SPACES IN BETWEEN
SPACES IN BETWEEN
Welcome to Spaces In Between! Join us as we unravel the complexities of the human mind and heart in this place we call…Spaces In Between. To us, Spaces In Between refers to the quiet moments when we listen to our thoughts and create an understanding of our own emotions.
We are Anastasia Karloutsos and Vicki Cooper, social workers who aim to offer a unique perspective as you seek to understand your feelings and connections with others.
Why Mental Health in Sports Matters to Me
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Why Mental Health in Sports Matters to Me 〰️
Sports have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve experienced athletics from many angles: as a former athlete, a former coach, a lifelong sports fan, and now as a parent of youth athletes. Each role has shaped how I understand both the power of sports and the pressure that can come with them.
Like many athletes, I learned early on how to juggle a lot at once. Between sports, school, expectations, relationships, there was a significant amount of internal pressure to “hold it together.” There were seasons where balance felt manageable, and others where it felt overwhelming. Through my own mental health journey, I learned how closely performance, identity, and emotional well-being are connected - and how important it is to have support along the way.
As a coach, I saw firsthand how much athletes carry beneath the surface. The stress, self-doubt, fear of disappointing others were all there, even when they appear confident and capable. And as a parent, I see how early that pressure can begin.
These experiences are a big part of why I became a therapist and why I care so deeply about mental health in sports.
Sports can build confidence and character, but they can also amplify anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, and identity struggles, especially for young athletes who are still figuring out who they are. Too often, athletes are taught to “push through,” “be tough,” or ignore what they’re feeling. While mental toughness has value, emotional awareness and support are just as important.
Mental health care for athletes isn’t about lowering standards or taking away competitiveness. It’s about helping athletes:
Manage pressure in healthy ways
Build confidence that isn’t based solely on performance
Recover emotionally from mistakes, losses, or injuries
Maintain balance and perspective
Enjoy their sport without losing themselves in it
I believe athletes perform best when they feel supported as whole people, not just players. My goal is to help youth athletes develop the emotional skills they need not only to succeed in sports, but to thrive in life long after the final whistle.
This blog is a space to talk honestly about the mental side of athletics, because strong minds matter just as much as strong bodies.
Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, my hope is that these conversations help normalize mental health support and remind athletes that taking care of their mind is part of the game.
Finding Balance as an Athlete
Being an athlete takes commitment. Between practices, workouts and games/competitions, it could start to feel like a full time job. Then you have to manage school, friendships, family and everything else that life throws at you.
If you have ever felt overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed or all of the above, you are not alone! And it doesn't mean that you're doing anything wrong. You might just be in need of some balance.
What does balance really mean?
Balance does not mean giving less effort or caring less about your sport. It does mean that you could make space for rest, recovery, enjoyment and who you are outside of athletics.
Balanced athletes:
Work hard and allow themselves time to recover
Care about improvement without being crushed by mistakes
Know their sport is important, but not the only thing that matters
What are some signs that I might be out of balance?
Constant pressure to perform perfectly
Anxiety before practices or games
Feeling burnt out or disconnected from your sport
Guilt when you take time off
Feeling like you are only good when you play well
What are some things I can do to create balance?
1. Separate who you are from how you play.
A bad game doesn't mean you're a bad athlete, or a bad person. Practice reminding yourself: I am more than my performance.
2. Make room for rest without guilt.
REST IS NOT LAZY. Rest is a part of your training. Your body and mind need recovery time to perform well.
3. Keep something in your life that isn't your sport.
Whether it's music, friends, faith, art, or unstructured down time, having something (or more than one thing) outside of sports helps keep perspective.
4. Notice your stress signals.
Pay attention to changes in sleep, mood, motivation or enjoyment. These are signs your mind may need as much care as your body.
Remember This:
You are more than an athlete. You are a human. You are allowed to have bad days. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to ask for help in seeking balance, when things start to feel out of balance. Taking care of your mental health helps you show up stronger, clearer and more grounded.
Feeling like you need some more support with this?
You do not have to figure this all out on your own. Mentally Forged at SUN Therapy Services can help!
Through either individual or group sessions, we can work together to find areas of improvement and make adjustments when needed. Reach out to us today and we can discuss what might work best for you.
Phone: 631-709-2746
Email: kbsuntherapy@gmail.com
Can a Full-Body Massage Impact Your Daily Life?
Can a full-body massage make a difference in your daily life? Absolutely! With each breath, the ribcage expands the internal space for the lungs to fill. If you have been in an accident, ever had a respiratory illness, had a chest or abdominal surgery, drive extensively, sit at a computer daily, carry children, are a seasoned athlete or a weekend warrior, chances are your rib cage is not functioning to its fullest potential. During a full chest massage, your entire rib cage is mobilized in a way that traditional massage, deep tissue massage, and all other massages leave out. Adhesions and tight areas between the ribs are addressed to increase their range of natural motion. All the muscles of your torso are addressed. The result is deeper, fuller breath potential necessary for optimal health.
