Even Olympians Need Therapy
How Paris 2024 is Shattering Mental Health Stigmas
Let’s be honest. When you think of Olympians, what comes to mind? Perfectly sculpted athletes, grueling hours of training, gold medals? Sure. But therapy sessions? Probably not. Yet, at the Paris 2024 Olympics, some of the world’s greatest athletes, like Simone Biles, have been refreshingly open about their mental health journeys, including the therapy that helped them get there. If you’ve ever wondered whether therapy is for you, let’s look at how these top-tier athletes are breaking the mold—because if Olympians can go to therapy, so can you.
Visualizing Success: It’s More Than Just Medals
Here’s the thing—athletes have been talking about the power of visualization for years. They picture the perfect routine, the flawless performance, the moment they cross the finish line first. But visualization isn’t just about dreaming of gold; it’s about facing what’s holding you back. In therapy, especially with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), visualization is a key tool. It’s not about avoiding reality; it’s about confronting those negative self-beliefs and past traumas head-on, and reimagining a future where you’re no longer weighed down by them.
Simone Biles has shown us that being the best doesn’t mean being invincible. It means being human. And part of being human is dealing with doubt, fear, and anxiety—things that don’t just disappear because you’re talented. That’s where therapy comes in. With tools like EMDR, athletes can visualize a different way forward, where their worth isn’t tied to medals but to their own inner resilience and strength, just as Biles has demonstrated.
Gold Medals and Mental Health: A New Standard in Sports
The fact that gymnasts like Biles are winning gold while openly prioritizing their mental health is nothing short of revolutionary. Let’s face it—the old narrative that you have to suffer in silence to be the best is outdated and, frankly, damaging. These athletes are proving that you can be at the top of your game and still say, “You know what? My mental health matters.”
This is huge, not just for sports, but for anyone who’s ever felt like they needed to push through pain to succeed. The message is clear: Taking care of your mental health doesn’t make you weak—it makes you unstoppable. And if the best athletes in the world are doing it, what’s stopping you?
Taking the Next Step
If there’s one thing to take away from the Paris 2024 Olympics, it’s this: Prioritizing your mental health doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re strong enough to know you deserve support. Whether you’re chasing gold or just trying to get through the day, Moments Counseling offers services that can help you get there.
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