids and teens dealing with depression, ADHD, grief, and low self-esteem, whether or not it connects to a sport or stage at all. If your child is struggling and you’re not sure it fits neatly into “performance anxiety,” reach out anyway. There’s a good chance I can help.
My Approach
I’m a therapist and an athletics coach. I’ve seen what happens to a young athlete when the fun disappears and only the pressure is left. And I’ve seen what it takes to get it back.
I don’t lecture. I meet your child where they are, build real trust, and help them develop the coping skills, emotional regulation, and confidence that carry into everything they do, not just their sport.
My goal isn’t just a better performance. It’s helping your child find a balance where the thing they love doesn’t cost them their well-being.
What to Expect
I see clients in person at our North Hills, Pittsburgh, office and via telehealth across Pennsylvania. Morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend availability, so we can find a time that actually works for your family.
How do I know if my child's sports anxiety needs professional support?
Watch for real dread before practice, physical symptoms, or your child asking to quit something they used to love. If that sounds familiar, it’s worth a conversation. I’m happy to talk through what you’re seeing on a free call.
What's the difference between working with you and a sports psychology coach?
A mental performance coach works on the mental skills side of competing. I’m a licensed therapist, so I can also work with the anxiety, burnout, or perfectionism sitting underneath the performance.
Does insurance cover this?
Yes, I accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United/Optum, and UPMC.
Do you only work with athletes?
Not at all. I also work with kids and teens on depression, ADHD, grief, and self-esteem, sports and performance are just one part of what I do.
Ready to Stop White-Knuckling It?
Your kid doesn’t have to choose between loving their sport and losing themselves in it.