Vanessa Batiste-Leal
I provide individual counseling that focuses on establishing goals and developing a plan to build sustainable practices for achieving peak performance in sports and in life. Sports counseling for mental health peak performance with a strength-based approach that assists athletes in enhancing mental strength and emotional regulation.
Sports counseling for mental health peak performance with a strength-based approach that assists the athletes in enhancing mental strength and emotional regulation.
Topics addressed: anxiety, depression, confidence, injury, focus, recruiting, motivation, relaxation, team roles, consistency, general emotional health, mindfulness, and goal setting. Changing behaviors and the perspective you have in your life doesn't mean you have to change who you are as a person.
First session
In the first session, it is important to build a therapeutic relationship. I work on getting to know the client as a whole person, not just their problem. It is critical to create a trusting relationship and have a non-judgmental conversation about what is going on in a client's life and what they envision for themselves in the first few sessions. I believe that people have the ability to build the life they want for themselves and can make the changes they want in their lives with guidance and support.
Strengths
I am a very transparent provider. I start the work early on and do not enable clients for what they want to hear. I will challenge clients for the change they are seeking. I am straightforward and caring towards my clients of all ages. I believe folks have skills and strengths that need to be discovered and directed for the quality of life we all deserve.
Ideal clients
Counseling for mental health peak performance. I specialize in counseling athletes at all levels - student-athletes, amateur/professional athletes, as well as former athletes, in balancing mind, body, and sport for optimal mental health and well-being. As well as anyone who is seeking to improve performance in their fields, such as business executives, medical professionals, actors, dancers, and more.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I believe that mental health for individuals deserves a holistic approach to treatment. I have gained experience working with various cultural backgrounds and the stigma that comes with mental health, as well as cognitive and physical impairments. Understanding those differences and being sensitive to others’ cultural norms when faced with trauma or setbacks is important. I have over nine years of experience working with the following techniques: person-centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, mindfulness, imagery interventions, cognitive reframing, and conducting assessments.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Services Offered and Clients Served: I come from a theoretical orientation of Person-Centered/Eclectic psychodynamic, and I primarily approach counseling from a client’s perspective. I work with clients as individuals. I see clients of all ages and cultural backgrounds keeping in mind that one size does not fit all.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I believe in determining alternative life choices through assessment of goal setting, teaching life skills, and placing individuals into a self-advocating goal setting. I work with individuals and use techniques that I often employ such as instruction and modeling of communication skills, cognitive reframing, and interactive assignments during and between sessions. Carrying out homework and practicing the application of techniques is often a vital part of the therapeutic process. The completion of homework is necessary for the client to get the most from the therapeutic experience.
Psychoanalytic
If necessary I intake a client's history, presenting concerns, and goals. This includes exploring childhood experiences, relationships, and recurrent life patterns. I create a safe and non-judgmental environment where the client feels comfortable sharing thoughts and emotions. I work with recurring themes and patterns that emerge in therapy to understand their origins and impact on current behavior.
Positive Psychology
Those who know their strengths and use them frequently tend to have more success in several areas. They feel happier, have better self-esteem, and are more likely to accomplish their goals. To use your strengths effectively, it's important to have a clear idea of what they are, and how they can be used. Some of your greatest strengths might be easy to recognize, while others go unnoticed because they feel ordinary to you (even if they aren't).
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 21942
- LouisianaLicense 7960
- New JerseyLicense 37PC01067600