Personalized, physician-led care for athletes navigating anxiety, focus, mood, burnout, sleep, injury, and the pressures of competition.
Sports Psychiatry in Williamsburg, VA
Mental Health Care Built Around the Athlete
Performance anxiety, burnout, sleep problems, difficulty focusing, mood changes, injury-related stress, and the pressures of competition can affect both your mental health and your relationship with your sport. Professional sports Psychiatry provides physician-led support to help athletes understand what may be contributing to these challenges and determine the right path forward. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, ADHD, depression, motivation, confidence, recovery, or a major transition in your athletic career, personalized psychiatric care can support your mental well-being both in and outside of competition.
VIPPs offers comprehensive sports Psychiatry services for teen and adult athletes in Williamsburg, VA. Dr. Alex Cojanu, a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and former NCAA Division I and professional athlete, provides thorough psychiatric evaluations, medication management when appropriate, and ongoing support in a confidential, comfortable setting. His whole-person approach considers your mental health alongside training demands, sleep, recovery, injuries, relationships, school or work responsibilities, and competitive environment to develop an individualized treatment plan around your needs and goals.
Ready to take the first step? Call (804) 362-3332 or fill out our online form to schedule a confidential sports Psychiatry consultation at VIPPs in Williamsburg, VA.
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When the Problem Isn't Effort
Sports Psychiatry may be appropriate when mental or emotional concerns begin affecting your well-being, relationships, academics, career, training, or ability to enjoy your sport.
Performance Anxiety & Pressure
Anxiety, Depression & Mood Changes
ADHD, Focus & Follow-Through
Sleep, Recovery & Burnout
Injury & Return to Sport
Identity & Life Transitions
Recruiting, roster changes, changing levels of competition, retirement, family expectations, social media pressure, or figuring out who you are when your relationship with your sport changes.
The Sports Psychiatrist Who Has Played the Game
Dr. Alex Cojanu understands competitive athletics from personal experience.
He began playing tennis at age four and competed nationally and internationally before joining the Division I men’s tennis team at William & Mary. He served as team captain, competed in the NCAA Individual Championships in singles and doubles, and earned conference honors during his collegiate career.
After college, he competed professionally worldwide, won three professional doubles titles, and reached a career-high ATP doubles ranking of No. 512.
His experience as an athlete ultimately became one part of a much larger understanding of the connection between the brain, body, environment, and performance.
Dr. Alex earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from William & Mary and a master’s degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Virginia Commonwealth University before attending medical school and completing his Psychiatry residency. Today, he is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with a focus on sports psychiatry.
His athletic background does not replace his medical training. It gives him another perspective from which to ask important questions.
What is happening beneath the performance? How are sleep, mood, attention, injury, medication, relationships, identity, and expectations interacting? What might an athlete feel pressured to hide because they have been taught to push through?
At VIPPs, those questions are part of the conversation.
What Sports Psychiatry Adds to Your Support System
Sports Psychiatry combines medical and psychiatric expertise with an understanding of the unique pressures athletes experience.
Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
Your care begins with a full picture. Dr. Alex considers mood, anxiety, sleep, attention, medical and psychiatric history, medications, substance use, injuries, environmental factors, relationships, and performance demands.
Individualized Treatment Planning
Performance-Aware Decision-Making
Collaborative Care
Sports Psychiatry vs. Mental Performance Coaching
Sports Psychiatry and mental performance support can complement each other, but they are not the same thing.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. Psychiatrists can also consider medical factors, review medications and potential side effects, prescribe medication when appropriate, and coordinate care with other medical professionals.
Sport psychologists, therapists, and mental performance consultants may help athletes develop performance skills, manage emotions, build routines, improve confidence, practice imagery and attention strategies, or receive psychotherapy or counseling depending on the professional’s training and license.
For some athletes, one form of support may be appropriate. Others benefit from multiple professionals working together.
The goal at VIPPs is not to replace the people already supporting you. It is to identify what you need and build the right team around you.
What to Expect From Sports Psychiatry at VIPPs
Your initial consultation typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Dr. Alex will discuss what brought you in, along with your mental health and medical history, current medications, sleep, recovery, training demands, relationships, school or work responsibilities, injuries, substance use, and personal goals.
Sports Psychiatry for Teen & Adult Athletes
You do not need to be a professional athlete to benefit from sports Psychiatry.
