The Athlete Couch Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-athlete-couch The Athlete Couch is where mindset meets performance. Hosted by Jessica Colucci, LPC (former D1 swimmer) and Stephen Neer, LPC (national-level competitive Olympic weightlifter)—Co-Directors of the Lukin Center Sport Mental Health and Performance Program—this podcast breaks down sports psychology, mental wellness, and actionable tools to help athletes excel both on and off the field. Lukin Center. All Rights Reserved 2026 8edf4102-38eb-5d86-8b02-b80bebeb9271 yes en Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:00:13 -0700 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:03:13 -0700 https://www.linkedin.com/company/lukin-center-for-psychotherapy-and-advancement-pc/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/X3TNNXcOs491USsXgAimEvpAm1OHJCsRZQj-lSN0Cnw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83ZWM0/M2U4NjJkZTY2NmJh/MjBmN2I0OGJkZjI0/NGVjZi5wbmc.jpg The Athlete Couch https://www.linkedin.com/company/lukin-center-for-psychotherapy-and-advancement-pc/ episodic Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy The Athlete Couch is where mindset meets performance. Hosted by Jessica Colucci, LPC (former D1 swimmer) and Stephen Neer, LPC (national-level competitive Olympic weightlifter)—Co-Directors of the Lukin Center Sport Mental Health and Performance Program—this podcast breaks down sports psychology, mental wellness, and actionable tools to help athletes excel both on and off the field. The Athlete Couch is where mindset meets performance. sports psychology, athlete mental health, mental performance, sports mental health, peak performance, mental toughness, performance anxiety, athlete burnout, mindset training, athlete resilience, sports mind, youth sports, elite performance, D1 athlete, Olympic weightlifting, Lukin Center, Jessica Colucci, Stephen Neer, sports therapy, athletic mindset The Lukin Center for Psychotherapy info@lukincenter.com No No The Athlete's Guide to Living Beyond Competition 1 1 5 5 The Athlete's Guide to Living Beyond Competition full 60b7c145-7547-45cf-ac25-bf51c4e472d1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3eb79263 In this episode, Jessica and Stephen delve into the complexities of athlete identity and the mental health implications of transitioning away from sports. They discuss the importance of understanding one's values, the impact of role changes, and the necessity of maintaining a balanced life beyond athletics. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community engagement, personal growth, and the potential dangers of being overly consumed by sports. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, they provide listeners with tools to navigate the challenges of athlete identity and performance.

]]> In this episode, Jessica and Stephen delve into the complexities of athlete identity and the mental health implications of transitioning away from sports. They discuss the importance of understanding one's values, the impact of role changes, and the necessity of maintaining a balanced life beyond athletics. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community engagement, personal growth, and the potential dangers of being overly consumed by sports. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, they provide listeners with tools to navigate the challenges of athlete identity and performance.

]]> Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0700 Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy 2089 In this episode, Jessica and Stephen delve into the complexities of athlete identity and the mental health implications of transitioning away from sports. They discuss the importance of understanding one's values, the impact of role changes, and the necessity of maintaining a balanced life beyond athletics. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community engagement, personal growth, and the potential dangers of being overly consumed by sports. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, they provide listeners with tools to navigate the challenges of athlete identity and performance.

]]> athlete identity, mental health, performance, values, youth sports, community service, balance, personal growth, transition, resilience No Social Media Is The New Cigarettes and What It's Doing to Athletes 1 1 4 4 Social Media Is The New Cigarettes and What It's Doing to Athletes full ce7aee45-129d-4dc8-a60c-d9723e6a8bc5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9e22090e In this conversation, Stephen and Jessice dive into the profound impact of social media on youth athletes, exploring its psychological effects, the challenges parents face in navigating this landscape, and the implications for athletes in terms of identity and recruitment. The discussion emphasizes the need for balance, connection, and responsible use of social media, highlighting the importance of modeling positive behavior as parents and understanding the dual nature of social media as both a tool for connection and a potential source of anxiety.

