Boston College Athletics
BOSTON COLLEGE SPORTS COUNSELING
Mission and Services
The mission of Sports Counseling is to support and enhance the mental health of Boston College varsity student-athletes through individual counseling. Our therapists are trained to provide specialized treatment for college student-athletes experiencing a wide variety of mental health concerns. Sports Counseling is located in Alumni Stadium, central to BC’s Athletics facilities and we offer flexible scheduling to accommodate student-athletes’ limited availability, occasionally including evenings and weekends. Our therapists are integrated within Sports Medicine, positioned to effectively coordinate care with ATCs, dieticians, and physicians. We also provide case management and consultation in support of BC’s mental health emergency response.
We are a confidential resource. We aim to provide culturally-responsive and trauma-informed care for those who identify with marginalized and/or underrepresented groups. We are committed to fully recognizing and valuing all identities, beliefs, and experiences.
Contact and Location
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can reach us by filling out our confidential referral form below. We can also be reached by phone at 617-552-8168 or email at sportscounseling@bc.edu.
Student-Athlete Mental Health Referral Form
If it is a mental health emergency, please do not wait and instead call: BC Psychological Emergency Clinician - 617-552-3310 and press 2
Suicide Prevention Hotline - 988
Our offices are located on the third floor in the north side of Alumni Stadium near the Yawkey Athletics Center. To get here, take the stadium stairs/elevators near Gates D or E up to the third floor and follow the signs.
CLINICIANS
Cat Raster
Assistant Director
INTERNS
Bella Sebastian
Bella Sebastian is a Clinical Social Work Intern in the Sports Counseling department at Boston College. In this role, she provides individual counseling to student-athletes and collaborates with athletics and mental health staff to support the well-being of BC athletes. She attended Providence College, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology and competed as a Division I softball student-athlete. She is currently completing her Master of Social Work at Boston College, with a focus in Health and Mental Health, and is in her final year of the program. Prior to joining Boston College Athletics, Sebastian worked at the Dearborn STEP Program, providing individual and group counseling, clinical assessments, and support within the school environment. As a former collegiate athlete, Sebastian understands the unique pressures and experiences of being a student-athlete. Personally, she grew up in a family of athletes in New Jersey, with her siblings also competing in Division I sports. She has also coached softball club teams and participated in mental health initiatives for athletes at the high school and collegiate levels, including serving on the SAAC’s Mental Health Subcommittee at Providence College. Sebastian aims to combine her clinical and athletic experiences to support student-athletes with developing skills and tools to thrive both on and off the field. Her clinical interests include eating disorders, performance anxiety, identity and adjustment following injury, and self-care.
A quote I always come back to is “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” — Maya Angelou
Maia Sutton
Maia Sutton is a Clinical Social Work Intern in the Sports Counseling department at Boston College. In this role, Maia provides one-on-one therapy to student-athletes, collaborates with other personnel in the sports medicine department, and supports coaches and teams in enhancing the mental health of all BC athletes. She attended UMass Amherst, where she obtained a BBA in Marketing with a minor in Psychology and competed as a student-athlete in Field Hockey. She is earning her master's in social work and MBA from Boston College and plans to get her Massachusetts LCSW licensure after graduation.
Professionally, Maia has worked with BC student-athletes as an academic counselor, coaching first-year students through the academic and social adjustment to college life. She also brings experience supporting young adult athletes with learning differences, including ADHD, dyslexia, and processing disorders. Personally, Maia comes from a family of athletes in the Northeast, grew up in Brookline MA, and is a lifelong Boston sports fan. She has experienced firsthand the joys and challenges of being a student-athlete. Maia was the captain and coach of her club field hockey team, as well as a dual captain of her high school field hockey and lacrosse teams. She also understands the toll an injury can take on an athlete's identity, having sustained a knee injury herself while playing in college, Maia aims to combine her clinical and sports experience to empower and support the athletes here at BC.
