Sports Psychiatry
In 2020 I completed an additional study programme in sports psychiatry and was conferred with a certificate. The programme has been developed by U.S. sports psychiatrists and included mandatory practice as well as a mentorship programme.
Athletes lack emotional immunity to psychological problems or mental disorders just like any of us. Despite their outward appearance of health, they suffer from a wide range of mental disorders from depression and anxiety to eating disorders and addictions. The right knowledge and support can help athletes achieve better results in their sport, understand themselves better and maintain emotional stability which is critical in professional sports.
Why sports psychiatry? Sports play an important role in the personal growth of an individual. For me, it was DanceSport. I spent a great deal of my youth pursuing dance professionally before I chose medicine as my career path. Sports psychiatry allows me not only to combine my psychiatric knowledge with my knowledge in psychotherapy but also to incorporate my specific expertise in sports psychiatry as well as my personal experience in professional sports. The desire to help athletes to better understand themselves, to recognise their feelings and emotions, to express and manage them, to calm their minds, and to prepare themselves for the ‘fight’ ahead is the main reason for my decision to work in this field.
Fields of counselling:
Fluctuations in motivation
Mood swings
Emotional instability
Stress and stress management
Anxiety and fear
Depressive states
Overtraining syndrome
Eating disorders
Sleep disorders
Winning and losing
Goal setting and pursuit of goals
Use of psychoactive drugs
Team/couple relationships
Experience and publications:
Consistent work with Olympic athletes.
Consistent work with DanceSport athletes, preparing for Lithuanian and World Championships and other competitions.
Colaboration with World DanceSport Federation (LSSF and WDSF).
Lecturing at international WDSF judges' congresses.