Alexandra Brown, LCSW

For over a decade, I have worked with high-achievers who are masters of their craft, yet find themselves navigating intense internal pressure.

In the elite arena, the focus is almost always on the physical. However, the psychological reality is that high-stakes environments can lead to significant clinical challenges. I provide specialized mental health support to help athletes and their parents navigate the specific pathologies that arise in this lifestyle, from performance-induced anxiety to the systemic strain on the family.

The Perspective of a Parent

My work is built on ten years of clinical experience, but it is also informed by my daily life. As a parent of four competitive children, I understand the specific landscape of the high-performance family. I know the tension of the car ride home, the pressure of recruitment, and the difficulty of keeping sport in its proper perspective. I don’t just understand these dynamics as a therapist; I understand them as a parent who lives in this environment every day.

The Clinical Focus

I move beyond traditional talk therapy to provide targeted mental health interventions:

• Clinical Anxiety & Performance Blocks: Using EMDR to treat the physiological roots of performance anxiety, "the yips," and the trauma that often follows career-altering injuries.

• Depression & Identity Decoupling: Addressing the clinical depression that can occur when an athlete’s self-worth is entirely fused with their achievement. I help clients build a resilient identity that exists outside of the scoreboard.

• The Athlete-Parent Dynamic: Treating the systemic stress and communication breakdowns that occur when a household revolves around elite competition. We work to restore the parent-child bond as a source of support rather than a source of pressure.

• Burnout & Autonomic Regulation: Providing clinical tools to manage the chronic stress and exhaustion that come with high-level recruitment and year-round competition.

Professional, Confidential Support

You have spent years investing in your child’s athletic development. My role is to help you invest in the mental health and the family connection that will last long after their competitive career ends. Whether your athlete is struggling with their mental health or you are looking for a way to support them without adding to the pressure, we will work together to build a healthier foundation.

Professional Credentials & Expertise:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker: California #103037

1. Specialization: Performance-Based EMDR Protocol

2. Experience: 10+ Years working with High-Stakes Professionals

3. Setting: 100% Virtual, HIPAA-Compliant Practice serving California