Embedded Files
Building Confidence with Female Athletes
Focusing on sport related injuires & rehabilatation processes
Christine McAlvey
Workshop Agenda
Workshop Agenda
The Mission: Infusing Mental Health strategies into Physical Therapy Sessions
The Mission: Infusing Mental Health strategies into Physical Therapy Sessions
Targeting the Main Issues
Targeting the Main Issues
Overviewing common issues patients display during their sessions.
Solutions
Solutions
Providing some ideas and resources that can help patients with their healing journey and confidence in their capabilities.
Open Group Discussion
Open Group Discussion
Opening the floor to providers and brainstorming helpful ideas, struggles within this topic, and networking within our community.
Combining mental health strategies with physical rehabilitation helps athletes regain trust in themselves, overcome psychological roadblocks, and improve performance post-injury (Herrero et al., 2020). Addressing these needs also helps combat the underrepresentation of women in sports medicine, ensuring female athletes receive equitable, holistic care (Anderson et al., 2023).
Counselors can use this resource to guide discussions with physical therapists, provide evidence-based strategies, and create interventions that strengthen both mental and physical recovery outcomes.
Central Topic
Central Topic
What would a female athlete’s outcome post-injury look like if their care team were providing the supportive language and tools to help boost their confidence? It is not uncommon for PTs to see their patients physically progress but mentally still have that roadblock to playing their sport the way they used to, without a second thought; injury in itself can already be traumatic.
What would a female athlete’s outcome post-injury look like if their care team were providing the supportive language and tools to help boost their confidence? It is not uncommon for PTs to see their patients physically progress but mentally still have that roadblock to playing their sport the way they used to, without a second thought; injury in itself can already be traumatic.
Worksheet Examples
Worksheet Examples
Journaling Worksheets
Journaling Worksheets
“Describe a time when playing (blank sport) you felt empowered, confident, or strong?”
Feeling Identification Worksheets
Feeling Identification Worksheets
“When reflecting on your injury, what is the strongest emotion that comes to mind? How do you express that emotion?”
Identity Worksheets
Identity Worksheets
“Detail a time or hobby where you felt joy or at peace that is outside your sport?”
Negative Thought Reframing Worksheets
Negative Thought Reframing Worksheets
“I’m scared to do box jumps because I am not strong,” to “ I am nervous to try box jumps, but I trust my body. I have worked hard these past 6 weeks to make myself strong.”
Female athletes face unique challenges when returning to sport after injury, including both physical and mental barriers. While physical therapy addresses the body, mental health is often overlooked, particularly for women, who are twice as likely as men to experience increased anxiety, depression, or body image concerns during rehabilitation (Herrero et al., 2020). This workshop aims to bridge this gap by equipping physical therapists with counseling tools to support female athletes’ confidence and mental wellness during recovery.
Through a workshop for local sports physical therapists, participants will learn practical strategies, including mindfulness exercises, cognitive reframing, and guided journaling. Worksheets will serve as supplemental tools to help athletes identify emotions, celebrate strengths, and explore their identity outside of sport. For example, athletes might journal about a time they felt confident in their sport, reframe negative thoughts about their injury, or reflect on hobbies that bring them joy.
Research supports the effectiveness of pairing mental health strategies with physical rehabilitation; athletes who engage in these combined approaches not only progress physically but also regain trust in their abilities and reduce psychological roadblocks (Herrero et al., 2020). Moreover, addressing these mental health considerations helps combat the systemic underrepresentation of women in sports medicine, ensuring that female athletes receive equitable, holistic care (Anderson et al., 2023).
Counselors can use this resource to guide collaborative discussions with physical therapists, develop targeted interventions, and provide evidence-based tools that enhance rehabilitation outcomes. By integrating mental and physical support, therapists can foster resilience, confidence, and overall well-being in female athletes post-injury.
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