Kim Bruns, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former gymnast, joins the show to share her insights into the mental health challenges faced by young athletes. Kim explores the importance of connection, self-care, and values in supporting peak performance and well-being. Her and Chelsea discuss practical advice for parents on how to create a balanced environment that nurtures both athletic and emotional growth, helping young athletes manage performance anxiety and thrive both on and off the field.
Kim Bruns, a licensed marriage and family therapist and former gymnast, joins the show to share her insights into the mental health challenges faced by young athletes. She explores the importance of connection, self-care, and values in supporting peak performance and well-being. Kim and Chelsea discuss practical advice for parents on how to create a balanced environment that nurtures both athletic and emotional growth, helping young athletes manage performance anxiety and thrive both on and off the field.
Project Parenthood is hosted by Chelsea Dorcich. A transcript is available at Simplecast.
Have a parenting question? Email Chelsea at parenthood@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at 646-926-3243.
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Hi! Welcome back to Project Parenthood. host, Chelsea Dorcich, Licensed Marriage Family TherapistI am here to join you on your conscious parenting journey bringing more curiosity, openness, acceptance, kindness and non-judgment along the way.
In this episode, I'm joined by Kim Bruns, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in sports performance therapy. Kim discusses the mental health challenges young athletes face, emphasizing how parents and coaches can support their mental well-being alongside their physical performance.
Key topics covered include:
Peak Performance & Mental Health: Kim explains the concept of peak performance, visualizing it as a balance between physical, mental, and emotional capacities. She shares how athletes need to align their goals without sacrificing their mental health, using a triangle analogy where emotional regulation helps athletes maintain balance.
Three Core Components of Athlete Development:
Handling Performance Anxiety: Kim discusses the normality of performance anxiety and suggests ways parents can help athletes manage it. She highlights the importance of mindfulness, rewarding effort rather than outcomes, and keeping a positive focus on the process, rather than winning or losing.
This conversation provides practical tips for parents, coaches, and administrators to support young athletes both on and off the field, ensuring their mental and emotional well-being is prioritized as part of their journey in sports.
That’s it for this week’s edition of Project Parenthood… Remember to be curious, open, accepting, kind, and non judgmental on your conscious parenting journey. If you have any questions about this episode, about your parenting journey and/or topics you would like to hear more about please reach out to parenthood@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a message at 646-926-3243.
Project Parenthood is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast. Thanks to the team at Quick and Dirty Tips: Holly Hutchings, Davina Tomlin, Morgan Christianson and Brannan Goetschius. May you be happy, safe and protected, healthy and strong and live with ease.