Melinda Kirschner, Ph.D., Founder
Licensed Psychologist, California PSY 25019
Licensed Psychologist, Virginia 0810008029
Licensed Psychologist, New York 026557
Licensed Psychologist, Illinois 071.011229
Licensed Psychologist, Telehealth provider, Florida TPPY2575
Listed on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Directory
Melinda Kirschner, Ph.D., M.S.W. is a licensed clinical and sport psychologist specializing in working with athletes with a focus on both performance and mental health concerns. Dr. Kirschner is collaborative in her approach to treatment and enjoys working alongside a multidisciplinary team to enhance the clinical care of her clients. She has experience working with youth athletes, collegiate and professional athletes.
Dr. Kirschner received her B.A. from Georgetown University and obtained her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Hawaii prior to earning her doctorate degree in clinical psychology. She completed both her APA accredited predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship with a speciality in eating disorder treatment at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services. Dr. Kirschner worked at UCLA for 13 years specializing in working with student athletes, eating disorder assessment and treatment, and team/coaching consultation.
As the former Director of UCLA Athletics Mental Health Services, Dr. Kirschner oversaw student athlete mental health programming including clinical services, outreach and prevention programming, peer-based programming, staff and coach education and team interventions. Over the course of her tenure at UCLA, she collaborated with the sports medicine team to manage clinical care for student athletes across all teams at UCLA. Dr. Kirschner has worked closely with the men and women’s indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, swim/dive, and women’s tennis teams. In 2022, she worked with the UCLA Women’s Soccer team and was proud to be on the sidelines as the team brought home the 2022 National Championship.
Outside of sport, Dr. Kirschner has a wide range of clinical interests, including family and relational concerns, eating disorders/body image, couples/intimacy issues, life transitions, mood and anxiety disorders, identity concerns, and substance use. She takes an integrated approach to psychotherapy, combining principles and strategies from psychodynamic, family systems, and cognitive behavioral therapies. In terms of performance work with teams, she uses a relational sport psychology framework to understand and improve individual performance, team dynamics and team cohesion.
Dr. Kirschner is a member of the Big Sky Sport Psychology Group, Collegiate Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA), and Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). She has been in private practice in Los Angeles since 2013. Dr. Kirschner grew up in Washington, DC and is a graduate of The Holton-Arms School. As a former Lacrosse and Field Hockey player growing up on the east coast, she now enjoys playing beach volleyball, pickleball, and hiking in Los Angeles. In the context of winning the NCAA title with women’s soccer, she has been inspired to improve her soccer skills and frequently plays street soccer on the weekends with her husband.
Nicole Gabana, Ph.D., Clinical Sport Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist, Florida PY 10768
Dr. Nicole Gabana is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant who specializes in working with high-performing individuals to optimize mental well-being and mental performance. She is passionate about helping her clients thrive in sport and life by facilitating self-awareness and self-actualization using a collaborative, strengths-based approach.
Dr. Gabana’s work is tailored to meet individuals’ unique needs, goals, and experiences through a holistic lens which explores the mind-body-spirit connection. She enjoys finding creative ways to maximize mental skills, identify strengths and support systems, and develop coping strategies, empowering clients to build resilience and respond effectively to the many challenges of elite performance and life.
Dr. Gabana has worked with a range of professional, collegiate, and youth athletes, as well as teams and coaches from Division I-III institutions including The Ohio State University, Indiana University, Harvard University, Florida A&M University, American International College, and Springfield College. She is also listed in the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry.
Prior to private practice, Dr. Gabana served as the Director of Sport Psychology for the University of Massachusetts Athletic Department from 2020-2022. From 2017-2020, she was an Assistant Professor of Sport Psychology at Florida State University, where her research focused on athlete mental health and well-being, specifically how cultivating gratitude can help individuals thrive and perform at their best. Her work has been published in a variety of academic journals.
Dr. Gabana completed her undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross where she rowed for the Division I crew team. She obtained her MS from Springfield College and PhD from Indiana University Bloomington. Her professional and clinical interests include athletic identity, performing under pressure, injury recovery, emotion regulation, interpersonal dynamics, adjustment/transitions, and exploring meaning and purpose in sport and life.
“I will find a way or make one”
“It helps to keep in Mind that you never really master the mouNtain-you master yourself in the process of climbing it”
David Schnarch, Ph.D.