Mental Skills Training for Athletes & Performers in Brookline, MA

Marla Zucker, Ph.D., CMPC

What is a Sport Psychologist?

As a Sport and Performance Psychologist, I train athletes and other performers to develop the mental toughness and competitive edge needed to excel in their chosen fields. My background as a Psychologist gives me the tools to help you unleash your greatest potential both in performing and in living. My practice is based in Massachusetts at Boston Sport & Performance Psychology, but all services are offered remotely. I work with athletes at every level and across sports, as well as non-athlete performers such as executives/businesspeople, musicians, performing artists, and speakers/actors.

Throughout my childhood I participated in competitive tennis. As an adult, I have become hooked on cycling, participating in many Century rides across the U.S. and serving as a mentor for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. Cycling then led to triathlons. Though my goal will never be to break records (except my own), fitness and sports bring joy, energy, and fun to my life and provide an outlet for my competitive spirit.

Dr. Zucker biking through the Canadian Rockies — Dr. Marla Zucker, avid cyclist, biking in the Rocky Mountains

THE BSPP TEAM OF MENTAL PERFORMANCE CONSULTANTS:

Olivia Wyatt, MA, CMPC

Olivia (she/her) is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) who aims to work alongside athletes, performers, business professionals, and coaches to support their pursuit of performance excellence. She has worked in a variety of sports from youth to Olympic levels and has experience working with performing artists, coaches, directors, corporations, and leadership development. Olivia received her B.S. in Psychology and Economics from Tufts University and her M.A. in Sport & Performance Psychology from the University of Denver. She is an active member of both the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 and serves as a member of the executive committee for the latter. Olivia is also an advanced doctoral student pursuing her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and Applied Human Development. Her research focuses on two areas: (a) trauma-informed practices for coaches and (b) the intersections of identity, bullying, and mental health in adolescents. She is concurrently working as a mental health therapist at Harvard University.

Olivia grew up playing soccer and was a competitive dancer; today, she continues to tap dance while also taking kickboxing, yoga, and barre classes. Olivia offers Mental Performance Consulting through BSPP.

Olivia Wyatt, MA, CMPC

Emily Braunewell, Ed.M., CMPC

Emily (she/her) is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) who works with performers of all kinds, to assist them in achieving their performance goals. In her practice thus far she has gained experience working with athletes, teams, artists, and professionals of various levels and expertise. Emily attended the University of Richmond for her B.A. in Psychology and completed her Master’s of Education in Counseling with a concentration in Sport and Performance Psychology at Boston University. She is currently an active member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and is working toward her licensure in mental health counseling with specialties in trauma and LGBTQIA+ populations. Emily participated in a variety of sports growing up including soccer, softball, and equitation, and played field hockey at the Division I level during her undergraduate career. Emily offers Mental Performance Consulting through BSPP.

Emily Braunewell, Ed.M., CMPC

Credentials

Marla Zucker, Ph.D., CMPC, Licensed Psychologist-Health Services Provider

I completed my undergraduate degree at Brown University, doctorate at Georgia State University, and sport psychology graduate work at Boston University. I have worked in the field for over 20 years. I have served on faculty at the Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, where I taught and supervised Master’s and Doctoral students in the Sport Psychology specialization of the Counseling Psychology program. I also provide professional mentoring and consultation to students and other mental health professionals across clinical and sport psychology disciplines.

I am a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and am listed on the U.S. Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. Licensed as a psychologist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am a member of the American Psychological Association and its Division 47, Exercise and Sport Psychology. I have authored numerous publications, lectured at universities, hospitals and medical school programs, and presented my work at local, national, and international conferences and trainings.

In addition to my sport psychology background, I have expertise in trauma, including childhood abuse and neglect, having specialized in trauma treatment, provided training and consultation to other professionals in the field of traumatic stress, and conducted research on cutting-edge trauma treatments for more than 10 years. Prior to joining Boston University, I served as Program and Clinical Director at the Trauma Center and the Metrowest Behavioral Health Center at Justice Resource Institute. I am trained in EMDR and Critical Incident Stress Management. Check out the book I co-authored, “Treating Adult Survivors of Emotional Abuse and Neglect: Component-based Psychotherapy” (Guilford Press, 2018).