Therapy with AthleteS

Given the range of pressures that competitive athletes face, the development of unique skill sets is critical for optimal athletic performance and well-being. Dr. De Silva has first hand experience of both the joys and challenges of growing up as a competitive athlete. Her experience as a tennis player included daily practice for several hours from a young age, competing at school, national and international levels during childhood years, and performing at collegiate and professional levels as a older teen and young adult. The real challenges of balancing the social, academic and personal developmental needs of a growing child with the demands of being a competitive athlete are well known to Dr. De Silva. She knows the pressures involved with performance in high stake situations such as NCAA’s and PAC-10 Championships. She has enjoyed the thrills and rewards of the Division I college recruitment process and playing for the team she loved at Stanford University as well as highs and lows of playing on the European professional tennis circuit as a young adult.

Dr. De Silva’s personal experiences as an athlete coupled with expertise gained as a psychologist working with athletes across ages playing a variety of sports, gives her a unique ability to both greatly understand and empathize with the journeys of being an athlete as well as foster the specific skill development that allows for the highest potential of an athlete to be met. Dr. De Silva’s draws from a range of tools to foster optimal performance, a lasting enjoyment of a sport, life balance as well as confidence and resilience both on and off the court, track, field or mat. Such tools include performance enhancement skills training, emotion regulation, positive self talk, concentration and attention skills, stress management, motivation enhancement, development of self- confidence and balancing athleticism with other valued aspects of life and one’s personality.

Dr. De Silva also works with parents of athletes to help them best support their child’s athletic performance and development.