Therapy for High School Student Athletes: Pressure, Injury and Burnout

Blackburn Clinical Services offers one-on-one therapy in West Los Angeles for high school athletes ages 13 to 17 who are dealing with performance pressure, an injury, burnout or the question of who they are without their sport, plus family sessions for their parents. Many student athletes at private and independent high schools across Southern California train year round, travel for club seasons and carry a full college prep load at the same time. When that balance tips, it often shows up first as anxiety, irritability, poor sleep or a teen who suddenly wants to quit.

Who this page is for

• Parents of a high school athlete who seems anxious before games, is not sleeping, or has stopped enjoying a sport they used to love.
• Families of a teen who is out with an injury, recovering from surgery or facing a season, or a career, that may be over.
• Athletes being recruited, or hoping to be, who feel every practice and stat line is a verdict on their future.
• Teens who are thinking about stepping away from a sport and are afraid of letting down a coach, a team or their parents.

What pressure, injury and burnout can look like

The American Academy of Pediatrics describes overtraining as a drop in performance caused by an imbalance between training and recovery, often with persistent fatigue, poor sleep and mood changes. Its 2024 clinical report names high training volume, overscheduling, playing on several teams at once and year-round training as risk factors for burnout, and advises involving a mental health professional when overtraining or burnout appears (AAP).

• Performance anxiety: stomachaches or panic before competition, freezing in big moments, replaying mistakes for days.
• Burnout: exhaustion that rest does not fix, dread before practice, slipping grades, a flat or irritable mood.
• After an injury: sadness, anger or withdrawal from the team, fear of getting hurt again, or pushing to return before the body is ready.
• Identity: a teen who has been “the athlete” since grade school may not know who they are when the sport is paused or ends.
• Body and food: pressure around weight, size or appearance in some sports can lead to restrictive eating or overexercise, which deserves prompt attention.

What therapy at Blackburn looks like for a student athlete

• One-on-one therapy in our office or by secure video for clients located in California. Your teen meets with a therapist in person or by secure video (for clients located in California) to work on performance anxiety, perfectionism, mood and the stress of balancing school and sport, using approaches such as CBT, ACT and DBT skills. See anxiety treatment.
• Support through an injury. We help teens handle the loss of routine, team and identity that often comes with time on the sidelines, alongside the medical care their physician provides.
• Family sessions. Parents can join to talk about expectations, college recruiting, how to talk after a hard game and how to support a teen who wants to change course. See family services.
• More support when needed. The Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program offers typically 3 to 5 hours a week of focused one-on-one therapy for adolescents, with no groups.
• Psychiatry. Psychiatric care can be arranged when a teen needs an evaluation or medication.
• Scheduling. Sessions are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. We work with families to find times within those hours around school and training.

What parents can do now

• Ask how your teen is doing, not how the game went. Let them talk about the sport without a debrief or a scorecard.
• Protect sleep and at least some unscheduled time each week. The AAP encourages measuring success by participation and effort, not only results.
• If your teen is injured, keep them connected to friends and to parts of life outside the sport, and follow the medical team on return to play.
• Take a request to quit or take a break seriously. It may be burnout, anxiety or a sign that something else is going on, such as depression.
• If substance use is part of the picture, including pain medication after an injury, see outpatient options for teen substance use.

Working with coaches and your teen’s school

We share information with a coach, athletic trainer or school only with your written permission. When clinically appropriate, we can provide documentation for your teen’s school. For teens who are high achievers in the classroom as well as on the field, see therapy for high-achieving teens.

When to get urgent help

If your teen is in danger right now, call 911. If your teen talks about wanting to die, is harming themselves, or you are worried they might, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day. A season-ending injury or the end of a sport can hit hard, so take changes in mood after one seriously.

Questions

Is this sports psychology?

We provide therapy, not performance coaching. Many athletes do perform better when anxiety and stress are treated, but our focus is your teen’s mental health and well-being, on and off the field.

My teen is injured and seems depressed. Is that normal?

Sadness and frustration after an injury are common, especially for teens whose friends, routine and identity revolve around a sport. If low mood lasts more than a couple of weeks, affects sleep or school, or your teen withdraws from everyone, it is worth a call.

Will you talk to my teen’s coach?

Only with your written permission. Many families keep therapy private from the team; others want a coach or athletic trainer in the loop. We talk through the options with you.

Can sessions fit around practice?

Sessions are scheduled Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. We work with families to find times within those hours, such as a free period or right after the school day.

What if my teen wants to quit their sport?

Family sessions can help everyone talk about it calmly. Sometimes a break is the right call, and sometimes the wish to quit is a sign of anxiety, burnout or depression that therapy can help with.

Get started

You can also email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Parents usually make the first call; your teen does not need to be on the line. More guides: therapy for private school students.

Sources

• American Academy of Pediatrics: Causes of injury, overtraining and burnout in youth sports (2024 clinical report)
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline