Competitors
Academics
Leaders
Performers
When Performance Pressure
Starts Taking a Toll
The pressure to perform keeps mounting. Whether it’s game day, exam week, or a board meeting — the stakes feel paralyzing instead of motivating.
You’ve achieved what you were “supposed to,” but something feels off. The goals that used to light you up now feel hollow or unclear.
You see your child struggling under pressure and want to help — but aren’t sure how. Our parent coaching gives you the tools to support them without adding to the stress.
Signs It Might Be
Time to Talk
- Anxiety spikes before big moments instead of focus
- You’re achieving, but it never feels like enough
- Your child is struggling and you don’t know how to help without adding pressure
- Rest feels impossible — the mind won’t turn off
- The love for the game, the work, or the craft is fading
- Family dynamics are strained by performance expectations
A quick, confidential self-assessment to help you understand where you are — and what might help.
Start the Quiz →Your Path Forward
A quick self-assessment to help you identify what you’re experiencing and what kind of support fits.
A no-pressure introductory session to talk through your goals, your challenges, and what working together looks like.
We create a personalized plan — including parent coaching when families are involved — so everyone around the performer is aligned and supportive.
With ongoing support, you’ll develop the mental tools to thrive under pressure and reconnect with purpose.
The SAAP Assessment
Every SAAP engagement begins with a comprehensive assessment using industry-standard clinical instruments. This gives us — and you — a clear, measurable picture of where things stand.
Sport Anxiety Scale (SAS-2) — measures cognitive, somatic, and concentration-disruption anxiety in competitive settings.
Mental Toughness Index (MTI) — evaluates resilience, confidence, constancy, and control under pressure.
Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) — tracks emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced accomplishment, and sport devaluation.
PHQ-9 & GAD-7 — gold-standard screening for depression and generalized anxiety, used across clinical and sports psychology.
State Sport Confidence Inventory (SSCI) — measures belief in one’s ability to perform successfully in the moment.
Reassessment at key milestones — so you can see measurable progress and adjust the plan as you grow.
These aren’t generic questionnaires. They’re the same tools used by sports psychologists, NCAA programs, and elite performance clinics — adapted for our clinical setting.
We Don’t Just Stay in the Office.
At key points in your SAAP journey, we go where you perform. We observe you in your environment — on the field, on the court, at practice — to see what the office can’t show us.
Field observation lets us connect the dots between what you describe in session and what actually happens under pressure. It’s how we fine-tune your plan with real-world data — not just self-report.
What to Expect, Step by Step
- Week 1Self-Assessment & Discovery
Take our quick performance quiz to identify what you’re experiencing. Then schedule a free introductory call so we can understand your goals and match you with the right therapist.
Quiz + Intro Call - Weeks 2–3Deep-Dive Intake & Goal Setting
Your first full sessions focus on understanding your history, your pressures, and what success looks like. For younger performers, we include a parent intake to align the whole support system from day one.
1–2 Sessions - Weeks 4–10Active Skill Building
Weekly sessions for the performer, plus periodic parent coaching sessions to equip families with the right language, boundaries, and support strategies. Real tools everyone can use immediately.
Weekly Sessions - Weeks 10–16Integration & Real-World Application
You’ll start applying what you’ve learned in high-stakes moments. Sessions shift toward fine-tuning your approach, troubleshooting setbacks, and reinforcing progress.
Bi-Weekly Sessions - OngoingSustained Performance & Maintenance
You graduate to maintenance mode — check-ins as needed for the performer and the family. New season, new pressures, new transitions? We’re always here when you need us.
As Needed
Behind every great performer is a support system that gets it right. We help build that system — for the athlete, the student, and the family.
Meet Your SAAP Clinician
Raychelle Santos specializes in sports performance, anxiety, and life transitions for teens, adults, and couples. She gets what it’s like to feel the pressure to perform — and she knows how to help you channel it.
Whether you’re an athlete navigating competition stress, a parent trying to support without adding pressure, or a professional who feels stuck — Raychelle builds a personalized plan that works for your whole system.
Specialties: Sports Performance • Anxiety • Depression • Life Transitions • Career Guidance • Parent Coaching • Couples Therapy
Ready to Perform at Your Best?
Whether you’re the performer or the parent behind them, we’re here. Take the quiz or schedule a consultation — the first step is the hardest one.
Or call (703) 724-0200
Serving Ashburn, Leesburg, Sterling & Loudoun County, Virginia
