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 Saint Louis region may be provided the same services at a per-session fee.
To learn more or to request an appointment with a sport psychology consultant, please contact [email protected].
The Sport Psychology Services offices are in the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center and in Morrissey Hall. Please note that those interested in our services should expect a two to four week waitlist before being matched with an SPC.
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.
Inclusion Statement
SLU Sport Psychology fosters a safe, inclusive, and nonjudgmental environment that values diverse identities and supports all athletes. The program actively confronts discrimination and systemic inequities through education, advocacy and a commitment to amplifying and supporting all voices.
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.
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 work includes over 50 peer-reviewed publications and 100 professional conference presentations. Ross enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and students, and enjoys all of SLU’s Billiken sport teams, coaches and student-athletes.
Savannah "Savvy" Jefferis-Henriques
Assistant director
Savvy is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the clinical psychology program at Saint
Louis University, specializing in sport psychology. She is originally from Kansas
City, Missouri, and earned her master’s degree from Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis and bachelor’s degrees in biology and clinical/behavioral neuroscience
from Drury University, where she played on the women’s soccer team.
Her research and clinical interests include the psychological effects of hormonal
contraception and menstruation on athletic performance and motivation, sport injury
and rehabilitation, gender and sport, disordered eating and overall athlete well-being.
In her free time, Savvy enjoys playing and watching sports, attending concerts with
friends, reading and trying new restaurants.
Emily Chua
Co-assistant director
Emily Chua is a third-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 research interests include self-compassion, the intersection of sport and physical disabilities, 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
Mason is a first-year doctoral student in Saint Louis University’s Clinical Psychology Program. Mason 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 the wellbeing and performance of athletes.
Keegan Sawin
Keegan is a third-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Saint Louis University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Butler University in 2021, with minors in neuroscience and chemistry.
Her current research interests include the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and addictive behaviors. In the context of sports, she focuses on neuropsychological recovery following concussions.
In her free time, she enjoys running in Forest Park or chasing after her dog, Timmy.
Lauren Papianou
Lauren is a third-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Saint Louis University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Emmanuel College in 2018 and a Master of Science in psychology from Southern New Hampshire University in 2022.
Her research focuses on 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 athletic performance.
In her free time, she enjoys weight training and walking in Forest Park.
Kellen Blum
Kellen is a fourth-year student in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Saint Louis University. A native of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Illinois College, where he played on the baseball team.
His research interests include addiction, substance use and sport psychology.
In his free time, he enjoys watching the St. Louis Cardinals, distance running and playing guitar.
Zoe Schultz
Zoe is a second-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Saint Louis University. She is originally from Blue Island, Illinois, and earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and criminal justice, with a minor in Spanish, from Grand Valley State University.
Her research focuses on LGBTQ+ lived experiences and the long-term effects of early childhood trauma. In the context of sport, she is interested in how team cohesion and a sense of belonging influence athlete performance and overall well-being.
Outside of academics, she enjoys playing and watching sports, hiking and spending time with friends.
Contact
To learn more or to request an appointment with one of SLU’s Sport Psych Consultants, please contact [email protected]. The Sport Psychology Services offices are in the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center and in the Department of Psychology's Morrissey Hall room 2805. Please note that those interested in our services should expect a 2–4-week waitlist before being matched with a sport psychology consultant.