]]> In this conversation, Stephen and Jessice dive into the profound impact of social media on youth athletes, exploring its psychological effects, the challenges parents face in navigating this landscape, and the implications for athletes in terms of identity and recruitment. The discussion emphasizes the need for balance, connection, and responsible use of social media, highlighting the importance of modeling positive behavior as parents and understanding the dual nature of social media as both a tool for connection and a potential source of anxiety.

]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0700 Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy 2481 In this conversation, Stephen and Jessice dive into the profound impact of social media on youth athletes, exploring its psychological effects, the challenges parents face in navigating this landscape, and the implications for athletes in terms of identity and recruitment. The discussion emphasizes the need for balance, connection, and responsible use of social media, highlighting the importance of modeling positive behavior as parents and understanding the dual nature of social media as both a tool for connection and a potential source of anxiety.

]]> social media, youth athletes, parenting, mental health, athlete identity, NIL, recruitment, dopamine, connection, balance No The Evolution of Coaching in Girls Sports 1 1 3 3 The Evolution of Coaching in Girls Sports full 972a532d-74a6-4548-825b-f0dce6cd8b0e https://share.transistor.fm/s/378d9c71 In this episode, Jessica Colucci and Steven Neer discuss the growing popularity of girls' flag football, particularly in New Jersey, where it will soon become a varsity sport. They explore various themes, including coaching dynamics, gender perspectives, the importance of communication, and the role of social media in young athletes' lives. The conversation emphasizes the need for coaches to balance toughness with support, accommodate individual athlete needs while maintaining team dynamics, and the critical role parents play in supporting their children emotionally during their sports journey.

]]> In this episode, Jessica Colucci and Steven Neer discuss the growing popularity of girls' flag football, particularly in New Jersey, where it will soon become a varsity sport. They explore various themes, including coaching dynamics, gender perspectives, the importance of communication, and the role of social media in young athletes' lives. The conversation emphasizes the need for coaches to balance toughness with support, accommodate individual athlete needs while maintaining team dynamics, and the critical role parents play in supporting their children emotionally during their sports journey.

]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0700 Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy 2671 In this episode, Jessica Colucci and Steven Neer discuss the growing popularity of girls' flag football, particularly in New Jersey, where it will soon become a varsity sport. They explore various themes, including coaching dynamics, gender perspectives, the importance of communication, and the role of social media in young athletes' lives. The conversation emphasizes the need for coaches to balance toughness with support, accommodate individual athlete needs while maintaining team dynamics, and the critical role parents play in supporting their children emotionally during their sports journey.

]]> Girls Flag Football, Coaching Dynamics, Gender Perspectives, Communication, Parental Support, Emotional Responses, Social Media, Youth Sports, Athlete Development, Team Dynamics No From Athletes to Therapists 1 1 2 2 From Athletes to Therapists full 61dc23f0-eadc-41d5-a16a-2f85edac7a88 https://share.transistor.fm/s/dfd2d0cc In this episode, Jessica and Stephen explore their athletic journeys, discussing the impact of injuries, the transition from traditional sports to CrossFit, and the importance of mental health in athletics. They share personal stories of growth, the challenges of balancing family life with competitive sports, and their aspirations to develop programs that support young athletes. The conversation emphasizes the significance of process over outcome and the need for healthy modeling for future generations.

]]> In this episode, Jessica and Stephen explore their athletic journeys, discussing the impact of injuries, the transition from traditional sports to CrossFit, and the importance of mental health in athletics. They share personal stories of growth, the challenges of balancing family life with competitive sports, and their aspirations to develop programs that support young athletes. The conversation emphasizes the significance of process over outcome and the need for healthy modeling for future generations.

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:47:44 -0700 Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy 4130 In this episode, Jessica and Stephen explore their athletic journeys, discussing the impact of injuries, the transition from traditional sports to CrossFit, and the importance of mental health in athletics. They share personal stories of growth, the challenges of balancing family life with competitive sports, and their aspirations to develop programs that support young athletes. The conversation emphasizes the significance of process over outcome and the need for healthy modeling for future generations.

