Sports Psychology
"On Deck" Sports Psychology Art Created by Dr. El
Athletes train their bodies relentlessly, but the mental side of performance is often the missing piece. At Grand Slam Psychological Services, sports and performance psychology is our core specialty, not an add-on service. Dr. El McCabe, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with deep, hands-on experience working with athletes at every level: D1 college competitors, semi-pros, professional athletes, and coaches.
If you’re based in New York or New Jersey, or anywhere in the 40+ states covered by PsyPact telehealth, you can work with Dr. McCabe wherever you are! See the map below if your state participates in PsyPact.
Why Mental Performance Matters
Physical conditioning only gets you so far. When the pressure is highest, championship games, tryouts, Olympic trials, professional contracts, it’s the athletes who have done the mental work who consistently show up at their best. Research consistently shows that psychological skills like visualization, self-talk regulation, and stress management translate directly into measurable performance improvements.
The problem isn’t talent. It’s rarely effort. Most of the time, what separates an athlete performing at their ceiling from one performing below it is the mental game, and that’s exactly what sports psychology addresses.
2022-2023 Princeton University TIGERSPAW Team
What We Work On Together
Sports psychology sessions at Grand Slam Psych are both therapeutic and skills-based. Depending on your goals and what’s getting in your way, sessions may focus on:
• Performance anxiety & excessive worry
• Stress & time management
• Coach and/or team conflict
• Depression & lack of motivation
• Transitional issues (i.e. going from college to pro’s)
• Eating & body image concerns
• Mental fatigue or burnout
• Sleep difficulties
• Relationship issues
• Substance use
• Career termination (i.e. retiring) & loss of Identity as an athlete
• Coping with injury or slumps
… and more!
No two athletes show up with the same challenges. Dr. McCabe tailors every treatment plan to you, your sport, your position, your history, and the parts of your life outside the game that affect what happens inside it.
Dr. McCabe’s Approach to Sports Psychology
What makes Grand Slam Psych different from a typical mental performance coach is that Dr. McCabe is a licensed psychologist, meaning she’s equipped to work with both the performance side and the deeper mental health concerns that often underlie it. Anxiety, depression, identity struggles, relationship issues, and burnout don’t stay in the locker room. They follow athletes everywhere, and they deserve real clinical attention.
Dr. McCabe blends a psychodynamic (talk therapy) approach with DBT-based skills to give athletes both insight and practical tools. Sessions aren’t just about talking, you’ll leave with real techniques you can use in real moments, from pre-competition routines to in-the-moment refocusing strategies.
Her style is warm and genuinely curious about who you are as a whole person, but she’ll also push you. That combination of challenge and support is what drives real growth.
Who Dr. McCabe Works With
Dr. McCabe has experience across a wide range of competitive levels and sports:
- D1 college athletes, She spent her post-doctoral fellowship at Princeton University supporting athletes across 15+ men’s and women’s teams through the TIGERSPAW mental health program
- Professional and semi-professional athletes, including those navigating the transition from college to pro
- Coaches, who carry enormous performance pressure of their own and often need support managing their teams’ mental health alongside their own
- LGBTQ+ athletes, Dr. McCabe further specializes in supporting Queer and Transgender athletes navigating identity in sport
Therapy Services for LGBTQ+ Athletes
Dr. McCabe further specializes in work with Queer & Transgender athletes. She works with athletes who:
- Have experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity
- Are closeted about their identity in their sport and/or other spheres of their lives
- Are currently struggling with same-sex and/or polyamorous relationship dynamics
- Want to process their intersectional identites as an athlete and member of the LGBTQ+ community
Learn more about Dr. McCabe’s specialized LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sports psychology, and how can it help me?
Sports psychology focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of athletic performance, helping you build confidence, manage pressure, and develop resilience. Whether you’re a competitive athlete, coach, or performer, it equips you with tools to overcome challenges like performance anxiety, burnout, or self-doubt.
Who can benefit from sports psychology?
Athletes at all levels—from beginners to professionals—as well as coaches, teams, and performers (e.g., musicians, dancers) can benefit. If you’re looking to enhance focus, consistency, or mental toughness, sports psychology is for you.
What techniques do you use in sessions?
Common techniques include goal-setting, visualization, mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and breathing exercises. Dr. McCabe also incorporates relevant DBT skills into her work with athletes. We tailor these to your specific needs, whether you’re recovering from an injury, returning to competition, or aiming for peak performance.
How is this different from traditional therapy?
While both address mental health, sports psychology is performance-driven. It focuses on optimizing your mindset for competition, training, and personal growth—not just resolving clinical issues. Think of it as “mental coaching” for your sport or craft.