| Dave
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I am responsible for coordinating sport psychology and mental training services for all 29 teams here at Penn State University. Interested in psychological factors associated with performance excellence in sport and life, I provide counseling and support to our student-athletes and coaches in the areas of motivation and goal setting, mental preparation and focusing strategies for managing peak performance under pressure, confidence and mental toughness, leadership and team cohesion, and issues pertaining to interpersonal communication skills and student-athlete development.
A native of North Hollywood, California, I have been happily married for 30 years, my wife Marla and I have three wonderful children: Adam (22), Joshua (20), and Drew (17).
I can honestly say I love what I do. I am totally committed to the field of Sport Psychology (Past-President of AAASP, an international organization consisting of over 1200 members), and wish every University had a full time Sport Psychologist working closely with their schools intercollegiate athletic program. The things I like the most about my job are the day-to-day interactions I have with coaches and student-athletes, and the quality of relationships that have evolved over the years. y39@psu.edu |
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"...the thing I love most about the job is
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Working for Success > Sports
Psychology
Sport Psychology: Getting Focused
In his In his 17 th year as Sport Psychologist with the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes, Dr. David Yukelson is responsible for coordinating Sport Psychology services for all 29 teams here at Penn State University. In addition, he serves as faculty advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB), and is an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology
As coordinator of sport psychology services here at Penn State University, “Yuke” provides counseling and support to athletes and coaches in the areas of mental preparation strategies for performance optimization in sport and life; mental focusing skills to improve concentration, confidence, composure and mental toughness; self-regulation techniques for managing stress and competitive anxiety; communication and interpersonal relationships; and issues pertaining to life skills and student-athlete welfare. Attuned to the developmental needs of intercollegiate student-athletes, Dr. Yukelson also offers support and assistance to those individuals having difficulty managing time effectively, handling multiple demands and pressures effectively, coping with the frustration of being injured, or making the transition from high school to college smoothly. In addition to individual counseling, he works closely with coaches and teams in the areas of communicating more effectively, group cohesion and championship team building, leadership development, respecting and appreciating diversity, and mental focusing strategies for managing peak performance under pressure.
Recognizing the multiple demands and pressures that typically confront intercollegiate student-athletes, Dr. Yukelson adopts a developmental approach to counseling based on individual needs and concerns. His goal is to teach student-athletes how to be confident, focused, and passionate about their pursuit of excellence, to enjoy the journey, while striving to keep everything in proper perspective (e.g., balancing athletic, academic, and personal/social needs effectively).
Dr. Yukelson obtained a B.A. degree in 1976 from the University of California at San Diego (Social Psychology); M.S. degree in 1979 from Florida State University (Movement Science with specialization in Sport Psychology), and a Ph.D. in 1982 from the University of North Texas (Higher Education with specialization in Physical Education and Sport Psychology). A Fellow and Past-President in the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP), Dr. Yukelson has published numerous articles in various professional refereed journals, and has had several papers presented at various national, international, and statewide conferences. He is a member the USOC Sport Psychology Registry and the USA Track and Field Sport Psychology Registry, and has traveled internationally with various USA Track and Field Junior National Teams. Additionally, Dr. Yukelson serves as a consultant with Lane4 Management Group, a global performance development consultancy out of London England, and locally serves as a member of the Advisory Board of Mushin, Inc., a premier health and fitness company founded by Penn State Alum and Sports Medicine Specialist Dr. David Joyner.
A native of Los Angeles, CA, Dave and his wife Marla have been married 30 years, and have three children: Adam (22), Joshua (20), and Drew (17). In addition to spending quality time with his family and friends, his hobbies and interests include traveling, hiking, playing racquetball, golf, and hanging out at the beach.
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