In this episode of Athlete Mindset, host Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC, sits down again with Dr. Kweku Amoasi, PsyD, CMPC — licensed psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant®, USOPC psychological services provider, and Chief Wellness Officer for Blaquesmith Consulting.

This conversation explores the rising mental health challenges athletes face: suicide prevention, stigma, high-pressure environments, financial realities tied to NIL, and what it actually takes to support athletes across college and pro sports. Dr. Amoasi also reflects on his keynote at the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports Annual Conference and the powerful role social workers play across the sport ecosystem.

Lisa brings her dual lens as a clinical social worker and Certified Mental Performance Consultant® — as well as her identity as a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the author of The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Life. Dr. Amoasi brings the energy and brotherhood of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Both Lisa and Dr. Amoasi are proud members of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Their ongoing dialogue centers on serving the whole athlete — and supporting the caregivers who support them.

Episode Chapters

0:00 — SportsEpreneur & Athlete Mindset
1:22 — Welcome + why this part two matters
1:33 — Dr. Amoasi’s background & roles
2:35 — Fraternity pride + community as healthy grounding
3:18 — Athletes as “superhuman” & stigma of vulnerability
4:50 — Why athletes choose silence
6:52 — Medication vs self-medication in sport
8:22 — “Mental spotters” + invisible weight
9:24 — What parents and coaches can do early
10:14 — Mental Health First Aid in athletic settings
11:40 — Early intervention & normalizing tough conversations
12:33 — The evolution of sport psychology (NBA, NCAA, USOPC)
14:55 — Embedded counseling vs traditional campus services
16:30 — Psychology becoming as normal as the training room
17:49 — NIL pressures: identity, development, time, money
18:54 — The “three things” rule for college athletes
20:03 — NIL reshaping college sports entirely
22:04 — Brain development + responsibility overload
23:06 — Stress → risk behaviors
24:17 — Reflections on the Alliance for Social Workers in Sport keynote
26:26 — Why social workers are essential in sport
29:28 — Multidisciplinary care in the athlete ecosystem
31:04 — Loving the whole athlete
33:02 — Advice to emerging sport psych + social work professionals
35:47 — Ethics, boundaries, & trusted circles
37:39 — Parallel process for clinicians supporting high-visibility athletes
38:51 — Why every layer of the system needs support
39:56 — Closing appreciation + reflections

Episode Topics

Suicide prevention and athlete vulnerability
Stigma, “superhuman” identity, and why athletes don’t speak up
Mental Health First Aid in sports
Evolution of sport psychology in NBA, NFL, NCAA, and USOPC spaces
NIL pressures: performance, academics, money, identity
Social workers’ critical role in sport
Balancing ethics, visibility, and care
Building a trusted professional circle
Supporting the whole athlete — and the whole ecosystem

Featured Links

Alliance of Social Workers in Sports
https://www.aswis.org/
AASP – Association for Applied Sport Psychology
https://appliedsportpsych.org/
The AthMindset® Workbook: Training Your Mind for Optimal Mental Health in Sport and in Life
https://athmindset.com/workbook
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
https://oppf.org/
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
https://www.deltasigmatheta.org/

Connect with Dr. Kweku Amoasi

Licensed Psychologist
Certified Mental Performance Consultant®
Psychological Service Provider — U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Chief Wellness Officer — Blaquesmith Consulting | https://blaquesmith.com/
Author, keynote speaker, mental health advocate
Proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaquesmith/

Connect with the host & podcast production team:

Lisa Bonta Sumii: LinkedIn | Instagram
SportsEpreneur: LinkedIn | X

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.
Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io | Produced By White Hot

If you or someone you know is struggling

If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, please reach out for support:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

International resources: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

You’re not alone, and support is available.