Summary
In this first episode of Unit3d w/BigTeam at Indiana University, Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt sits down with a fellow former collegiate football player, Clinical Sport Psychologist Dr. Jacob Cooper. Together, Jesse and Jacob explore a range of topics, ranging from football to masculinity to oxytocin to Oracles. This engaging episode will give viewers insights into comprehensive masculinity, clinical techniques to maximize men’s ability to perform and to connect, applications to military and NASCAR spaces, as well as a cameo appearance from a prophet who gives his predictions on the CFP Championship game AND the Super Bowl! It is a fun and informative conversation between two meathead doctors who model and care about men’s mental heath, on the football field and beyond.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mental Health in Sports
04:26 Dr. Cooper's Journey in Sports Psychology
06:43 The Injury Clinic: A New Approach
09:55 Building Trust with Coaches and Athletes
12:34 The Importance of Visibility and Credibility
16:36 Cultural Humility in Sports Psychology
21:18 Breaking Down Barriers to Help-Seeking
24:46 Modeling Emotional Intelligence in Athletics
25:47 Introduction to Emotional Intelligence in Sports
26:31 Working with High-Performance Teams
28:00 Integrating Physiological Metrics in Training
30:36 The Role of Visualization in High-Stress Situations
33:21 Community Resilience During Crisis
37:00 Leadership and Its Impact on Team Dynamics
42:30 Reflections on Loss and Community Strength
Guest Bio
Dr. Jacob Cooper is the Associate Athletic Director of Sport Psychology and Mental Wellness at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. He has worked with athletes at the Olympic, Professional, and Division-1 levels over the course of his career. Dr. Cooper has worked with athletes and staff throughout the NFL, NASCAR, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, and PGA. With a unique background and training in the areas of occupational and industrial psychology, culture building, leadership training, and military psychology, he has provided performance optimization for military personnel prior to their deployments as well as counseling for veterans transitioning back to civilian life throughout Western North Carolina, Indiana, and Boston.
