TOUGH ISN’T enough. And asking isn’t weakness
Free, confidential mental health care for Western sports athletes: counseling, sports psychology, mental performance, and crisis support. No cost. No waiting room. Wherever you're parked tonight.
In crisis right now?
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Call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) for free, confidential, 24/7 care
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Not an emergency but you need someone? Connect with WSF below for confidential support through one of our Providers
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In crisis right now? ✳︎ Call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) for free, confidential, 24/7 care ✳︎ Not an emergency but you need someone? Connect with WSF below for confidential support through one of our Providers ✳︎
Everyone in this sport carries something:
The wreck. The long drive home after a no-score. The anxiety before the chute opens. The grief of losing a friend. The pressure to provide for your family. The quiet weight of being told your whole life to "cowboy up," without ever being shown where to put everything you're carrying.
None of that means something is wrong with you.
It means you're doing one of the toughest jobs there is, often alone, constantly on the road, without a team of trainers, sports psychologists, or medical staff checking in between events.
That's why the Western Sports Foundation exists.
Every rodeo athlete deserves access to the same quality mental health support as athletes in any major professional sport. Through confidential counseling and mental health resources, we're here to make sure help is available when you need it, without judgment, without unnecessary barriers, and without the financial burden of paying for it on your own.
What we provide
Counseling
Life doesn’t stop because rodeo does. Talk with a licensed therapist by phone, video, or text, wherever the road takes you. We'll match you with someone who fits your needs, and Western Sports Foundation covers the cost.
Your conversations stay between you and your therapist. We never know who you talk to or what you discuss. This service is also available to family members of rodeo athletes.
A good fit if you're facing: anxiety, grief, relationships, stress, or simply feeling like you're carrying more than you should.
Mental Performance
Train your mind like you train everything else. Mental performance coaching is about building the habits that help you compete at your best. Develop routines, strengthen focus, recover from tough performances, and build confidence that lasts.
This isn't therapy. It's another way to sharpen your edge.
A good fit if you're wanting to compete with more confidence, build consistency, stay mentally sharp and keep improving both in and out of the arena.
Sports Psychology
The toughest battles aren’t always in the arena. Work with psychologists who understand the mental side of competition. Whether it's rebuilding confidence after a wreck, working through fear, finding your focus, or figuring out who you are when the season ends, this support is built for athletes.
A good fit if you're experiencing fear after injury, performance anxiety, confidence struggles, identity beyond competition, or the transition away from competing.
Crisis Care
If it all feels impossible. Don’t wait. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or text HOME to 741741. Someone from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Then reach out to us.
We'll help connect you with ongoing care, walk alongside you, and make sure you don't have to figure out the next steps alone.
Call or text 988, or text HOME to 741741
Your Mental Health Team
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Katie Hollingsworth
Mental Performance Coach
Katie grew up in this sport and coaches the head game: confidence, focus, and quieting the voice that shows up right before you nod. -
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Betterhelp Counseling Services
Our national counseling partner. Tell them what you're looking for in a therapist, get matched with someone licensed, and connect by phone, video, or text — free to you and your family.
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Dr. John Beach
Sports/Performance Psychologist
Dr. Beach works with pros across the whole arc, the season grind, the confidence dips, and the stretch where competing stops being the plan. -
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Tommy Fritze
Sports/Performance Psychologists
Dr. Fritze works alongside sports medicine teams on the part of recovery nobody rehabs, getting your head right before you get back on. -
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Anne Hayes
Crisis Management Specialist
When something's gone sideways: addiction, a family situation, trouble you're not ready to say out loud, Anne has spent 30 years compassionately helping athletes handle it.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
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Complete a short online application. It takes about five minutes and tells us who you are, what association you're with, and how we can best support you.
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Our team matches you with the provider that's the best fit for your situation. Most athletes are connected within a few days, and if your need is urgent, we'll move even faster.
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Meet with your provider by phone, video, or text. Your sessions are completely confidential, and WSF covers the cost, so you can focus on getting the support you need, not how you'll pay for it.
Confidentiality
We'll say it plainly, because it's the first thing everybody asks. WSF does not receive your session notes. We don't know what you talk about. We don't report to your association, your team, your sponsor, your family, or anybody else.
What we see on our end is that an athlete connected with a provider and that we paid the bill. That's all we ever see, and that's all we ever want to see.
This is your care. It stays yours.
Worried about someone?
If you're a parent, a partner, a traveling buddy, or a friend who's noticed something is off, call us. We'll talk with you about how to start the conversation, what to watch for, and how to help them reach a provider when they're ready.
You don't need their permission to ask us for guidance. And you don't have to be sure before you call.