Derek Schaedig, LLMSW - Specializing In Student Athletes

Derek Schaedig is dedicated to supporting athletes through the unique mental health challenges that come with competition, performance pressure, identity challenges, injuries, and life transitions. 

Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Harvard University where he competed as a Division I Men's Ice Hockey goalie. He also holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan, focusing on Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse. Derek's education and athletic background help him work with athletes to strengthen both their mental wellness and overall performance in a way that best matches the athlete's needs. 

In addition to working with athletes, Derek is passionate about working with adolescents and young adults navigating concerns such as stress, life transitions, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, burnout, and identity development. He recognizes these are difficult points in a person's life, and he works to create a supportive environment to process these challenging times in life. 

Derek's approach combines evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Psychodynamic Therapy to help athletes clients their mental health concerns. These therapeutic approaches along with Derek's understanding of sport culture and the demands athletes face on and off of their playing arenas help his clients manage anxiety, stress, burnout, confidence challenges, motivation issues, perfectionism, injury recovery, and the pressures tied to high achievement.

For athletes, he believes mental health and athletic performance are strongly connected. 

For all of Derek's clients, he creates a supportive environment where clients can be honest, grow, and develop the tools needed to thrive in all areas of their life. Athlete or not, he is eager to work with clients to help build resilience, self-awareness, and confidence in themselves.