HARRISONBURG, VA.- EMU Athletics and Counseling Services have formed a partnership with James Madison University's Clinical & School Psychology Program and the JMU McMillin Center for Sport Psychology to provide additional sport psychology resources to EMU's student-athletes and teams.

Under the agreement, JMU graduate students-in-training from the McMillin Program will work with EMU student-athletes and teams as part of sport psychology practicum experience for their graduate studies. Sports psychology services provided to EMU Athletics will include assessment, individual therapy, mental performance interventions, team-building, consultation and education programs, prevention programs, and mental health promotion activities.

EMU Counseling Services will provide supervision of the graduate student-in-training's clinical sessions, while a JMU Faculty member and EMU Athletics administration will provide oversight of non-clinical activities.

"We are eager to welcome this partnership between the JMU McMillin Center and EMU Athletics through the additional resource of a sports psychology intern to work both with our student athletes as individuals, as well as in a team setting," said Nicole Dovel, Counseling Services Lead Counselor. "Our counseling center strives to promote access for mental health support for all of our students and to meet those expressed needs to the greatest extent possible. By adding this additional layer of specialized support, this partnership aligns perfectly with those goals. We feel very fortunate to welcome this resource to our student athletes."   

"I am incredibly excited to begin working with athletes and teams at EMU! I hope to be able to not only support student-athletes in achieving their performance-related goals and fulfilling their potential as athletes, but to provide them with the support needed to be mentally and emotionally well in their everyday lives," said Lauren Shoss, Doctoral Student and Graduate Assistant at JMU's McMillin Center for Sports Psychology. "As a doctoral student at JMU, this experience will help me to explore how to fully integrate the fields of mental health and sports psychology. In my previous experiences, they were treated as separate entities without much overlap. I firmly believe it is impossible to fully separate one's performance in sport from one's overall wellbeing/mental health, and I am looking forward to integrating my two passions, interests, and fields of study while working with the athletics community at EMU."

The program officially began on Oct. 27, and EMU athletic coaches and administration are excited about the partnership and the potential benefits for student-athletes and teams.

"EMU Athletics has enjoyed a team-by-team partnership with the McMillin Center for Sports Psychology at JMU for several years. This formalized agreement allows us to leverage that relationship for all EMU student-athletes as well as the doctoral students interning on our campus. Being able to provide a resource focused on student well-being and sport performance within our department is exciting and highlights our holistic approach to student-athlete development," EMU Director of Athletics Carrie Bert said.

"I'm grateful that we have the opportunity to pair with JMU's McMillin Center for Sports Psychology this season," Women's Basketball Head Coach Jenny Posey added. "Our student-athletes will get to develop critical mental skills like building a positive mistake response when faced with adversity or developing positive self-talk to overcome doubts and insecurities. Honing these skills will not only lead to greater confidence and performance on the field or court of play, but also serve our student-athletes in their future endeavors as they seek to become leaders in their communities."
 
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