VIPPs works with adolescent and adult athletes across different stages of competition, including developing athletes, high school competitors, collegiate athletes, professional athletes, recreational competitors, and athletes transitioning away from competitive sports.
The level at which you compete matters less than the impact your concerns are having on your life.
Support for Parents
Parents can also play an important role in an athlete’s mental health. VIPPs provides education around communication, expectations, confidence, setbacks, identity, help-seeking, and supporting an athlete without making home feel like another place where their performance is constantly being evaluated.
Programs for Teams, Schools & Events
Dr. Alex also offers opportunities for athlete education beyond individual psychiatric care, including live or virtual workshops, athlete keynotes, parent sessions, coach education, and selected evaluation pathways for organizations.
Why Choose VIPPs for Sports Psychiatry ?
Personalized Care for the Way You Think, Feel, and Perform
Physician-Led Care With a Broader Perspective
Personalized Plans, Not One-Size-Fits-All Protocols
A Concierge Experience Centered Around You
Start With a Confidential Conversation
You do not have to stop caring about your performance to start caring for your mental health. Whether you are dealing with anxiety before competition, struggling to recover mentally after an injury, feeling burned out, having trouble sleeping or focusing, or simply wondering why you no longer feel like yourself, the first step is understanding what is happening.
At VIPPs, Dr. Alex combines board-certified psychiatric expertise with firsthand knowledge of competitive athletics to provide care that recognizes both the person and the athlete. Schedule a confidential sports Psychiatry consultation at VIPPs in Williamsburg, VA, by calling (804) 362-3332 or booking your appointment online.
Sports Psychiatry FAQs
Do I need a mental health diagnosis to schedule an appointment?
Is sports psychiatry only for elite athletes?
Will I have to take medication?
Is my care confidential if my parent, coach, or team referred me?
Can sports psychiatry help after a concussion or injury?
How long is my first appointment?
Does VIPPs accept insurance?
Is sports psychiatry available through telehealth?
What our clients say
I absolutely fell in love with VIP Peak Performance Solutions the moment I walked in the door. Their atmosphere, amenities, and the quality of service are all excellent. I toured their array of machines and asked a lot of questions. Their staff have a wealth of knowledge and were so kind. Of course you have that thought, how can this be legit? But once the science was explained and I got to experience it, I’m a believer!!!
EMSculpt does over 20,000 crunches for you all while varying the stimulation pulses so that your body doesn’t get bored and to flush out the lactic acid. Yep, all that work and you sit up without any muscle soreness!
I also loved the EMSella for my pelvic floor. As a postpartum mama this is a must! The cute chair is small but mighty. It uses high-intensity electromagnetic energy that works through your clothes and is completely painless. The fact that I can sit on it and after 20 minutes have done the equivalent of 11,000 keegles is such a fantastic time saver!
I highly recommend this full mind and body wellness center for moms!
– Mair B.
I had an amazing experience a VIPPs! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and professional. You can immediately tell they truly care about their clients and creating a comfortable, supportive environment.
The treatments are innovative and genuinely effective! Everything they offer is non-invasive and carefully tailored. You can tell there’s real knowledge behind what they do, and the way they use advanced technology feels purposeful and results-driven.
If you’re looking for a place that helps you perform, feel, and look your best, I highly recommend VIPPs. An outstanding experience from start to finish!
– Brooke P.
I had an outstanding experience at VIP Peak Performance Solutions. From the moment I walked in, the owner Alex and their specialist Kelsey were incredibly welcoming and professional. They took the time to give me a full tour of the facility and explain the science behind the services they offer, which made me feel comfortable and confident trying everything out.
I had the opportunity to try the EMSculpt and was blown away. The fact that it simulates the equivalent of 20,000 crunches in just 30 minutes is incredible. I also tried the EXOMind, which gave me an immediate euphoric and focused feeling. I was a little skeptical at first, but after experiencing it myself, you can tell there is real science behind what they’re doing.
What really stood out was how knowledgeable and passionate Kelsey and the team is about helping people optimize their health and performance. I’ll definitely be coming back for a full body scan so I can identify areas to cut fat and take my training to the next level.
If you’re anywhere near Williamsburg, VA, I highly recommend booking an appointment with Kelsey and checking this place out. It’s a great step toward becoming the best version of yourself.
– Steffon B.
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