In today’s episode, we’re talking to Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC), Brendan Danker, about the essential topic of Building Mental Toughness in Athletics and beyond. We discuss the significance of mental toughness for young athletes and explore effective training methods to enhance it. Brendan shares insights on fostering sport confidence, overcoming self-doubt, managing nerves during competition, and the vital role of parents and coaches in supporting young athletes. Tune in for valuable strategies and advice that can help athletes thrive both on and off the field! Today we will answer these questions:

• Can you explain what mental toughness is and why it’s important for young athletes?
• Is mental toughness something that can be trained? If so, what are some effective methods?
• What are some key factors that contribute to building sport confidence in young athletes?
• How can athletes effectively let go of performance setbacks, such as poor performances or mistakes?
• What advice do you have for overcoming self-doubt and judgmental thinking in high-pressure situations?
• Can you share strategies for controlling nerves before and during competitions?
• How can parents and coaches support young athletes in developing mental skills for performance?
• In your experience, what are some common misconceptions about mental toughness among young athletes?

More about Brendan

Brendan Danker is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and is also the founder and head mental coach with Clearmind Performance, LLC. Brendan consults with individuals and teams on the application of evidence-based psychological skills and techniques for optimizing human performance. His clientele consists of athletes, coaches and teams from youth-to-professional levels of sport, as well as high achievers in business and the performing arts.

Prior to establishing Clearmind Performance, LLC in 2016, Brendan coached college basketball and also fulfilled several roles within NCAA Division I student-athlete support services. Additionally, he has seasoned experience as a college instructor, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in sport psychology and sport leadership. Brendan's educational background includes a Master of Education in Sport Administration from Wichita State University (2008) and a Master of Science in Sport Psychology from Miami University (2016).

Brendan has been a featured keynote speaker at several conferences and events on the topics of mental toughness and developing a high performance mindset. He has served as the mental performance coach of four different Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championship Teams. Additionally, Brendan was the recipient of the 2016 Association for Applied Sport Psychology Distinguished Master's Student Practice Award, an international award in recognition of innovation and quality in delivering sport psychology consulting services.

Links and Resources:

• Brendan’s Practice: https://www.clearmindperformance.com/

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In today’s episode, we’re talking to Dr. Leslie Hawkins about ADHD & Dyslexia. Dr. Hawkins is a licensed clinical psychologist in Chantilly, Virginia. She specializes in evaluating and assessing educational/learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), ADHD and executive functioning, and cognitive impairment, as well as psychological and neuropsychological difficulties. Today we will answer these questions:

• What does comorbidity mean?
• Why are ADHD and dyslexia often comorbid?
• What are the signs of this comorbidity?
• Do the symptoms of one overshadow the other, or are they hard to tell apart? Do they share symptoms?
• How does this comorbidity affect a child's life differently than having just one of these conditions?
• How are these conditions treated - separately, together, or is there a combination of approaches?
• How often is this comorbidity diagnosed? Do children usually receive both diagnoses simultaneously, or does one tend to be diagnosed later?

More about Dr. Hawkins

Dr. Hawkins has worked across multiple settings, to include military and veteran hospitals, neuropsychological and rehabilitation clinics, public schools, community health centers, and private practice. Dr. Hawkins’ priority is to provide excellent clinical care in a warm and supportive environment. She works collaboratively with clients to promote personal growth and lasting changes.

Dr. Hawkins’ training has been diverse and has led to specialization in both psychological assessment and psychotherapy. She has expertise helping children, adolescents, and their families obtain a thorough understanding of difficulties related to learning, executive functioning, and attention that are impacting their functioning at school and at home. Dr. Hawkins also has expertise conducting diagnostic evaluations with clients of all ages who may be experiencing changes in mood or behavior. She focuses on tailoring assessments so that clients can gain a thorough understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and receive helpful recommendations moving forward.

Therapeutically, Dr. Hawkins takes an integrative approach to treatment. She is trained in several evidence-based therapies (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Mindfulness) that she implements based on each client’s individual needs. She believes psychotherapy is an empowering experience that focuses on building one’s strengths while also providing relief from current stressors. Dr. Hawkins works with each client to further develop their sense of efficacy over change and enhance their overall well-being.

When she is not working, Dr. Hawkins enjoys spending time with her husband and sons and catching up with friends. Her interests include running, reading, gardening, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

Links and Resources:

• You can find Dr. Hawkins where she practices at Mindwell Psychology: https://mindwell.us/
• Dr. Hawkins’s email address: drhawkins@mindwell.us

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!

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