Matthew Love, Psy.D

The awareness of sports related concussions has increased dramatically in recent years. A part from the initial "bell ringing" physical symptoms such as headaches, sensitivity to light, and fatigue can hinder an athlete's confidence in returning-to-play. Often the psychological impact of concussions go largely unnoticed because the physical symptoms are more apparent. Here is a great article published by the NCAA that talks about the emotional reactions to a concussion. Click

If you have ever experienced a concussion no doubt you have been told to got into a "shut down" period. But how long is too long? An article published in February of 2015, by Pediatrics, the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tackled this question. The article titled Benefits of Strict Rest After Acute Concussion: A Randomized Controlled Study compared the benefits of Strict Rest (i.e., 5 days of no activity) to Usual Care (1-2 days of no activity with a

It seems like mindfulness meditation is everywhere and for good reason. Mindfulness can help you focus on the present moment by reducing anxiety and increasing focus. The practice of mindfulness is also extremely helpful for those experiencing distress due to depression, anxiety, trauma, or substance use. In addition to assisting in the treatment of the above mentioned conditions and subsequent symptoms, mindfulness meditation can benefit athletes who experience performance a

Relaxation response training, such as yoga, meditation, or prayer was studied at the Institute for Technology Assessment and the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The Investigators found individuals who engaged in the above mentioned activities used fewer health care services in one year when compared to their use the prior year. For the full article on Medical News Today follow this ink. http://www.medicalnewstoday.c

This is a very interesting article published by Medical News Today concerning concussion-like symptoms in uninjured athletes. Grant Iverson, Ph.D conducted a study at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA where he examined data from 30,000 uninjured adolescent patients who reported concussion-like symptoms in the absence of a recent concussion. According to the article on Medical News Today pre-exisiting psychiatric and developmental issues played a significant role in the lev

Many times athletes are viewed as "invincible." We as spectators may hear about an athlete who has been charged with a DUI or anger issues and immediately chastise them for poor decisions. Here is a great article posted on the BBC about Clarke Carlisle who talks about his struggle with depression. Click Here for the full article

Yesterday the Fairfield community experienced a traumatic event. Thankfully no one was physically hurt and all members of the Fairfield Public School community returned home safely. Even though no physical injuries were reported, this life threatening experience can trigger a traumatic reaction. Over the next few days you may notice your child exhibit an increase of anxiety, irritability, or difficulty sleeping. The reason for such a reaction is due to "fight-flight-or-freeze

When an athlete takes the field for the first time he or she adopts the identity of an athlete. Much of the athlete's self-worth is dependent upon their performance on the field. Those who excel athletically develop a strong attachment to their athlete identity. Athlete's are taught that they are "only as good as their last competition." As a result, athletes are objectified based upon their performance and not who they are as a human being. The more the athlete bases their

Here is a great article about how developing realistic academic goals for your child is more effective than "Aiming too high." Click Here to read more

Here is a great article about how the brain processes trauma. Click Here to read more