In this episode of Athlete Mindset, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, sits down again with Dr. Kweku Amoasi, PsyD, CMPC — licensed psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant®, USOPC psychological services provider, and Chief Wellness Officer for Blaquesmith Consulting. This conversation explores the rising mental health challenges athletes face: suicide prevention, stigma, high-pressure environments, financial realities tied to NIL, and what it actually takes to support athletes across college and pro sports. Dr. Amoasi also reflects on his keynote at the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports Annual Conference and the powerful role social workers play across the sport ecosystem. Lisa brings her dual lens as a clinical social worker and Certified Mental Performance Consultant® — as well as her identity as a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the author of The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Life. Dr. Amoasi brings the energy and brotherhood of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Both Lisa and Dr. Amoasi are proud members of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Their ongoing dialogue centers on serving the whole athlete — and supporting the caregivers who support them. Episode Chapters 0:00 — SportsEpreneur & Athlete Mindset1:22 — Welcome + why this part two matters1:33 — Dr. Amoasi’s background & roles2:35 — Fraternity pride + community as healthy grounding3:18 — Athletes as “superhuman” & stigma of vulnerability4:50 — Why athletes choose silence6:52 — Medication vs self-medication in sport8:22 — “Mental spotters” + invisible weight9:24 — What parents and coaches can do early10:14 — Mental Health First Aid in athletic settings11:40 — Early intervention & normalizing tough conversations12:33 — The evolution of sport psychology (NBA, NCAA, USOPC)14:55 — Embedded counseling vs traditional campus services16:30 — Psychology becoming as normal as the training room17:49 — NIL pressures: identity, development, time, money18:54 — The “three things” rule for college athletes20:03 — NIL reshaping college sports entirely22:04 — Brain development + responsibility overload23:06 — Stress → risk behaviors24:17 — Reflections on the Alliance for Social Workers in Sport keynote26:26 — Why social workers are essential in sport29:28 — Multidisciplinary care in the athlete ecosystem31:04 — Loving the whole athlete33:02 — Advice to emerging sport psych + social work professionals35:47 — Ethics, boundaries, & trusted circles37:39 — Parallel process for clinicians supporting high-visibility athletes38:51 — Why every layer of the system needs support39:56 — Closing appreciation + reflections Episode Topics Suicide prevention and athlete vulnerabilityStigma, “superhuman” identity, and why athletes don’t speak upMental Health First Aid in sportsEvolution of sport psychology in NBA, NFL, NCAA, and USOPC spacesNIL pressures: performance, academics, money, identitySocial workers’ critical role in sportBalancing ethics, visibility, and careBuilding a trusted professional circleSupporting the whole athlete — and the whole ecosystemFeatured Links Alliance of Social Workers in Sportshttps://www.aswis.org/AASP – Association for Applied Sport Psychologyhttps://appliedsportpsych.org/The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Lifehttps://athmindset.com/workbookOmega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.https://oppf.org/Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.https://www.deltasigmatheta.org/Connect with Dr. Kweku Amoasi Licensed PsychologistCertified Mental Performance Consultant®Psychological Service Provider — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic CommitteeChief Wellness Officer — Blaquesmith Consulting | https://blaquesmith.com/Author, keynote speaker, mental health advocateProud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaquesmith/Connect with the host & podcast production team: Lisa Bonta Sumii: LinkedIn | InstagramSportsEpreneur: LinkedIn | XCredits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot If you or someone you know is struggling If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, please reach out for support: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text 988 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 International resources: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines You’re not alone, and support is available.
