In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Alyssa Olin, former Division I gymnast and licensed clinical social worker, to have an honest conversation about the difference between tough coaching and trauma in youth sports. We explore how harmful coaching practices can become normalized, the lasting impact they have on an athlete’s mental health, and why every child deserves to have a voice and feel safe in their sport.
Alyssa shares her own experiences growing up in gymnastics and explains how repeated fear, shame, punishment, and emotional invalidation can affect the nervous system long after an athlete leaves the gym. We also discuss the warning signs parents should watch for, why mental blocks often have deeper roots than people realize, and how learning to reconnect with your body and emotions is an important part of healing.
In this episode you will hear
- Why “normal” coaching behaviors are not always healthy or safe
- How trauma can affect confidence, performance, and identity
- Warning signs that an athlete may be struggling
- Why emotions and physical symptoms deserve to be taken seriously
- How parents can support instead of dismissing difficult feelings
- Why self-worth must extend beyond athletic performance
This conversation is a reminder that great coaching builds trust, not fear. When athletes feel safe, heard, and valued beyond their results, they are far more likely to thrive both in sport and in life.
- Connect with Alyssa: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alyssa-olin-oswego-il/1579790
- Alyssa’s website: https://www.dztherapy.com/alyssa-olin
