Frequently Asked Questions

Both sports psychiatrists and psychologists can provide mental skills performance training and psychotherapy interventions to improve an athlete, performer, or C-suite executive's performance on the field or in the boardroom. However, sports psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD's) that are additionally trained to understand how medical conditions, injuries, and other mental health symptoms can affect performance. Psychiatrists, as MD's, have years of clinical training and practice in evaluating, diagnosing, and seeing mental health symptoms arise, from the most severe, acute symptoms presenting in the ER, to treating those symptoms over time until they go away. Sports psychiatrists are able to integrate both psychological and medical knowledge together to treat the athlete. Collaboration between both disciplines is frequent and necessary, depending on the athlete's needs.​

Sports psychiatrists have specialized training in treating athletes and performers with both mental performance skills, which general psychiatrists do not have. Sports psychiatrists are also trained to prescribe medications that have minimal side effects on athletic performance. They understand the lifestyle factors and pressures that go into intense training, achieving, and maintaining high performance.

Biologically, the human brain is generally not an "adult" brain until around 25 years old. Athletes during the college age years typically benefit more from a psychiatrist who is trained in both adult, and child and adolescent psychiatry as a result. If you have a provider who you like, however, no need to change, and finding someone you trust is the most important. ​

As athletes and performers reach higher and more elite levels of play, the more the game is about who can handle the stress and pressure of that level versus who is the most skilled or "wants" it the most. If you are reading this, then you are stronger than most, as you have the courage to take yourself to the next level. Just like you have trained your athletic skills, now is the time to train your brain, the organ in charge of those athletic skills, to better react to the elevated training and pressure. These new skills you learn will allow you to achieve optimal mental performance that will translate into athletic and performance results.

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You absolutely should rely on your support system and talk to them. Sometimes,, though, these people are not you and may not fully understand the problems you face as an athlete/performer, or former athlete/performer.  Check out our services for more information on athlete specific needs. It is sometimes helpful to get the perspective of a professional who has helped many other individuals like you.

Sports psychiatrists are specially trained to provide both mental skills training, therapy, and medication management. Because we know the effects of medication on athletic performance, we do not use that as a primary treatment method unless we feel that there are some mental health symptoms that are not treatable by therapy or therapy is not achieving the athletic or performance results you want. Dr. Roybal has had training in a wide variety of therapy modalities. Sometimes, in order for therapy to work, medications are needed. Dr. Roybal will work with you to understand your priorities, goals, and treatment preferences.

Initial appointments last 1.5 - 2 hours. Child and adolescent appointments last longer and a parents must be present. Follow-up appointments last 30 - 60 min., depending on whether we are doing medication management, therapy, or mental skills training. Often, we are doing a mixture of 2-3 of these things in the same session, depending on the need.

Dr. Roybal does not currently accept insurance, but she will provide you with an invoice/Superbill to send to your insurance company so you can be reimbursed. Her staff can assist with that process if you are unfamiliar with that process. Most insurance companies will reimburse you for 40-80% of the cost, but check with your insurance company first. Certain groups, such as college students, may be considered for discounted fees.

Dr. Roybal kindly requests a 24 business hour notification of cancellation of all appointments. This is so that other athletes on the waiting list can be offered a spot if you are unable to make it to your appointment.