Sue Sugarman, LCSW Raising Happy, Healthy, Resilient Kids

Sue Sugarman, LCSW Raising Happy, Healthy, Resilient Kids Sue Sugarman is an NYC-based child and adolescent therapist, lecturer and consultant for parents, co She is available for speaking engagements.

Sue Sugarman, LCSW, is therapist, consultant and performance coach. A therapist for over 20 years, Sue is a New Yorker, a mother, and an athlete. She believes that resiliency is a key coping skill that can be learned and mastered. Sue works with child and teen athletes and performers, and runs workshops for parents and coaches.

Phrases like "toughen up" or "no pain, no gain" don’t actually serve our youth. Instead, we must focus on fostering emot...
08/27/2025

Phrases like "toughen up" or "no pain, no gain" don’t actually serve our youth.

Instead, we must focus on fostering emotional resilience. It is essential that our daughters learn to embrace their emotions rather than suppress them.

This skill is crucial for their success, as it enables them to recover from setbacks, manage pressure effectively, and truly enjoy their sports experience.

By equipping them with the tools to navigate their feelings, we empower them to thrive both on and off the field. Let's encourage emotional growth and resilience in our young athletes for a brighter future.

“Mental health is like a muscle. Just like we physically train and condition our muscles, it’s also important to practic...
08/25/2025

“Mental health is like a muscle. Just like we physically train and condition our muscles, it’s also important to practice and develop these mental skills. The more you practice them, the stronger and more effective they become."

Rachel Vanderkruik, PhD Psychologist

Strength, dexterity, coordination- your athlete spends hours working on these skills, but they aren't the only ones they...
08/21/2025

Strength, dexterity, coordination- your athlete spends hours working on these skills, but they aren't the only ones they’ll need to be a successful athlete.

Emotional intelligence is a skill that can be honed like any other, and it will help your athlete go far- but while all athletes train on the field and at the gym, far too few of them are given the time and structure to practice their emotional skills.

Therapy provides the time, structure and guidance for your athlete to hone their emotional skills, just like they practice out on the field.

“I can only control my performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day”Michael Phelps. “I can o...
08/18/2025

“I can only control my performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day”

Michael Phelps.

“I can only control my performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.” - Michael Phelps 🌟

The legendary Olympian reminds us that success isn't just about the end result; it’s about the dedication we put into our journey. Focusing on the process, rather than merely the outcome, can lead to greater fulfillment and achievement. 🏊‍♂️💪

Let’s embrace the power of mental conditioning and push ourselves to be the best we can be! Remember, every effort counts. 💙


5 Things to do…when your athlete is being their own worst criticValidate their feelingsUse active listeningAvoid trying ...
08/14/2025

5 Things to do…when your athlete is being their own worst critic
Validate their feelings
Use active listening
Avoid trying to fix things yet
Let them know they are not alone- you're here for them

It's hard to watch when your athlete is beating themselves up- and it can be even harder to know what to say

Use these practical tips for how to support your athlete the next time they are caught in a slump or an anxiety spiral.

Showing up for them in these moments matters more than you think- it's the key to making sure they know who they can turn to when things get heavy. You can’t fix everything for them- but you can help them hold the weight.

The secret to raising a confident athlete…..is YOUThe answer is NOT more pressure, more training, or telling them to get...
08/11/2025

The secret to raising a confident athlete…..is YOU

The answer is NOT more pressure, more training, or telling them to get their head in the game.

Its YOU
How you show up.
How you react.
How you treat them- win, lose or draw.

Confidence comes from certainty- so make sure they know that you support them 100% and they’ll carry that confidence onto the field

If you are struggling with how to “coach” and support your athlete the way they need, book a session now

You know what they say, practice is the key to success- Did you know your athlete isn’t the only one who can benefit fro...
08/06/2025

You know what they say, practice is the key to success- Did you know your athlete isn’t the only one who can benefit from mental training?

Emotional support is hard work- here’s how you can build your emotional capacity

Picture the outcome of the game- Face your anxiety, your fear, excitement
Plan how you want to feel about your athlete’s performance, no matter the outcome
Visualize the feelings, embody, and breathe through them-

That way, when the moment comes,
You know how to react
What to say
But more than that, practicing these hard feeling will make them easier to control in the moment

Training isn't just for your athlete
Its for you too

Do these signs resonate with you? In our busy world, its common to experience burnout, especially for athletes who are m...
08/04/2025

Do these signs resonate with you? In our busy world, its common to experience burnout, especially for athletes who are managing training, competition and performance stress on top of day to day life.

The good news is, you're not alone. While it can feel overwhelming, I've helped many clients navigate their way through burnout to find balance and renewed energy. Looking for support in managing burnout? Let's talk about strategies that work for your unique situation.⁠

Building a sports culture that prioritizes athlete’s mental health is a team effort! You know its important, so how do y...
07/30/2025

Building a sports culture that prioritizes athlete’s mental health is a team effort! You know its important, so how do you put it into action? Swipe through for steps that parents, coaches, AND athletes can take!

Let’s create an environment where athletes can thrive, not just survive. 🧠💪

Thousands of hours of training go in to making that one perfect shot. They see: ⁠the perfect season⁠l, the scholarships,...
07/28/2025

Thousands of hours of training go in to making that one perfect shot. They see: ⁠
the perfect season⁠l, the scholarships, the highlight reel. ⁠

What they don't see is the work you’ve put in, the sacrifices you've made, the fear of letting people down, or the struggle to ask for help⁠

I want you to know: the invisible parts of your journey are just as valid as the visible ones. Your mental health isn't secondary to your athletic performance - it's the foundation of it. Let's make the unseen seen. ⁠

Hey athletes, we spend so much time training hard, perfecting our skills, and pushing our limits. But how often do we fo...
07/23/2025

Hey athletes, we spend so much time training hard, perfecting our skills, and pushing our limits. But how often do we focus on our mental game? How do we tackle challenges and keep our emotions in check?

Skiing legend put it so well. Just like we schedule regular check-ups for our physical health, our mental well-being deserves the same attention and care.

Your mental health isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity 🧠✨

Normalize therapy. Normalize mental health check-ins. Normalize taking care of your whole self. 🙌 Talk with a friend about it today!

As a psychotherapist working with student-athletes and their families, I've seen firsthand the intense pressures on our ...
07/21/2025

As a psychotherapist working with student-athletes and their families, I've seen firsthand the intense pressures on our young athletes. It's time we bring mental health out of the shadows and on to center field.⁠

Parents, coaches, athletes: We're all on the same team regarding mental health. How are you promoting well-being in your sports community? ⁠

Remember, seeking help isn't a sign of weakness; it takes courage. Together, we can change the game for student-athlete mental health! 💪🏅⁠

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241 West 86th Street, Suite 1D
New York, NY
10024

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