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Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW
CEO & Founder of Athmindset®
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Mental Performance Consultant
Mental Health & Performance Coach, Oakland Roots SC
Host of the Athlete Mindset Podcast
Member of Advisory Board, Golden Minds
clinical registries
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USA Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry, Listed
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National Football League Player's Association Clinician Directory, Listed
Education
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Bachelor of Arts, University of California at Santa Barbara
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Master's of Social Work, Smith College School for Social Work
About Lisa
Lisa is a psychotherapist with over 23 years of clinical experience, licensed in both California and Nevada. She has been a private practice clinician for over 15 years and also works as a consultant and an entrepreneur. Lisa supports the elite athlete to achieve optimal mental health and peak mental sport performance by focusing on the athlete as a human, with multiple intersecting identities.
Seeing the elite athlete as a multidimensional human, navigating various roles and identities, on a regular basis, is integral to Lisa’s approach. She utilizes a variety of theoretical perspectives and approaches to impact the athlete's cognitions, emotional experience, and desired behaviors.
Lisa works with high performing individuals, by providing training on mental tools like goal setting, creating routines, self-talk, and imagery to develop mental tools such as motivation, self-confidence, and attentional focus.
Experience
2019 - Present
1999 - 2018
2006 - 2012
1996 - 2001
1996 - 2001
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First ever Mental Health & Sport Performance Coach at the Oakland Roots SC
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Contracted Consultant at Cal State Bakersfield
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Strategic Partner with Cutler Wellness Programs to provide clinical mental health services and mental sport performance consultation to the institutions of the NAIA and the NJCAA
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Private Practice Clinician and Consultant
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Provided clinical supervision toward the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences accrual of hours process
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Provided LCSW’s and MFT’s with clinical consultation
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Private Practice Clinician
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Co-founded the Behavioral Health Team of the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco, CA.
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Provided clinical trainings and individual supervision to the team.
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Provided individual and group clinical supervision and trainings to staff serving the homeless and runaway youth population.
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Psychiatric Social Worker for the City and County of San of Francisco
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Therapist to young people detained at Youth Guidance Center (San Francisco) and to their families in the community.
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Therapist to children, adolescents, and families in the homes, schools, and communities of the Bay View/Hunter’s Point area of San Francisco.
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Provided clinical case management services to the participants of Larkin Street Youth Center’s, Aftercare Program.
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Participants were runaway, street youth coping with HIV/AIDS, IV drug use, prostitution, and homelessness.
Media impact
Watch an impactful TedXWilmington talk about the intersection of race, mental health, and sport by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW
Read more about Lisa's input on the importance of mental health for athletes.
Read more about insight on pressure and athletic identity in the spotlight from Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW
Read more about the benefits of having a mental sport performance coach, such as Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW.
Video Interviews
BBC World News: naomi osaka tennis break
Watch the BBC interview where Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW breaks down the importance of preserving mental health and the external impacts of media in sports.
#ReclaimTheGame General Council Meeting
The Reclaim The Game General Council brought 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.
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?
In the second episode of "What is Sport Social Work?" Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW from The Oakland Roots shares her sport social work journey and her passion for athlete mental health.
podcast Interviews

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 with Brian Bartes - EP016 - Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW
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.
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, CSW 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.
What I wish I knew as a studeNT athlete
Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW mental health and sport performance coach, shares her experience supporting elite athletes in optimal mental health and sport performance. As a licensed social worker and therapist for 20+ years, Lisa talks about how her background in social work informs her approach to working with student-athletes, her philosophy on seeing the athlete as a multidimensional human, and her hopes for the future as a mental health professional, former competitive athlete, and proud mom of a young female athlete.
4D Athletes Podcast Ep. 62- Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW: Why does Mental Health Matter
In episode 62 of the 4D Athletes Podcast, Jason and Jim are joined by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CSW.

EPISODE 220: LISA BONTA SUMII, LCSW, CSW - MENTAL HEALTH & SPORT PERFORMANCE coach
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, CSW 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?