Mental Health in High Performance: Dr. Hillary Cauthen on Trauma, Athletic Identity & Creating Systemic Change in Sports

Mental Health in High Performance: Dr. Hillary Cauthen on Trauma, Athletic Identity & Creating Systemic Change in Sports

In this episode of Authentic Achievements, we’re joined by Dr. Hillary Cauthen — clinical sport psychologist, founder of Texas Optimal Performance & Psychological Services (TXOPPS), and President-Elect of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

A former Division I track athlete turned mental health advocate, Dr. Cauthen shares how her personal experiences in elite athletics led her to champion mental wellness for athletes, parents, and organisations. She brings deep insight into how trauma, identity, and pressure intersect in sport — and how we can create lasting change from the inside out.

We explore her groundbreaking book Hello Trauma: Our Invisible Teammate, how she balances science with compassion, and the powerful strategies she teaches high performers to build resilience and pursue excellence holistically.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

• 🧠 The mental health challenges elite athletes face — and how to support them

• 📚 What inspired Hello Trauma: Our Invisible Teammate and why it matters now more than ever

• 🏃‍♀️ How Hillary’s athletic past fuels her professional mission

• 🌱 Practical advice for young athletes on balancing pressure with self-care

• 🔄 Why we must build the whole person, not just the performer

• 🔥 The value of “chasing failure” as a growth mindset strategy

👤 About Dr. Hillary Cauthen:

Dr. Hillary Cauthen is a licensed clinical sport psychologist and founder of Texas Optimal Performance & Psychological Services, where she leads a team dedicated to mental performance and wellness. Her clients include professional teams like Austin FC and the San Antonio Spurs, and she is also co-developing educational programs and analytics platforms for long-term impact in sport.

As the President-Elect of AASP, Dr. Cauthen is a fierce advocate for shifting the conversation around athlete mental health — helping organisations prioritise the person behind the performance.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Cauthen:

• 🌐 Website: www.txopps.com

• 📸 Instagram: @drcmindset

• 💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Hillary Cauthen

⏱️ Episode Highlights & Mentions:

• (00:24:50) Building the whole person — identity beyond the sport

• (00:25:09) Advice to her younger self: take risks, pursue purpose

• (00:26:32) “Chasing failure” — how setbacks fuel success and growth

If you’re a parent, coach, or athlete looking to prioritise mental well-being, grab a copy of Hello Trauma: Our Invisible Teammate and visit TXOPPS for more resources.

🎧 Tune in now for this important conversation on integrating mental health into the foundation of athletic success.

✅ Call to Action:

💬 Enjoyed this episode? Like, subscribe, and leave a written review on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. Your support helps us bring more voices and tools for authentic achievement.