Athlete Psychology: Enhancing Performance, Recovery, and Mindset

Course overview

This course will equip chiropractors with tools to understand and support the psychological components of athletic performance, injury recovery, mindset development, and treatment plan adherence. Special focus is placed on recognizing subtle signs of psychological distress, fostering trust, and shifting patient mindset from negativity to empowerment. Each topic is carefully structured within chiropractic scope of practice: providers will learn how to recognize warning signs, communicate with empathy, and make referrals when needed. Athletes from youth to elite professionals, including military and veteran populations, will be discussed. Emphasis is also placed on the role of digital culture (e.g., social media) and how it shapes the psychological well-being of modern athletes. All discussions of mental health conditions (e.g., PTSD, depression, eating disorders) are framed in accordance with chiropractic scope: chiropractors will be taught how to recognize potential signs and make appropriate referrals to licensed professionals, rather than diagnose or treat these conditions directly.