Performing Arts Psychology

Performing artists are tasked with enriching otherwise mundane moments with beauty, meaning, and power. Such artists are immersed in singular pursuits with little room for error. The lifestyle is a combination of craft, calling and livelihood.

Performers may work with Dr. Rowan to clearly understand and develop actionable paths through artist-specific dilemmas and struggles. Performing artists may work with Dr. Rowan to analyze their training history and current rehearsal approach and develop a repertoire of solutions to creative blocks and practice inefficiencies.

Dr. Rowan uses Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement techniques to support performance development. She has experience working with a variety of performers including opera singers, professional dancers, actors, circus artists, punk rock musicians, and musical theatre artists. She also works with fine artists.

Athlete Mental Health and Performance Enhancement

Athletes push themselves to set new records as to what is humanly possible. The physical achievements of this career path require unwavering grit, focus, and tenacity. Many athletes seek mental skills training and psychotherapy to support these endeavors.

Sometimes, athletes reach out to a psychologist proactively with the goal of enhancing performance. An athlete may also seek mental tools to support his goal of advancing a personal record or winning a spot on a desirable team. Team culture itself, for better or worse, can alter an athlete’s mentality and drive. Transitions can be particularly difficult. For professional and college athletes, new public recognition can come with unexpected complications. Dr. Rowan works with athletes to help them resolve conflicts they may have with coaches, teammates and transitions.

Athletes’ intensive training regimens, competition among peers, concerns of “making weight,” and high levels of public attention on the physical body can lead to patterns of disordered eating, poor body image, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Please see more on Dr. Rowan’s approach to working with eating disorders on her Clinical Psychology page.

Dr. Rowan has clinical experience with high level athletes pursuing competitive ice skating, soccer, diving, gymnastics, basketball, rowing, track and field, and martial arts. Some of these athletes are on nationally competitive youth sport teams. Others are varsity and professional. Others still are not actively competing but are meaningfully working towards personal athletic achievements.