]]> athletics, mental health, CrossFit, sports injuries, personal growth, coaching, athlete identity, family, competitive sports, youth sports No The Role of Therapy in Athletic Performance 1 1 1 1 The Role of Therapy in Athletic Performance full e0c7c505-1318-4d57-ba9e-156eb1a72c30 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8711c685 In this inaugural episode of 'The Athlete Couch,' hosts Jess and Steve explore the intersection of mental health and sports, particularly focusing on youth athletes. They introduce Jessica Colucci, a licensed professional counselor and co-director of the Sport Mental Health Performance Program at the Lucan Center. The conversation delves into Jessica's professional journey, her experiences as a therapist, and her passion for helping young athletes navigate mental health challenges. The episode also highlights the importance of emotional support in sports and the role of therapy in enhancing performance. In this conversation, the speaker reflects on their journey as a swimmer, discussing the pressures of competition, the importance of community and support, and the challenges faced during their freshman year of college. They emphasize the significance of resilience, mental performance, and the transition from being an athlete to a therapist, highlighting the lessons learned throughout their experiences in sports.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health in Sports

05:38 The Journey to Becoming a Therapist

13:12 Child Life Specialist Role and Impact

18:24 Working with Vulnerable Populations

28:28 Navigating Pressure and Expectations in Swimming

34:35 The Importance of Team and Community in Sports

39:54 Overcoming Adversity: The Freshman Year Struggles

45:35 The Journey of a Determined Athlete

51:48 Reflections on Identity and Transitioning from Athlete to Therapist

]]> In this inaugural episode of 'The Athlete Couch,' hosts Jess and Steve explore the intersection of mental health and sports, particularly focusing on youth athletes. They introduce Jessica Colucci, a licensed professional counselor and co-director of the Sport Mental Health Performance Program at the Lucan Center. The conversation delves into Jessica's professional journey, her experiences as a therapist, and her passion for helping young athletes navigate mental health challenges. The episode also highlights the importance of emotional support in sports and the role of therapy in enhancing performance. In this conversation, the speaker reflects on their journey as a swimmer, discussing the pressures of competition, the importance of community and support, and the challenges faced during their freshman year of college. They emphasize the significance of resilience, mental performance, and the transition from being an athlete to a therapist, highlighting the lessons learned throughout their experiences in sports.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health in Sports

05:38 The Journey to Becoming a Therapist

13:12 Child Life Specialist Role and Impact

18:24 Working with Vulnerable Populations

28:28 Navigating Pressure and Expectations in Swimming

34:35 The Importance of Team and Community in Sports

39:54 Overcoming Adversity: The Freshman Year Struggles

45:35 The Journey of a Determined Athlete

51:48 Reflections on Identity and Transitioning from Athlete to Therapist

]]> Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:54:30 -0700 Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy Jessica Colucci, LPC, and Stephen Neer, LPC | Lukin Center for Psychotherapy 3209 In this inaugural episode of 'The Athlete Couch,' hosts Jess and Steve explore the intersection of mental health and sports, particularly focusing on youth athletes. They introduce Jessica Colucci, a licensed professional counselor and co-director of the Sport Mental Health Performance Program at the Lucan Center. The conversation delves into Jessica's professional journey, her experiences as a therapist, and her passion for helping young athletes navigate mental health challenges. The episode also highlights the importance of emotional support in sports and the role of therapy in enhancing performance. In this conversation, the speaker reflects on their journey as a swimmer, discussing the pressures of competition, the importance of community and support, and the challenges faced during their freshman year of college. They emphasize the significance of resilience, mental performance, and the transition from being an athlete to a therapist, highlighting the lessons learned throughout their experiences in sports.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health in Sports

05:38 The Journey to Becoming a Therapist

13:12 Child Life Specialist Role and Impact

18:24 Working with Vulnerable Populations

28:28 Navigating Pressure and Expectations in Swimming

34:35 The Importance of Team and Community in Sports

39:54 Overcoming Adversity: The Freshman Year Struggles

45:35 The Journey of a Determined Athlete

51:48 Reflections on Identity and Transitioning from Athlete to Therapist

]]> mental health, athletes, youth athletes, sports psychology, therapy, counseling, performance, trauma, coaching, emotional support, swimming, athlete mindset, college sports, mental performance, resilience, team dynamics, overcoming adversity, identity, training, community No