Athletes

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Sports Mental Health Services

We provide athletes of all levels with mental health assessment and comprehensive treatment plans that can include psychiatric medication, psychotherapy and support for lifestyle changes for a wide spectrum of mental illness.

Our certified sports psychiatrists are trained in specific evidence based cognitive behavioral therapies and performance enhancement psychotherapy techniques that help the athlete thrive. Medications are chosen with an understanding for performance impact and the need for therapeutic use exemptions. We also offer neuropsychological testing that can assess concussion symptoms.

Our assessment and treatment plans are focused on reducing athlete burnout, stress, and managing a wide range of mental health disorders common in athletes such as anxiety and depression.

We view treatment as a partnership and shared responsibility with each patient, tailored to their specific situation, and offer gentle support for patient growth and work outside of the clinic.

Child & Adolescent Athletes

Sports Psychiatry (Child & Adolescent)

Medical treatment of general mental health concerns of the child …

Sports Psychotherapy (Adolescent)

Psychotherapeutic treatment of general mental health concerns …

Neuropsychology (Adolescent)

Neuropsychological testing is designed to help you understand …

Adult Athletes

Sports Psychiatry (Adult)

Medical treatment of general mental health concerns of the athlete …

Sports Psychotherapy (Adult)

Psychotherapeutic treatment of general mental health concerns …

Neuropsychology (Adult)

Neuropsychological testing is designed to help you understand …

FAQ

Do I Need Psychiatric Services?

One indication suggesting the need for psychiatric evaluation include severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, psychosis, and thoughts of harming oneself that would make it difficult to function in the workplace, competing or training for your sport or at school. Another reason is when talk therapy (psychotherapy) has been ongoing for an extended period and yet symptoms remain persistent and difficult to manage. A board-certified psychiatrist can assess for the need for psychiatric medication to alleviate your symptoms. If you have additional questions, please feel free to call our office.

What Can I Expect on My First Visit to the Office?

Please fill out our new patient forms online in the patient portal before your visit, specific instructions are sent after you schedule your first appointment. Please be prepared to discuss your past medical history, and send via the patient portal medical documents including laboratory reports, progress notes. School report cards and psychological testing reports if applicable are also valuable. Conducting a comprehensive evaluation takes time, and additional sessions may be necessary before deciding on a treatment plan. It would be helpful if you talk freely about the symptoms and past history, and specific questions will also be asked by your clinician to complete the assessment.

What is Mental Fitness Clinic’s Evaluation Process?

We will discuss a wide range of personal information from the past, including the symptoms that brought you to the clinic, and try to determine the environmental and innate factors involved in creating the condition. Prior mental health treatments, family history of mental illness, general information about the living situation and social connections will also be discussed. Sometimes filling out a clinical questionnaire would be useful, and one would be given to you to be filled out either by the patient or the parent/teacher, as applicable. Referrals for proper medical assessment to rule out medical conditions or to safely prescribe medications may be indicated.

How Do I Know if Mental Fitness Clinic is the Right Fit for Me?

The medical director, Neevon Esmaili, MD, is a dual board-certified psychiatrist specializing in children, adolescent and adult mental health treatment. Dr. Esmaili has a special interest in treating athletes, as he has been a lifelong sports enthusiast and participant, and has educated himself in athlete specific assessment and treatment. He has work experience with a wide range of cases. He has used his experience to select trusted clinicians to provide care in the clinic, with a similar focus on sports.

If you or your child are suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or are experiencing psychotic symptoms, among other conditions, then treatment can be provided.

Our staff psychiatrists are able to provide psychiatric medications for mental health when required with attention to sports concerns, such as side effects that could impair performance and doping rules. Mental Fitness Clinic also offers a team of sports psychotherapists offering individual talk therapy, which typically consists of weekly 50-minute sessions.

Our treatment approach is to emphasize working hard with a psychotherapist (talk therapist, when it is appropriate for your needs) along with life style interventions that can reduce core issues that perpetuate the mental health condition, and evidence based use of psychiatric medication when necessary.