Depression Therapy for Athletes in Minneapolis, MN & Online
Depression doesn't check your training log first.
Skadi Sport Psychology offers depression therapy for athletes ages 9 and older, in person at our New Hope office in the Minneapolis area or online if you're located in Minnesota. We work with athletes at every level, plus coaches and sports parents, on the part of sport nobody puts on the schedule.
or reach us at +1 (612) 208-2347.
If you or an athlete you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Skadi isn't a crisis service, and 988 is available 24/7.
When Depression Shows Up in Sport
Depression in athletes doesn't always look like sadness. Sometimes it's dragging yourself to practice. Losing the joy you used to feel. Pulling back from teammates without ever really deciding to.
Sport culture rewards toughing it out, so most athletes wait a long time before they say anything — and get praised for the waiting. Between school, club schedules, travel, and the expectations that follow a good season, plenty of Minnesota athletes are carrying a full load before anyone thinks to ask how they're actually doing.
Depression can take a toll on both your performance and your relationship with a sport you've given years to. You don't have to wait until it gets worse to talk to someone. Reaching out early gives you more room to work with.
We're a sport psychology practice, not a general clinic that also happens to see athletes. Athlete mental health is our specialty, and that shows up in the first session.
Supervising licensed psychologist. Dr. Ayala, a licensed psychologist and CMPC, supervises therapists Laurie Miller and Avery Nelson.
Minnesota-based, sport-informed care. Therapy is available in person at our Minneapolis-area office in New Hope, MN, or online for clients located in Minnesota.
Athletes ages 9 and older. For clients under 18, a parent or guardian is part of intake and joins the first 15 minutes of the first session.
"As a physical therapist, the value of having a trusted sport psychologist is paramount. I know without a doubt every time my therapist team refers a mutual client to Skadi, they are in great hands." Andrew E.
"Erin and her team at Skadi Sport Psychology are world-class and leading the way in helping athletes improve their performance across the board." Erik R.
Why Athletes Choose Skadi Sport Psychology for Depression Therapy
How to Get Started with Depression Counseling
Reach out. Call +1 (612) 208-2347 or email erin@skadisportpsychology.com to schedule a consultation.
Initial consultation. We'll ask about what's going on and what you're hoping for, and we'll figure out together whether our practice makes sense for you.
Get started with a therapist. Laurie Miller and Avery Nelson both provide depression therapy. We'll talk with you about who makes sense given your situation.
Begin sessions. In person at our New Hope office in the Minneapolis metro, or online for Minnesota clients.
Ongoing care. Regular therapy sessions, with Laurie and Avery practicing under Dr. Ayala's clinical supervision.
Meet Your Depression Therapist
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![Smiling Laurie wearing black with a colorful gradient background.]()
Laurie Miller, MEd,
PRE-LICENSED THERAPIST & MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH
Laurie works with young athletes ages 9 to 25, with a focus on depression, anxiety, trauma, and eating disorders. She draws on ACT, CBT, and DBT skills — you can read the full picture on her provider page. She's a pre-licensed clinician supervised by Dr. Ayala.
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![A young man with red hair and beard, wearing a dark sweater over a white shirt, smiling against a colorful blurred background.]()
Avery Nelson, MS,
PRE-LICENSED THERAPIST & MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH
Avery works with male athletes, coaches, and parents, including student athletes juggling school, team, and family expectations at once. You can read more on Avery's provider page. Avery is also pre-licensed and supervised by Dr. Ayala.
What to Expect from Therapy for Athletes
Sport-informed therapy isn't regular therapy with sports words dropped in. Your athletic identity, your training load, your relationship with your coach, and the pressure of a season calendar all come into the room with you. We treat that as important context, not background noise.
We understand what getting benched actually means, what an injury timeline can do to your sense of self, and why perfectionism often looks like dedication or discipline from the outside. Where it fits, sessions can include mental skills support alongside depression-focused psychotherapy, so you're not choosing between your mental health and your athletic performance.
The whole person comes first. The performance follows.
Online Depression Therapy in Minnesota
Online therapy is available only to clients physically located in Minnesota at the time of the session. Licensure doesn't cross state lines, and neither do we.
Telehealth works well for athletes traveling in-state for competition, and for families outside the immediate metro who'd rather skip the commute in an already packed week. Same therapist, same work, wherever you are in Minnesota. When you call, tell us which format you'd prefer.
Skadi operates on an out-of-network concierge billing basis. You pay the full session fee upfront, we submit the claim to your insurer on your behalf, and your insurer may reimburse you directly, depending on your plan's out-of-network benefits. This means you don't need to worry about superbills, phone calls with insurance, or extra administrative work on your end. We take care of that for you!
Benefits vary a lot from plan to plan. If you have billing questions, call us at +1 (612) 208-2347 and we'll talk you through how it works.
Insurance & Billing for Depression Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
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It doesn't look the same at every age. Younger athletes may complain of stomachaches before practice or seem more irritable. Teens often pull away from teammates or stop caring about a sport they loved. Older athletes describe going through the motions. Only a real conversation can tell you what's going on for a specific person. If any of this sounds familiar, reach out.
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Athletes ages 9 and older. For clients under 18, a parent or guardian takes part in intake and joins the first 15 minutes of the first session. Parents who want a starting point before that conversation can also use our free Skadi Athlete Assessment.
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Laurie Miller works with young athletes ages 9 to 25. Avery Nelson works with male athletes, coaches, and parents. Call us, and we'll talk through availability.
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It depends on who you work with and what you bring in. All of our providers are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and actively bring in concepts from ACT, DBT, and other evidence-based modalities. It's also common for our providers to integrate approaches from Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Positive Psychology. Across the practice, we adapt approaches to fit the realities of your sport.
See all frequently asked questions.
Reach Out to Skadi Sport Psychology
The mental toll of competing doesn't have to be something you manage alone. We're here to do the meaningful work with you.