Psychology for High Performers
Practical and effective psychological services for professional athletes, physicians, artists, executives and those dealing with the stresses of high-pressure work environments.
Dr. Kingsbury’s
Therapeutic Approach
My main therapeutic approach integrates Existential Psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Schema Therapy. My love of coaching and experience working in high-performance environments contributes heavily to the style of work with any individual.
Most problems we face in life are complex and not easily captured into clean models of function vs. dysfunction, healthy vs. not-healthy, etc. Every individual has their own experiences, developmental history, and unique ways of learning and understanding themselves and the world around them.
Therapy is not a passive process and is not designed around problem-solving, or advice giving. A curious, strengths-based approach is nurtured in a caring, light-hearted, and hopeful manner. Assessment of well-being is an on-going process, and therapeutic goals are created and updated regularly depending on progress, volume of work, and engagement. Throughout the process, clients will learn how to identity emotional states, think about situations in a deeper, more abstract way, and enhance their sense of autonomy, tolerance of unpleasant experience, and beliefs in their ability to make meaningful changes.
Engagement in the experience of growth comes through learning how to recognize the varying nature of emotions, how they are experienced in the body, and how past experience largely contributes to our current methods of coping.
Psychology of Sport, Creativity and High-performance
I have a unique interest in working with professional athletes, physicians, creative artists and other professionals in demanding roles. A number of common traits are often associated with “success” in athletics and professional pursuits – high standards, tolerance of pain/discomfort, managing multiple competing demands on time, coping with setbacks, and a relentless drive to improve. However, once a high-performing individual is immersed in their path, a completely different set of skills is often required to maintain longevity, avoid burnout, and manage the increased responsibility and attention that comes with their position.