Margaret Maher

I am a sport and health psychologist who specializes in helping athletes cope with physical and emotional issues that interfere with sport success. Injuries, anxiety, sleep issues, eating disorders, weight fluctuations, panic attacks and burnout are examples of common issues that bring athletes into my practice. What sets me apart as a sport psychologist is my background in medical psychology and nutrition. I have a PhD in Clinical Health Psychology, and a M.S. in Nutrition, and I worked in rehabilitation hospitals and eating disorder clinics for many years. I also have training in adolescent health psychology. As I transitioned into private practice, I did advanced training in positive psychology, ACT and coaching. I blend all of these disciplines together when working with athletes, creating an innovative and very tailored approach for all. I am listed on the USOPC Mental Health Directory, and have worked with elite athletes for over a decade. I work with Team USA, Olympic, college, and high school athletes from around the country. I am an individual sports specialist, working with Team USA swimmers, fencers, runners, rowers, figure skaters and gymnasts, and more. I 'get it'- today's athletes have immense physical, performance, and social media demands that can take a huge toll on mental health. I also understand how high school and college athletes need to balance academics and sports. My practice is centered on making mind-body connections, and I help athletes understand how their mood, thoughts and sport confidence (mind) affect their performance, sleep, injury recovery, pain (body), and vice versa. I have expertise in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and ACT, and am a certified Eating Disorder Specialist. Mindfulness training, imagery training, strategies for performing under pressure, goal setting, and developing mental training plans to maximize performance are all central to helping athletes recover and move forward successfully. I'm a great fit for an athlete who is seeking expert help to cope with a difficult injury rehabilitation, a medical condition, mental health issues, or an eating disorder. I can effectively treat all of these issues, while developing best practices for consistent high performance. Athletes love that I am easy to talk to, that I listen very attentively, provide a lot of feedback, and am goal-oriented.