When Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, citing the “twisties,” a feeling of a disconnect between mind and body that can make gymnastics unsafe, she reignited the often neglected discussion of athlete mental health.
She wasn’t the first professional athlete to bring psychological wellbeing to the forefront of athlete health – Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, and Hayden Hurst are just a few who have used their platform to draw attention to the issue.
One result of the combined efforts of many elite athletes working to break the stigma surrounding mental health in sports is Athlete Mental Health Week, a nationwide movement that strives to prioritize psychological wellbeing in sports.
The initiative is in its third year, running Feb. 2-6 for 2026. Athletes for Hope, one of the organizations hosting it, has virtual sessions and resources available “designed for athletes, by athletes,” according to their website.
Teams, campuses, and communities are encouraged to host or attend events to help amplify the message. Drawing attention to athlete mental health is the main goal, so today and tomorrow’s athletes feel less pressure to hide their mental health issues.
That mission takes more than a week, though.
Why mental health in sports matters
It’s important we acknowledge the pressures, stressors, and exhaustion that come with being an athlete, no matter what level of sport.
At every level, athlete mental health should be addressed on the front end, as a topic worth spending time with. Tossing it aside as something to be ignored won’t make it go away, it just makes it messier to deal with when you finally do.
Coaches, parents, and teams are encouraged to incorporate athlete mental health discussions into training. At the individual level, athletes might seek out therapy or counseling, especially with a clinician focused on that population.
Therapy for athletes at Counseling Simplified
If you or a loved one is interested in therapy for athletes in West Lafayette, Indiana, reach out to Counseling Simplified! Molly Fordyce has a master’s degree in physical education with a concentration in sports psychology and is studying right now for a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.
She has worked as a physical education and as a health teacher and coach for grades K-12 in both Indiana and Colorado, giving her tons of expertise in this area. She integrates sports psychology with clinical mental health counseling to support athlete mental health at every level of sport.
Molly specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, and somatic therapy. She can take virtual and in-person appointments and has availability in the evenings and on weekends.
If you’re interested in talking with Molly or another clinician at Counseling Simplified, call us at (765) 637-4884 or email admin@counselingsimplified.com and we’ll get you scheduled for a free 15-minute consultation. This low-commitment option allows you to explore counseling for athlete mental health in Lafayette, Indiana with no strings attached!
Remember, it’s important to take care of athlete mental health – this week and always.
Written by Katie Walling
Written By Jessica Kobrick, Intern
Jessica is an Undergraduate Intern at Counseling Simplified in West Lafayette. She is currently an undergraduate at Purdue, studying psychology, human sciences, and family development.