Mental Health & Performance in Sports w/ Amy Mausser

Explicit content warning

10/30/22 • 62 min

Social Work Me is back after a long hiatus with the first episode in a series on Mental Health & Performance in Sports.
Originally recorded in November 2021, Ep 31 features Amy Mausser who shares her experiences as an athletic therapist working with elite level junior hockey players. She is the former Sarnia Sting OHL Hockey Athletic Therapist and is a Certified Athletic Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning specialist, Registered Massage Therapist and former athlete. Amy is from Kitchener, Ontario and has a Masters in Science- Kinesiology and is now completing her Doctor of Education.
On this episode we discuss:

-athlete’s + mental health resources
-advice for practitioners working with teenage athletes
-mindfulness and meditation with athletes
-working with athletes struggling with injuries and playing time
-how negative/positive energy impacts teams
-impact of mental health on physical health
-working with athletes in their draft year
-teaching kids and athletes how to lose and fail
-the importance of teaching life skills
-mental skills training: goal setting, confidence, mindfulness
-the importance of communication between coaches and athletes
-tips for mental health practitioners working with athletes
To connect with Amy you can email her- [email protected]
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Previous Episode

EMDR & Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy w/ Kate Becker

On Episode 30 Matt sits down to chat with Kate Becker who is a certified EMDR therapist, Trainer, Consultant, Yoga instructor and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist based out of Glastonbury, Connecticut.
Kate has been providing Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy for the past 5 years using Ketamine and Psilocybin in both individual and group settings. She is also an MDMA therapy trainee and splits her time between Connecticut and Jamaica where she assists with the facilitation of psilocybin journeys at Atman Retreats.
On this episode we discuss:

EMDR therapy: protocols for addiction
Psychedelic trainings
Working with Ketamine & Psilocybin
Ego dissolution
Set, Setting and Intentions vs. Goals
The use of touch during psychedelic sessions
Psilocybin retreats in Jamaica
Non-directive approaches
Merging EMDR with Psychedelic Psychotherapy
Preparation, Integration and EMDR
Case Example: How EMDR helped a client with a past negative psychedelic experience
Tips for getting into this space
Tips for managing, mitigating and preventing burnout and vicarious trauma

To find out more about Kate check out her website HERE
If you like the show- let us know, subscribe, give us a rating and check us out on INSTAGRAM

Next Episode

Abuse & Toxic Culture in Gymnastics w/ Melanie Hunt

On Ep 32 Michele McPherson takes over the hosting duties. You may recognize her from our first ever guest on Ep 1 and again on Ep 14 where she discussed the use of EMDR and Yoga. As a Social Worker, Yoga Instructor and program head of a Mental Performance Program-Michele is taking over the podcast to do a mini series on connecting with athletes, coaches, and health professionals to talk about the highs and lows of performing at the elite level in sports.
Her first interview is special as she has known the guest for some time-
“I did gymnastics for a brief period when I was younger and Melanie Hunt (formerly Rocca) is an immensely talented gymnast you couldn’t help but aspire to want to be like.
Melanie was born and raised in Sarnia and started gymnastics at age 4. She was the provincial all around champion at age 9. Represented Canada at first international competition at age 10. A Junior National team member at age 12. Melanie represented Canada at multiple international competitions, including the Pacific Alliance Championships. Melanie left the sport at age 19. In our conversation Melanie and I dive deep into her experiences of trauma at the hands of her coaches and how
that has impacted her during and after her time in the sport.”
The release of this episode coincides with the release of TSN’s documentary- Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics which features our guest Melanie Hunt.
On this episode we discuss:

Her athlete career
Experience as a child gymnast versus adolescent gymnast
Her identity as an athlete
Experiences of emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse from her coach
Fight, flight, freeze, fawn as trauma responses
Learning to give herself permission in her own life/experiences
Advice to current gymnasts and athletes
Life beyond the sport
Current work with Gymnasts For Change to bring light to the abuse and injustices experienced in the sport of gymnastics
TSN full-length documentary titled Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics
Links:

Gymnasts for Change (Canada):
https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com
Impact Statement by Melanie Hunt (Rocca):
https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com/blog/impact-statement-by-melanie-hunt-rocca
Support Athletes' call for Independent Review of GymCan Leadership + Sport Culture
Link to former/present gymnast letter: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_cMTyOqaliViZo1yrNUyGeE7n5_o1M3Q-KvYwdM4hhH8kQ/viewformfbclid=IwAR1eNANTIbYOFFhzTp4Uk3_BJBaG07BOdAYV-7grTQ0tQhxxU3P4ZFbCOYg
Link to Ally Support:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15Pa5pdt-bw8qAeTh8e5JNugHHU1ZW3oH-
OUUA19NJls/viewform?pli=1&edit_requested=true&fbclid=IwAR1pJjAuk5pGJdEnzsJS-
etQ1Hl0KAj_ANZP7C73MzfMpHFfHxXTUjIa1hw
TSN Full-length Documentary: Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics
@TSNSports, co-production with @CTVW5 & @CraveCanada
Debuts November 5, 2022 on CraveCanada and November 12 on @CTVW5
Open Letter to Sport Minister:
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/gymnastics/gymnasts-for-change-open-letter-1.6629786