Working with athletes for success
Lisa brings a high level of expertise to the athlete mental health space from both a clinical and performance focus. She works with elite youth athletes, collegiate student athletes, Olympians/Olympic hopefuls, professional athletes, coaches, teams, and the entire sport ecosystem.
She is the first-ever Mental Performance Coach for the Oakland Roots Sports Club, a men’s USL soccer team. Lisa works alongside other coaches on the Technical Team as well as the Sports Medicine staff.
Lisa is listed in the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Mental Health Registry, the NFL Player Association’s Clinician Directory, and the Major League Rugby Mental Health and Wellness Directory.
As a direct response to need, Lisa founded AthMindset® – a diverse team of athlete-centered, licensed mental health clinicians and mental performance consultants, serving across several states.
Founding
ATHMindset®
Media Impact
My Heart is Browner Than My Skin
The intersection of race, mental health, and sport
In her TEDxWilmington talk, Lisa Bonta Sumii discussed her experience with mixed-race identity, mental health, and athletic identity.
TIME Magazine
‘This Will 100% Save Somebody’s Life.’
Athletes see a turning point for mental health after Naomi Osaka takes a stand at the French Open
“‘It’s groundbreaking,’ says Lisa Bonta Sumii, a therapist with Galea Health, a company that connects athletes with mental health providers. ‘She has prioritized mental health, and has said so. And that’s a great example.‘”
Teen VOGUE
Simone Biles Thrust Athlete Mental Health Into the Global Spotlight
Simone is the latest in a string of athletes … to prioritize her mental health despite incredible pressure to compete
“…how athletes perform, said Bonta Sumii, can be intensely tied to how they view themselves, their core identity. Failing to perform can lead athletes to label themselves as losers ‘Coping with pressure and managing athlete identity are key to the elite athlete’s mental health,’ Bonta Sumii said.”
Women’s Health
Win At Life: How To Apply Sports Psychology Tactics To Perform Like A Boss In The Gym, At Work, And At Home
read this, then go forth and apply the research-supported advice to tackle and conquer any challenge
“How often you meet with your practitioner (be it in person, virtually, or via text) is personal … and can be determined by your needs and schedule, says Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, founder and CEO of AthMindset LLC, and mental health and sport performance specialist for a professional soccer team in Oakland, California. She even offers clients “micro-sessions” of 25 minutes.”
Interviews
Lisa speaks to BBC World News about Naomi Osaka tennis break
Breaking down the importance of preserving mental health and the external impacts of media in sports.
#reclaimthegame
General Council Meeting – March 14, 2022
This episode of Reclaim the Game brings together a trailblazing group of industry leaders who shared diverse expertise on how we can work together to create a safer and more inclusive soccer industry.
Positive Coaching Alliance
Intersectionality of Mental Health & Race Webinar
The home for youth sports parenting and coaching tips to develop better athletes and better people.
What is Sport Social Work?
Alliance of Social Workers in Sports
Lisa shares her sport social work journey and her passion for athlete mental health.
Podcasts
Making Moves
Mental Health in Sport
Making Moves (Season 2, Episode 7)
The interconnectedness of the mind and the body is important to note within sports and daily life. When there is a disconnect between the body and the mind, there can be problematic consequences. It is important to recognize when an athlete, or any human for that matter, is struggling with their mental health. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness and it should not be portrayed in a negative light. Mental health concerns are real and addressing these concerns should include a holistic approach, prioritizing both the mind and body.
LifeExcellence
LifeExcellence with Brian Bartes
Episode 16
Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW is a therapist and the CEO and Founder of AthMindset®. She supports elite athletes to achieve optimal mental health and peak mental sport performance. Lisa discusses the general state of mental health in our country, and specific techniques we can all use to achieve peak performance.
Power Up Your Performance
Optimizing Mental Health and Sport Performance in Athletes
Episode 141
If you’ve ever wondered how your mental performance affects your ability to run faster, train harder, and achieve your goals, today’s guest has the answers. Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW talks about the mental side of sports performance and shows us some of the areas we can focus on to elevate our game, while also providing concrete examples of how our skills in sport translate to life.
4D Athletes
Why Does Mental Health Matter?
Episode 62
What are some ways we can normalize the conversation of mental health in sports? How does the win at all cost society objectify athletes? These topics and more are covered in this episode with Lisa.
The Gametime Guru
Lisa Bonta Sumii – Mental Health & Sports Performance Specialist
Episode 220
In the history of my show, we’ve discussed this with various experts in the field, and today we get to chat with Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW the Mental Health and Sport Performance Coach for the Oakland Roots of the USL.
Listen today about the techniques and ideas she has in her experience working with athletes. Why do so many athletes battle with their mental health? Why don’t we focus more on this within our sports organizations/programs? We have strength and conditioning coaches, why not mental health consultants or performance specialists in that field?
Business Innovators Radio Network
Black Female Elite Athletes – The Pressure, the Public Eye & Pushing Through
If you are a black female elite athlete at the Collegiate, Olympic or Professional level, or if you are a parent of an elite black female athlete, today’s show is for you.
SportsEpreneur.com
Normalizing Mental Health In Sports
August 23, 2021
It’s time we start normalizing mental health in sports. In this podcast episode of normalizing mental health, we have a wide-ranging dialogue covering people and topics including Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, Sha’Carri Richardson, Paul George, shocking stressors, trash-talking, next play mindset, naming a feeling, anxiety, meditation, positive relationships, youth sports, and how trauma has no sense of time.