About Sport Psychology - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Sport Psychology

Our mission is to provide psychological services to Texas Tech University student-athletes that foster mental health and well-being and promote peak performance in sport competition and in the classroom.

What We Do

Sport Psychology is housed within Texas Tech Health and Wellness, which takes a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to healthcare. Sport Psychology offers primary care mental health services to student-athletes. Beyond healthcare, sport psychology is a foundational component of each sport program’s player development model at Texas Tech.

Mental Health is Health

Student-athletes experience mental, emotional, social, and personal stressors at the same rate as other populations, with additional and unique performance stressors associated with elite athletic performance. As such, mental and behavioral health treatment is considered a pivotal part of student-athlete health care at Texas Tech Athletics. If you notice that you are not feeling like yourself, are struggling to function at your highest level, or are consumed by a particular issue, then it’s a good time to check in with Sport Psychology. Typical mental health issues often discussed by student-athletes with us include:

depression	anxiety and stress	relationship issues	alcohol and drugs
anger and frustration	body image concerns	death and loss	adjusting to changes
sexual assault	trauma	coping with pain/injury	learning and attention
loneliness	career concerns	identity issues	other mental illnesses

Mental Performance Training

Sport psychology helps you address the mental side of your sport and prepare you for peak performance. At this level of competition, your mental preparation and skills can be the difference between winning and losing. As such, sport psychology is considered a pivotal part of your performance training at Texas Tech Athletics. If you are looking for ways to maximize your mental strengths and identify barriers and growth areas to reaching your peak performance, then it’s a good time to check in with Sport Psychology. Typical mental performance issues often discussed by student-athletes with us include:

energy management	goal setting	focus and attention	mental imagery
relaxation training	confidence	motivation	burnout
finding the zone	positive self-talk	team dynamics	performance slumps
leadership skills	performance routines	mindfulness training	consistency

Confidentiality

The information you provide during mental health treatment is taken seriously and considered confidential. However, given that Sport Psychology is part of a multidisciplinary health and wellness program, information such as attendance, symptoms, and diagnosis may be shared with your team physician, athletic trainer, or other healthcare staff members to ensure best possible care for your health and well-being. Despite this, Sport Psychology does believe that openness about mental health treatment with those close to you, including teammates, coaches, and family members, can be helpful in getting necessary support.

How to Make an Appointment

E-mail athletics.sportpsychology@ttu.edu or call (806) 742-1938 and leave a brief message indicating your interest and possible times that you would be available to meet. You can also stop by our Sport Psychology offices in the Football Training Facility or the United Supermarkets Arena and set up an appointment in person. You can also ask your athletic trainer or team physician to coordinate with us to schedule an appointment on your behalf.

After-Hours Resources

Sport Psychology is not a 24/7 clinic and only provides individual mental and behavioral health services during normal business hours. If you need urgent non-life-threatening attention after hours, here are mental health resources at Texas Tech University and in Lubbock, Texas:

Texas Tech University After Hours Crisis Helpline – (806) 742-5555
Lubbock StarCare Crisis Helpline – (806) 740-1414

However, if you find yourself in a life-threatening situation related to mental health, please contact 911 or find your way to the Emergency Department at either Covenant Health or University Medical Center.

Location

Sport Psychology has offices in the Football Training Facility and the United Supermarkets Arena. However, we also meet with student-athletes within other athletics department facilities to best accommodate their needs and schedules.

Costs

Services provided in-house by Sport Psychology are of no-cost to student-athletes.