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    • Finding Your Wolf with Dr. Heather Larkin

    Guest: Dr. Heather Larkin, Sports Psychologist

    Hosts: Dr. Mark Allen & Dr. Tommy Horn

    Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (U.S.).

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    AI SUMMARY

    Discover how to transform paralyzing perfectionism into peak performance by tapping into your "inner wolf" and reclaiming the joy of competition. In this episode, Dr. Heather Larkin joins the team to share actionable strategies for building mental resilience and authentic motivation, making it an essential guide for anyone looking to protect young athletes from burnout while elevating their game.

    Episode Overview

    Athlete burnout, perfectionism, and the loss of joy are some of the biggest mental health threats facing young athletes today. In this episode of the Peak Sports Psychiatry Podcast, Drs. Mark Allen and Tommy Horn sit down with sports psychologist Dr. Heather Larkin to explore the intersection of athlete mental health and athletic performance. Using her 'find your wolf' metaphor, Heather unpacks where authentic motivation comes from, why perfectionism quietly undermines performance, and how mental resilience can be trained like a physical skill. A must-listen for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to build healthy competitive mindsets and protect young athletes from burnout.

    Key Takeaways

  • • Find Your Inner Wolf: True motivation comes from within, not from external validation or pressure.
  • • Perfectionism Can Be Paralyzing: The pursuit of perfection often undermines performance and mental health.
  • • Joy is Essential: Athletes perform best when they're connected to the joy of their sport.
  • • Mental Resilience is Trainable: Just like physical skills, mental toughness can be developed through practice.
  • • Authenticity Enhances Performance: Being true to yourself allows you to perform at your highest level.

    • Show Notes

    About Dr. Heather Larkin

    Dr. Heather Larkin is Sports Psychologist.

    Topics Discussed

  • • The "wolf" metaphor and finding inner strength
  • • Perfectionism in young athletes
  • • The role of joy in athletic performance
  • • Building authentic confidence
  • • Mental resilience training techniques
  • • Balancing external pressure with internal motivation
  • • Reconnecting with why you play

    • Resources Mentioned

  • • Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)
  • • Building Mental Resilience in Athletes
  • • Understanding Perfectionism in Athletes

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