Athlete Mental Health and Performance Optimization : The Optimum Performance Program for Sports

Athlete Mental Health and Performance Optimization: The Optimum Performance Program for Sports (TOPPS)introduces TOPPS, which provides structured protocols to assist with recruitment, engagement, screening, assessment and performance optimization. The book presents step-by-step instructional guidelines, real-world case examples, screening and assessment questionnaires, scoring instructions, intervention handouts and worksheets that complement intervention. TOPPS has demonstrated significantly improved relationships with teammates and coaches, decreased substance use and psychiatric symptoms, and decreased factors interfering with sport performance. These results have been sustained in follow-up and has been shown to have improved outcomes regardless of mental health diagnostic severity.

The Book's first three chapters introduce performance optimization orientation, theories and evidence supporting TOPPS, general assessment and intervention approaches, psychometrically-validated measures and strategies used to address culture, methods of establishing a culture of optimization and requisite infrastructure within the respective system, and therapeutic style, techniques and implementation strategies. Remaining chapters show how to implement TOPPS.

• Introduces TOPPS for athlete mental health and performance optimization
• Provides the evidence basis for TOPPS
• Explains step-by step implementation instructions
• Addresses recruitment, engagement, screening, assessment and performance optimization
• Details real-world case examples
• Includes intervention handouts and worksheets

Brad Donohue is a licensed clinical psychologist and Distinguished Alumni of Nova Southeastern University. He is a Distinguished Professor in the Psychology Department and Director of The Optimum Performance Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With a recent focus on optimization science, his applied research is chiefly focused on the scientific development, evaluation, and dissemination of optimization programs, including engagement, assessment, and intervention methods. He also oversees the delivery of mental wellness and performance-based services, including training initiatives that are focused on the optimization of performers in unique cultures with specialized skill sets. He is the author of more than 160 scientific manuscripts, has directed projects funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the United States. He has been invited to present applied research specific to TOPPS throughout Europe, Brazil, Canada and the United States, and is the recipient of various awards, including the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award, James Mikawa Award for Outstanding Contributions to Psychology Award, Donald Schmeidel Lifetime Service Award, and Barrick Distinguished Scholar Award. Specific to sports, he is a past national amateur light heavyweight boxing champion in the United States.

Joanne Perry, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist who serves as the Director of Orthopedic Psychology within the Novant Health Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute in Charlotte, NC. In her role at Novant Health, Dr. Perry, provides clinical and sport psychological services to orthopedic and sports medicine patients, while also overseeing program initiatives, research, and partnerships. Dr. Perry serves as the team psychologist for the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets, as well as the consulting sport psychologist for Queens University. Her clinical specialties broadly include athlete mental health and sport performance enhancement. Prior to her role at Novant Health, she worked as the sport psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she delivered clinical and sport psychological interventions to student-athletes. Dr. Perry completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University and attended Saint Louis University for both her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology. Following her graduate work, she completed a pre-doctoral internship at Northwestern University with a specialty focus in sport psychology. Dr. Perry has published on a variety of topics within the field of sport psychology, including studies that are explicitly relevant to TOPPS. She focuses on applied research.