Mental Skills Training for Adolescent & Teen Athletes
Help your middle school or high school athlete build confidence, manage pressure, and rediscover their love of the game.
As a Parent, You Might Be Noticing…
Performance anxiety before games
Recruiting pressure causing stress
Talented athlete who “chokes” under pressure
Lost confidence or motivation
Can’t perform in games like practice
Emotional outbursts after mistakes
You’ve invested in the best coaches, training, and equipment. But something’s still holding them back.
The missing piece? Mental skills training.
The Apex Approach for Adolescents & Teens
We combine proven sports psychology techniques with an understanding of adolescent development to help your athlete.
Build Mental Skills
Pre-game preparation routines
Visualization and mental rehearsal
Self-talk optimization
Focus and concentration
Emotional regulation strategies
Build Mental Skills
Understanding and using nervous energy
Performance anxiety reduction
Biofeedback training (see your progress)
Coping with recruiting stress
Restore Confidence & Joy
Reconnecting with why they love their sport
Building lasting confidence
Setting process-focused goals
Balancing competition with enjoyment
Developing resilient mindset
Not Traditional Therapy-Performance Focused
Athlete + Psychologist
Dr. Ben Oliva played Division III football and baseball, then earned his doctorate in psychology. He understands competitive sports from the inside.
Biofeedback Training
See your progress in a real-time. Learn to control your body’s stress response with scientific tangible tools that appeal even to skeptical teens.
Developmental Expertise
We use age-appropriate approaches designed specifically for adolescent and teen brain development - not one-size-fits-all techniques.
Gateway Approach
We make mental health accessible through the performance lens. Athletes who might resist “therapy” embrace mental skills training.
Trusted by Athletes From Middle School to the Pros
While we specialize in working with adolescent and teen athletes, Dr. Oliva’s experience spans every level:
5+ year relationship with NASCAR professional teams
Boston Red Sox mental skills program
College programs (Fordham, NYU, Baylor Football)
Charlotte-area high schools and elite club teams
Former work with FDNY Mental Performance Initiative
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