It's Not That Deep: A Sports Psychologist on Raising Grounded High School Athletes with Dr. Megan Cannon

Guest: Dr. Megan Cannon, licensed sport & performance psychologist and founder of MVP Mindset Sport & Performance Psychology, working with teen, collegiate, and professional athletes nationwide.Episode Summary: Dr. Courtney sits down with sport psychologist Dr. Megan Cannon to talk about what it's really like to raise a high-performing high school athlete — from identity and burnout to the ever-changing landscape of college recruiting. Dr. Megan draws on her own athletic background and years of clinical work with teen athletes to help parents understand where healthy drive ends and unhealthy pressure begins, and how to stay supportive without becoming another source of stress.What You'll Learn:Why fusing your teen's identity with "being the athlete" can become a dangerous spot — and how to help them build other identities alongside itThe real difference between healthy drive and a kid whose self-worth is riding on performanceWhat burnout actually looks like in a teenager, and how it's different from a bad weekHow the college recruiting landscape has changed — and why the "old system" many parents grew up with no longer appliesHow to support your athlete through the recruiting process as "support staff," not the agentHow to help your teen navigate injury, setbacks, or retiring from a sport for the right reasonsSigns it may be time to bring in a sport psychologist — and why it's never too early or too lateWhy sport is "a vehicle, not the road" — and how to help your family remember thatResources & Links:Dr. Megan Cannon / MVP Mindset Sport & Performance Psychology: mvpmindsetsportpsychology.comDr. Megan Cannon on Instagram: @drmegancannonBook a consult with Integrated Behavioral Health: Schedule hereIntegrated Behavioral Health website: integratedbhs.comSign up for the Integrated Behavioral Health newsletter: Subscribe hereLegal Disclaimer: While this podcast may provide information that is educational in nature, it is not intended to be a health care service, psychotherapy, or the practice of psychology. This podcast’s main purpose is to provide educational insights for all stages of child and family development. We will not provide diagnoses or specific recommendations for your family. At no point is a therapeutic relationship established by way of your unilateral participation by listening to these episodes, and we cannot provide advice or privileges associated with a therapeutic relationship. We recommend that anyone who is seeking a therapeutic relationship reach out to Integrated Behavioral Health at [email protected] to begin the interview process of becoming a client or receiving a referral. If at any point in your listening or engaging with the content of this podcast, you experience an emergency, please immediately call 911 or go to your local emergency room.