In episode #32 of the podcast, Dr. Kate and Dr. Kacy interview Dr. Kayla Balcom, who is a sports psychologist working with the Atlanta Track Club and in independent practice. The episode opens as Dr. Balcom tells her story about growing up immersed in the world of figure skating; she started skating because her mother was a coach and would bring her to her practices at the rink and recalls first stepping on the ice at the age of three! She talks about negotiating the pressures of a highly competitive aesthetic sport and how this formed an athletic identity for her at an early age, as well as her path to becoming a sports psychologist.

Dr. Balcom opens up about potential barriers to access psychology services but also expands upon the various ways that working with a sports psychologist can be helpful, including improving self talk, dealing with performance pressures, and mitigating life stresses.

The episode continues as all three women break down current issues that athletes face such as the pressure to “be tough” and not show any vulnerability or ask for help, which can be problematic for mental health. They talk about the increase in suicide rates on college campuses and within college athletes, who may feel an extreme amount of performance pressure from sports and academics. Throughout this interview, Dr. Balcom continually emphasizes the importance of investing in mental health as a human-being because that is most integral to health as an athlete. But, again, acknowledges that the choice to pursue mental health can feel very scary for those who have not done so before. As she emphasizes, “Everything else can wait because your health and wellness cannot.”

This episode is profound in its exploration of holistic wellness and ways to integrate mental health practices in your life and also within teams and athletic environments.
This episode could change the way you think about mental health as an athlete!