We support Rep & Competitive Teen Athletes.
The game doesn’t always end when they leave the rink.
Mental health support for rep athletes navigating pressure, confidence, and the demands of competitive sport.
Competitive sport can be an incredible part of growing up.
It can teach discipline, teamwork, resilience, and the satisfaction of working toward something that matters to you.
But when sport becomes a bigger part of your life, the pressure can grow, too.
Maybe you replay mistakes long after the game is over. Maybe a bad practice affects your confidence for the rest of the week. Maybe you're worried about making the team, keeping your spot, or living up to what others expect from you.
Or perhaps you're trying to balance training, school, friendships, family expectations, and everything else that comes with being a teenager.
At Dawn Therapy & Wellness Centre, we support young athletes who want to better understand themselves, manage pressure, and develop the mental and emotional skills to navigate both sport and life.
Because you're more than your last game, your statistics, or your performance.
And you deserve support that recognizes that.
Experience Supporting Athletes On & Off the Ice
Jesse has experience working with rep and competitive athletes and understands that the pressures of sport can extend well beyond competition.
His approach focuses on helping young people navigate confidence, emotional regulation, setbacks, relationships, and the challenges of balancing sport with everyday life.
At Dawn, we believe athletes deserve a space where they can talk about the things that are difficult without feeling that every conversation has to lead to a performance goal.
Sometimes the most important work has little to do with the next game and everything to do with how a young person sees themselves.
Our Approach
Building skills that matter on and off the field.
Therapy isn't a shortcut to better performance, and it can't guarantee results. But it can help young athletes better understand themselves and develop skills that may support their mental well-being in sport and everyday life.
Depending on the athlete's needs, therapy may focus on:
Managing performance pressure
Understanding what contributes to anxiety around games, tryouts, or competition and developing ways to manage those feelings.
Working through mistakes and setbacks
Learning to reflect on disappointing experiences without allowing them to define confidence or self-worth.
Building confidence
Exploring self-doubt, perfectionism, and unhelpful comparisons while developing a more balanced view of personal strengths and abilities.
Managing frustration
Recognizing emotional triggers and practising more effective ways to respond to mistakes, losses, and difficult feedback.
Maintaining motivation and balance
Exploring how sport fits into the bigger picture of school, friendships, family, rest, and personal interests.
Navigating identity
Developing a sense of self that includes sport without depending entirely on it.
Managing transitions
Working through changes such as moving up a level, losing playing time, changing teams, or returning to sport after an injury.
We’re here to help. In Port Perry, Oshawa, and Online.
Dawn Therapy & Wellness Centre supports young athletes and their families from Oshawa, Port Perry, and surrounding communities.
Our Port Perry and Oshawa offices provide in-person services, and virtual sessions are available across Ontario.
Whether your child plays rep hockey, competitive soccer, baseball, basketball, or another sport, you can reach out to discuss their needs and explore whether therapy could be helpful.
What teen athletes might struggle with:
Performance anxiety. Feeling nervous before games or competitions, worrying about making mistakes, or struggling to perform when the pressure is high.
Confidence after setbacks. Having one difficult game or practice affect how you see yourself as an athlete.
Fear of making mistakes. Playing cautiously, overthinking decisions, or feeling that every mistake will have consequences.
Pressure to make the team. Worrying about tryouts, roster decisions, playing time, or whether you're good enough to compete at the next level.
Frustration and emotional outbursts. Becoming angry after mistakes, struggling with losses, or finding it difficult to move on from disappointing performances.
Balancing sport and everyday life. Feeling overwhelmed by the demands of training, school, relationships, and family expectations.
Changes in motivation. Feeling burnt out, questioning whether you still enjoy the sport, or struggling to find the same drive you once had.
Team and coach dynamics. Navigating conflict, feedback, competition between teammates, or uncertainty about your place on the team.
Identity beyond sport. Feeling unsure of who you are when you're injured, not playing, or unable to compete.
Let’s Talk
Not sure where to begin? That’s okay. We’ll help you take the first step.
We know reaching out can feel like a big step. Use the form below to ask a question, book a free consult, or just say hi. We’ll get back to you within 2 business days.
We offer evenings and weekends!
Tuesday 1–7 p.m
Wednesday 1–7 p.m
Thursday 12:45–7 p.m
Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m
Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m
(289) 943-7095
Port Perry Office: 22250 Island Rd, Port Perry ON L9L 1B6
Aazhaway (Oshawa) Office: 41 Warren Ave, Oshawa ON L1J 4G1