In this episode of The Mentally Fit Athlete, we explore one of the most overlooked phases of the athletic journey—transitioning out of sport. Whether an athlete is graduating, retiring, changing levels of competition, or sidelined by injury, the end of a season or career can bring unexpected emotional, psychological, and social challenges.

Jason and Lidia discuss:

• Why ending a long athletic chapter can feel like grief

• How identity loss, frustration, and uncertainty can show up—sometimes unexpectedly

• Real stories of athletes blindsided by the emotional weight of transition

• How sudden injuries can create grief, anger, and a sense of “what could have been”

• Why missed competitions and derailed goals can hit harder than expected

• The social and psychological consequences of time away from teammates

• Why having an athletic identity isn’t the problem

• When identity becomes too tied to performance

• How diversifying identity helps athletes heal, grow, and take healthy time off

Jason and Lidia outline strategies including:

• Building multiple sources of identity and meaning

• Expanding social networks beyond the team

• Maintaining perspective on long-term health over short-term competition

• Recognizing and leveraging the transferable skills developed through sport—leadership, resilience, communication, discipline, and more

• Exploring recreation leagues, new sports, hybrid competitions, and personal fitness challenges

• How athletes can carry their competitive spirit into work, relationships, and life goals

Whether you're a high school senior, a college athlete, a parent, or a coach supporting athletes through major transitions, this episode provides insight, validation, and practical tools for navigating one of the most complex moments in the athletic lifespan.

Find Lidia: LidiaGarcia.net | @liddie.g
Find Jason: DrJasonvonStietz.com | @CBTSportsPsych on Instagram and Blue Sky

🔹 The Emotional Impact of Transition🔹 Injuries and Abrupt Endings🔹 Athletic Identity: Helpful or Harmful?🔹 Protecting Mental Health During Transitions🔹 Staying Active and Competitive—Just Differently

In this episode, we answer a great question from a high school sport psychology class:

“What role does visualization play in improving athletic performance, and how can athletes use it effectively?”

We break down how mental imagery—also known as visualization or mental rehearsal—can help athletes reduce anxiety, boost confidence, and fine-tune their skills even when they’re not physically training. Lydia introduces the PETTLEP model (Physical, Environment, Task, Timing, Learning, Emotion, Perspective) to help athletes make their visualizations more vivid and effective.

Jason discusses how visualization strengthens neural pathways related to performance, helps athletes prepare for unpredictable situations, and supports recovery from injury or limited practice time. We also touch on the difference between positive visualization and magical thinking, emphasizing how imagery complements physical training rather than replacing it.

Whether you’re a student-athlete, coach, or mental performance enthusiast, this episode provides a practical framework for using visualization to train your brain for game day.

Key Topics:

• What visualization (mental rehearsal) really is

• The PETTLEP model for effective imagery

• How visualization impacts confidence and motor learning

• Using imagery to prepare for unpredictable competition conditions

• The neuroscience behind why visualization works

• Applying mental rehearsal to academics and everyday performance

Find Us:

• Dr. Jason von Stietz: drjasonvonstietz.com | @cbtsportspsych

• Lidia Garcia: lidiagarcia.net | @liddie.g

🎙️ Subscribe to The Mentally Fit Athlete on your favorite podcast platform for more conversations on the intersection of mental health and peak performance.

What happens when an opponent becomes bigger than the game? In this episode of The Mentally Fit Athlete, we field a question from a high-school sports psychology class: how do admiration or animosity toward an opponent affect performance? Jason explains the value of focusing on controllables—your preparation, routine, breathing and mindset—while Lydia offers practical ways to avoid comparison traps (yes, we mean athlete stat sites and highlight reels). We share an inspiring story about using a tough opponent as a confidence-builder, offer a three-question self-reflection template to untangle emotions from identity or cultural pressure, and remind athletes of a simple but powerful truth: get back to having fun.

Featured Resources & Links:

Lidia Garcia, MSW• Website: ⁠⁠lidiagarcia.net⁠⁠• Instagram: ⁠⁠@liddie.g⁠⁠• Pasadena Run Club: ⁠⁠@pasadena.runclub⁠⁠

Dr. Jason von Stietz• Website: ⁠⁠drjasonvonstietz.com⁠⁠• Instagram: ⁠⁠@cbtsportpsych⁠⁠• Bluesky: @⁠cbtsportpsych