Mental Skills Training for Adolescents

Help your middle or high school athlete build confidence, manage pressure, and embrace the thrill of competition.

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What You’re Seeing

As a parent, you might be noticing:

Mental preparation challenges before games or competitions

Athlete who wants their preparation to show up when it counts

Readiness to bridge the gap between practice performance and competition

Pressure from the recruiting process affecting performance

Athlete looking to rebuild confidence and motivation in their sport

The need to build resilience and composure under pressure

How Apex Helps Young Athletes

We combine performance counseling and coaching with an understanding of adolescent development to help athletes:

Build Mental Skills

  • Pre-competition preparation routines
  • Visualization and mental rehearsal
  • Self-talk strategies
  • Focus and concentration techniques
  • Emotional regulation strategies

Manage Pressure

  • Understanding and channeling competitive energy
  • Performing skillfully when anxiety is present
  • Biofeedback training (see your progress in real time)
  • Building resilience through setbacks
  • Preparing mentally during recruiting season

Strengthen Their Well-Being

  • Connecting with what drives them in their sport
  • Building confidence under pressure
  • Setting process-focused goals
  • Balancing competition with enjoyment
  • Developing a resilient, growth-oriented mindset

Why Apex is Different

Mental Performance Focused

Athlete + Apex Counselor/Coach

Guidance by former athletes who understand competitive sports from the inside.

Developmental Expertise

Age-appropriate approaches designed specifically for adolescent and teen brain development, not one-size-fits-all techniques.

Biofeedback Training

See your progress in real time. Learn to control your body's stress response with scientific, tangible tools that resonate even with skeptical teens.

Gateway Approach

We make mental health accessible through the performance lens. Athletes who might otherwise hesitate embrace performance counseling and coaching.

Trusted by Athletes of All Ages

Mental Preparation for Competition

What we work on: Understanding the body's pressure responses, breathing techniques, pre-game routines, reframing nervous energy as competitive energy, and building confidence through preparation.

Bridging Practice and Competition Performance

What we work on: Mental preparation routines, staying present, managing emotions during competition, and developing consistent pre-performance habits.

Building Confidence Under Pressure

What we work on: Building internal confidence, constructive self-talk, celebrating progress, separating self-worth from performance outcomes, and developing a growth mindset.

Performing During the Recruiting Process

What we work on: Managing expectations, focusing on controllables, maintaining perspective, making decisions aligned with their values, and performing well under evaluation.

Resilience and Composure Under Pressure

What we work on: Emotional regulation, quick recovery strategies, understanding pressure responses, channeling intensity productively, and developing composure over time.

Helping Athletes Reconnect with their Sport

What we work on: Reconnecting with intrinsic motivation, removing unnecessary external pressures, finding meaning in the process rather than just outcomes, and making empowered decisions about their athletic future.

"I used to focus mainly on what my coaches and others thought of me. I was scared of making mistakes and dreaded the big moments. After working with Apex, I learned how to use my mental routines to stay focused on the things that help me perform well."

Competitive Softball Player, San Francisco, CA

Meet the Team

Collectively, the Apex team brings over a decade of experience counseling athletes and high performers, including work with professional NASCAR organizations, MLB, NBA, NFL, and PGA players, and NCAA athletic departments at every division.

Dr. Ben Oliva | Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) | Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) | Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) | Biofeedback Certified (BCIA)

Dr. Oliva and his team specialize in working with competitive athletes at every level. The Apex team includes former athletes who understand competitive sports from the inside, bringing that experience directly into their performance counseling and coaching work. Dr. Oliva has been featured as an expert in Bustle and on podcasts, including Michael Lewis's "Against the Rules" and Leadership Under Fire.

Victoria McKnight | Master of Social Work (MSW) | Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA)

Victoria is part of the Apex team of former athletes who understand competitive sports from the inside, bringing that experience directly into their performance counseling and coaching work. A five-year Division I soccer student-athlete and All American she works with athletes and high performers navigating the pressures of competition and life transitions on and off the field.

Based in Charlotte, NC. Virtual sessions available.

FAQs

  • The Apex team offers both performance counseling and coaching — and they work together, not separately. Counseling addresses the emotional side: anxiety, identity, pressure responses. Coaching builds practical skills: routines, focus strategies, pre-competition preparation. Most athletes benefit from both. We meet your athlete where they are and work across both as needed.

  • We frame our work as performance training, the same way an athlete works with a hitting coach or a speed trainer. Our team emphasizes that working on mental performance is part of elite athletic development. Most athletes leave sessions feeling more prepared and capable, not labeled.

  • Some athletes notice a difference in how they feel and prepare after the first session. For others, change happens more gradually over the course of a few weeks. Translating new concepts and skills into competition typically takes consistent practice over time. We track progress together and adjust the approach as needed. Part of the Apex approach is training athletes on the most effective mindset for continual growth and improvement, not just in sport, but in whatever challenge they take on throughout their lives.

  • We recommend starting with an initial contact where we can talk through our approach. Many athletes engage readily once they understand that our approach is sport-centered and performance-focused.

  • Typically not. Sometimes we connect with coaches when it's helpful, but many athletes prefer we remain separate. Confidentiality and trust are foundational to the work.

  • We are a private pay practice and do not accept insurance. We provide superbills for clients who wish to pursue reimbursement through their insurance plans.

  • Mental performance skills transfer across all sports — and into academics and life. We tailor techniques to each sport's specific demands, and athletes who compete in multiple sports often find the work especially valuable.

  • Our adolescent program is designed for athletes roughly ages 12–18, with the right motivation and readiness. We also work with college athletes and beyond.

  • Mental performance training applies across every sport. Our team has worked with athletes in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, swimming, track, lacrosse, volleyball, cheerleading, gymnastics, and more. We also work with high performers in activities such as dance, chess, and music.

Ready to Help Your Athlete Strengthen Their Mental Game?

Start your journey by contacting us.

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