Prioritizing mental health: UC hires first-ever director of sport psychology | Sports

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats’ athletic department is pushing mental health prioritization for their 450-furthermore pupil-athletes amid countrywide attention right after choosing the department’s initial-ever director of activity psychology.

Lenecia D. Nickell will be embracing the new position as she pivots from Cypress, Texas, where she ran her individual counseling observe and consulting service for 10 decades. 

Whilst at present pursuing her Ph.D. in counselor education and learning and supervision from Adams Point out University, Nickell’s M.A. in counseling from Sam Houston State is coupled with a B.S. in psychology from Texas A&M University. 

“Our No. 1 priority is supporting our student-athletes access their opportunity and including Lenecia to our crew puts us in a placement to deliver the required methods to keep them balanced, protected and effectively – on and off the field,” John Cunningham, Cincinnati’s director of athletics said. 

Nickell, a qualified mediator and father or mother facilitator, labored in non-gains and elementary college settings in Texas and California. At Young children Inc., Nickell served children, adolescents and households. 

Nickell will be overseeing all mental wellness treatment providers for Cincinnati’s college student-athletes. 

Cincinnati athletics at present has a University student-Athlete Assistance Company (SASS) office with a employees of 11, led by Dr. Joe Luckey. The addition of Nickell is seemingly a pivotal move for student-athlete properly-staying as the SASS’s present ambitions are concentrated on tutorial matters these types of as an athlete’s GPA’s and graduation charge. 

Two Cincinnati women’s basketball players spoke with The News Record in Tumble 2021 on the point out of psychological wellness for student-athletes at Cincinnati. 

With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic hampering scholar-athletes’ ordeals, as many outsiders can concur, mental health and fitness has increasingly been mentioned about athletes and the stigma surrounding it. 

Often, an athlete’s psychological health is negated for praise of their bodily wellness so they can place on a demonstrate in entrance of lovers. The pandemic has adjusted that. From countrywide stars like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles, athletes on the worldwide stage have taken a stand for psychological wellbeing turning out to be a priority in the sector. 

Nickell is seemingly Cincinnati’s response to giving the athletes an outlet, and a voice amid the busy life of getting a student-athlete.