"Character, heart, the mind of a champion. It's what makes great athletes and it's what comes from the growth mindset with its focus on self-development, self-motivation, and responsibility. Even though the finest athletes are wildly competitive and want to be the best, greatness does not come from the ego of the fixed mindset." - Carol Dweck, PhD
Max Tankersley
Max Tankersley is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern in the Sports Counseling department at Boston College. In this role, Max provides individual counseling to student-athletes and collaborates with athletics and mental health staff to support the well-being of BC athletes. He completed his B.A. in Psychology and Drama at the University of Virginia, where he began his clinical training with the Connection Project, a group-based intervention designed to combat the loneliness epidemic through enhancing students’ sense of belonging to their campus community. Max stayed on at the University of Virginia through his role as an Athletics Specialist in Hazing Prevention at the Gordie Center for Hazing and Substance Misuse Prevention. This role gave him a passion for working directly with student-athletes, their teams, and coaches to enhance the mental health of athletic departments through trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based work. Max is enthusiastic about the positive impact that the combination of clinical work and research can have on enhancing well-being across college campuses. He maintains research appointments at Boston College’s Purpose Lab and Trauma, Spirituality, and Flourishing Lab where he is excited to continue learning about how to best show up for student-athletes and their communities.
“How you gonna win when you ain’t right within?” -Lauryn Hill
Sophie van Leeuwen
Sophie van Leeuwen is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern in the Sports Counseling department at Boston College. In this role, Sophie provides individual counseling to student-athletes and collaborates with athletics and mental health staff to support the well-being of BC athletes.She earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Politics from Bates College and served as president of both Women in Economics and the Run Club. Before graduate school, Sophie worked as the Podcast and Social Media Manager at Running Explained, a company that provides coaching and educational resources to athletes. In this role, she collaborated with sports psychologists, dietitians, and other professionals in the field, gaining insight and knowledge into issues such as sport-life balance, the emotional impact of injuries, and strategies for improving athletic performance. Throughout her life, Sophie has competed in a variety of sports, including soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey, and now focuses on ultramarathon running. She hopes to bring her background and experiences to her work supporting clients’ mental health and understanding the challenges of being a student-athlete.
“Life’s a marathon, not a sprint”
Lily Montemarano
Lily Montemarano is a Clinical Social Work Intern in the Sports Counseling department at Boston College. In this role, Lily provides one-on-one therapy to student-athletes, collaborates with other personnel in the sports med department and supports coaches and teams in enhancing the mental health of all BC athletes. Lily attended the University of Michigan and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. During her time at the University, she was also a member of the varsity women’s lacrosse team and co-founder of Morgan’s Message club, U of M chapter, promoting mental health across university athletics. Currently, Lily is in her second year at the Boston College School of Social studying clinical social work with a concentration in mental health. Professionally, Lily has worked with athletes across a variety of settings and roles. She spent several years coaching youth lacrosse and has worked in the nonprofit sector alongside leading mental health professionals and organizations to advance mental health awareness, education, and support for young athletes. She also has experience in private practice working with young adult athletes navigating depression, anxiety, eating disturbances, and other mental health challenges. Prior to moving to Boston, Lily worked as a Child Psychiatric Specialist at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. for a year. In this role, she facilitated therapeutic activities, co-led patient groups, provided 24/7 floor monitoring, attended to patients’ basic needs, and implemented individualized treatment plans in an acute care setting. Lily still strongly identifies as an athlete and is passionate about the intersection of physical and mental health. Her own experiences as an athlete have shaped her commitment to helping others recognize that mental health is an essential part of overall well-being and performance. She hopes to create a space where athletes feel comfortable seeking support here at BC.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” - A.A. Milne
FAQS
How do I request an appointment?
Submit a mental health referral using our online form and we will contact you through BC Health Services secure message portal to ensure confidentiality (look for an email notifying you that you have received a secure message).
How long will I have to wait to speak with a clinician?
Typically, appointments are scheduled within one week of submitting a referral.
How long are counseling sessions?
Typically, sessions last for around 50 minutes and are held in-person at our offices on the north side of Alumni Stadium. We also offer 15-30 minute check-in sessions and virtual appointments.
How can counseling help me?
Counseling can help in so many ways! We meet with student-athletes who are dealing with stress/pressure, anxiety related or unrelated to sport, interpersonal conflict, identity issues, depression, adjustment difficulties, and much more.
Resources & Forms
Authorization for Release of Information
Release of Information Form
NCAA Mental Health Resources:
https://www.ncaa.org/what-we-do/health-safety-and-performance/mental-health/
BC Athletics Mental Performance App
https://optimizemindperformance.com/
