Sport Psychology
A successful sports program is reflected by athletes, coaches and teams performing at their highest potential. The SLU sport psychology team provides evidence-based sport psychological services to individuals and teams within SLU’s athletic department and across the Saint Louis region to achieve optimal performance in their sport.
The primary focus of the sport psychology consultants (SPCs) is to understand and improve the mental aspects of an athlete's performance by developing and training mental skills that enhance focus, confidence, and resilience. These services are available and provided at no cost to all SLU student-athletes. Community athletes aged 16 and up in the St. Louis region may be provided the same services at a per-session fee.
Individual Services
Individual services involve one-on-one meetings between a student-athlete and an SPC and are be provided for a variety of concerns, including but not limited to performance anxiety, motivation, confidence, sport injury, focus, burnout, and emotional regulation under pressure.
The mindfulness-acceptance-commitment (MAC) protocol consists of about seven sessions of broad mental-skills training and is typically used for most athletes seeking to improve their mental performance in sport. However, athletes may choose to schedule one to two sessions that focus on specific skill development (e.g., confidence, relaxation, developing a mental warm-up).
Biofeedback Training
Biofeedback is a technique incorporated into individual services where student-athletes develop greater awareness and control of their physiological responses that shape performance. By monitoring these physiological responses in real time, athletes practice skills learned with their SPC to regulate stress and arousal during performance.
Team Services
SPCs are often requested to work with teams in a variety of capacities. Options for team services include one-time workshops, multi-session team trainings, and team assessments.
Meet the Team
Our team comprises doctoral students in clinical psychology with specialized training in sport and performance psychology who serve as sport psychology clinicians (SPCs). Michael J. Ross, Ph.D., professor of psychology, serves as the director of SLU Sport Psychology Services and supervises all sport psychology consultants.
Michael J. Ross, Ph.D.
Director
Michael J. Ross, Ph.D., has been a professor of psychology at Saint Louis University
for over three decades. Ross, along with his former graduate student, Joanne Perry,
Ph.D., founded the Saint Louis University Sport Psychological Sciences and Consultation
Lab in 2015.
He is a board-certified clinical psychologist, fellow of the Academy of Clinical Psychology,
and member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. He has served as the university’s
NCAA Faculty Athletic Representative since 1990 and provides consultation and oversight
of academic integrity, NCAA rules compliance, and student-athlete welfare for SLU
Billiken Athletics.
Ross’ areas of research and scholarship include flow state, biofeedback and heart
rate variability, adjustment to athletic injury, coping, athletic values, motivation,
and mental health. His scholarly works include over 50 peer-reviewed publications
and over one hundred professional conference presentations. Ross enjoys spending time
with his family, friends, and students, and enjoys all of SLU’s Billiken sports teams,
coaches, and student-athletes.
Emily Chua
Assistant director
Emily Chua is a fourth-year student in the clinical psychology doctoral program at SLU. She is originally from Tucson, Arizona and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego. Her interests include the intersection of sport and health psychology, resilience, and the psychological implications of injury and rehabilitation. In her free time, she enjoys watching her favorite sports teams, cooking, live music, and playing with her dog, Goose.
Mason Lyman
Co-assistant director
Mason Lyman is a second-year doctoral student in Saint Louis University’s Clinical Psychology Program. Lyman is originally from Cedar City, Utah, attended Hartell College, and eventually earned his B.S. in Psychology from Southern Utah University. Experiences in collegiate basketball and martial arts fueled his interest in sport and performance psychology. His research interests focus broadly on the multitude of factors that influence athlete well-being and performance.
Keegan Sawin
Keegan Sawin is a fourth-year doctoral student in Saint Louis University’s Clinical
Psychology program. She earned her B.A. in Psychology at Butler University in 2021
with minors in Neuroscience and Chemistry.
Her current research interests include the links between neuropsychological function
and addictive behaviors. In a sport context, she is interested in neuropsychological
recovery post-concussion.
In her free time, she is probably running in Forest Park or chasing around her dog,
Timmy.
Lauren Papianou
Lauren Papianou is a fourth-year doctoral student in Saint Louis University’s Clinical
Psychology program. She earned her B.S in Neuroscience at Emmanuel College in 2018
and her M.S. in Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University in 2022.
Her current research interests include the relationship between chronic pain and psychosocial
outcomes. Her interest in sport psychology stems from her background in chronic pain,
with a focus on injury, fear of injury, and performance.
In her free time, she enjoys weight training, walking in Forest Park and reading on
her Kindle.
Zoe Schultz
Zoe is a third-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at SLU. She
is originally from Blue Island, Illinois, and earned her B.A. degrees in psychology
and criminal justice, with a minor in Spanish, from Grand Valley State University.
Her current research interests focus on LGBTQ-plus lived experiences and the long-term
impacts of early childhood trauma. In the context of sport, Schultz is interested
in how team cohesion and feelings of belonging impact athlete performance and overall
well-being.
In her free time, she enjoys playing and watching sports, hiking, and stargazing.
Kaitlyn McCarthy
Kaitlyn McCarthy is a third-year doctoral student in Saint Louis University's Clinical Psychology program. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Binghamton University in 2021 and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University in 2023.
Her research focuses on the impact of social and cultural factors on traumatic and stressful experiences, as well as Asian American mental health. Her interest in sport psychology stems from her experience as a student-athlete at Binghamton University.
In her free time, she enjoys strength training, trying new restaurants and cafés, and taking walks after meals.
Michaela Jones
Michaela Jones is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Saint Louis University
whose research focuses on mental health stigma in Black communities and improving
access to culturally responsive care.
She is also passionate about supporting athletes of color as they navigate racial
identity and inclusion in sport. Outside of research, she enjoys exploring St. Louis
with her niece and family.
Shea Heckman
Shea Heckman is a second-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Saint Louis University. Her current research focuses on community-based research and trauma-focused interventions. Her initial interest in sports psychology stems from her previous experience as a student-athlete at Davidson College. Shea is also passionate about the implementation of mindfulness, yoga, and positive psychology broadly in the realm of sports psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, and karaoke.