New Client Availability: I am not scheduling new-client consultations during October due to PGA TOUR travel and scheduled time away from private practice. I anticipate reopening a limited number of new-client appointments in November.

I’m Dr. Chad Doerr, a Licensed Psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and published researcher who works with athletes, professionals, and high-achieving adults seeking to perform well, manage pressure, and maintain their mental health and well-being.

I currently serve as a Psychological Services Provider for the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour. Previously, I served as Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology for UNLV Athletics and as an Athletic Psychologist for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. I have also worked as a contracted Mental Health Provider for NBA Summer League and am listed on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health and Mental Performance Directories.

In addition to clinical and performance work, I serve as Community Faculty at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and have been invited to speak in academic, athletic, and professional settings, including as Commencement Speaker at Feather River College and as a featured speaker at the Las Vegas Aces WNBA Mental Health Summit.

My clients range from PGA TOUR professionals and collegiate athletes to executives, business leaders, and other high-achieving adults navigating pressure, anxiety, burnout, relationships, career transitions, or the demands that come with performing at a high level.

My approach is practical, collaborative, and goal-oriented. Some clients come to improve their mental performance. Others are looking for mental health counseling to better manage stress, anxiety, life transitions, relationships, or overall wellbeing. Many fall somewhere in between.

I am based in Reno, Nevada and offer in-person appointments locally, telehealth mental health counseling throughout Nevada and participating PSYPACT states, and mental performance coaching nationwide. I also work extensively with clients throughout the Reno and Las Vegas areas and accept several major insurance plans for mental health counseling provided to Nevada residents.

If you are looking for focused support for your mental performance, mental health, or both, I invite you to explore my services and determine whether my practice may be a good fit.

Scheduling

I maintain a small private-practice caseload and generally work with clients on a biweekly, monthly, or as-needed basis rather than through an ongoing weekly appointment time.

Because I also travel regularly for my work in professional sport, there are periods throughout the year when private-practice availability is limited. New clients are accepted based on availability, scheduling needs, and fit with the structure of my practice.

New Client Availability

Services Offered

  • Sometimes the challenge is not performing better, but finding a healthier and more sustainable way to manage the demands of work, relationships, responsibilities, and everyday life.

    I provide evidence-based psychotherapy for adults experiencing anxiety, stress, burnout, relationship concerns, career challenges, life transitions, and other adjustment-related difficulties. I frequently work with professionals, athletes, executives, and other high-achieving adults who may be functioning well in many areas of life while recognizing that stress, overthinking, emotional strain, or longstanding patterns are beginning to affect their wellbeing, relationships, or quality of life.

    My approach is practical, collaborative, and goal-oriented. Therapy is focused not only on understanding what is contributing to distress, but also on developing strategies and behavioral changes that can be applied outside of sessions.

    Areas we may work on include:

    • Anxiety, worry, and overthinking

    • Stress management and burnout

    • Depression and reduced motivation

    • Relationship and communication concerns

    • Career stress and professional transitions

    • Perfectionism, high expectations, and self-criticism

    • Work-life balance and boundaries

    • Identity and life transitions

    • Retirement, graduation, relocation, and other major changes

    • Adjustment to injury, health changes, or changes in role

    • Building healthier routines, coping strategies, and overall wellbeing

    Scheduling

    I maintain a small private-practice caseload and generally work with clients on a biweekly, monthly, or as-needed basis rather than through an ongoing weekly appointment time.

    Because I also work in professional sport and travel regularly with the PGA TOUR, there are select weeks throughout the year when I am unavailable for private-practice appointments. Travel dates are communicated in advance, and sessions are scheduled around those periods.

    For this reason, my practice is generally best suited for adults who are comfortable with a flexible appointment schedule and who do not require continuous weekly treatment or frequent between-session support.

    Clients whose needs require consistent weekly care, a higher level of clinical support, or crisis-oriented services may be better served by a provider whose practice is structured around that level of availability.

    Rates & Insurance

    Cash-pay psychotherapy: $200 per session

    I am credentialed with several major insurance plans for clients located in Nevada, including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum, Oscar Health, Oxford, UMR, and UnitedHealthcare. Dr. Chad Doerr

    Sessions are typically 35–50 minutes.

    In-person appointments are available in Reno, Nevada. Telehealth psychotherapy is available throughout Nevada and in participating PSYPACT states when appropriate.

    Available for adults age 18 and older.

  • Competing at the collegiate or professional level brings demands that extend well beyond physical preparation. Performance expectations, competition for opportunities, travel, injuries, coaching relationships, transitions, and the pressure to consistently perform can all influence how an athlete competes and experiences sport.

    I provide individualized sport and mental performance coaching for collegiate, professional, and elite-level athletes. My approach is practical, collaborative, and grounded in experience working in Division I athletics and professional sport, including my current work with the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour.

    Areas we may work on include:

    • Managing pressure, nerves, and performance anxiety

    • Building confidence, consistency, and competitive composure

    • Improving concentration and attention under pressure

    • Developing effective pre-performance and competition routines

    • Responding more effectively to mistakes, slumps, and adversity

    • Managing expectations, perfectionism, and fear of failure

    • Navigating injuries, roster changes, transfers, draft processes, and other transitions

    • Improving communication with coaches, teammates, and support staff

    • Managing travel, recovery, and demanding competitive schedules

    • Balancing athletic performance with academics, relationships, and life outside sport

    • Preparing for professional sport or transitioning out of competitive athletics

    Sessions are individualized around the athlete, sport, and competitive calendar. Athletes typically meet biweekly, monthly, or as needed, with frequency adjusted based on current goals, competition schedules, and travel.

    Rates

    Mental performance coaching: $200 per session

    Northern Nevada collegiate athletes: $150 per session

    Sessions are typically 35–50 minutes. Mental performance coaching is not psychotherapy and is not billed through health insurance.

    Available in person in Reno, Nevada and virtually for athletes throughout the United States. College and professional athlete inquiries are welcome throughout the year, subject to travel and availability.

  • Mental performance coaching can help high school athletes develop skills for handling pressure, building confidence, improving focus, responding to mistakes, and competing with greater consistency.

    I work with athletes that are at least freshman in high school. Sessions are practical and goal-oriented, with an emphasis on helping athletes develop skills they can use independently in practice, competition, school, and other areas of life.

    Areas we may work on include:

    • Managing nerves, pressure, and performance anxiety

    • Building confidence and productive self-talk

    • Improving concentration and staying present during competition

    • Developing pre-performance routines and mental preparation strategies

    • Responding effectively to mistakes and adversity

    • Managing expectations, perfectionism, and fear of failure

    • Improving communication with coaches and teammates

    • Building composure and emotional regulation during competition

    • Balancing athletics, academics, recovery, and life outside sport

    • Preparing for the transition to collegiate athletics

    For parents: Before reaching out, I strongly encourage you to discuss mental performance coaching with your athlete and make sure they are personally interested in participating. This work is most effective when the athlete—not only a parent or coach—has goals they would like to work toward and is invested in the process.

    Scheduling

    High school mental performance coaching is offered on an as-needed basis through my online scheduling system rather than through a standing weekly appointment time. After the initial consultation, athletes and families may schedule future sessions based on current goals, competition needs, and available appointment times.

    Because my private-practice schedule varies throughout the year due to professional sport travel, appointment availability may be limited at times, particularly during the PGA TOUR season. Athletes may meet biweekly, monthly, or less frequently depending on their needs and available scheduling options.

    This model is best suited for athletes who are looking for focused mental performance support and are comfortable scheduling sessions around competition needs and available appointment times.

    Rates

    Mental performance coaching: $200 per session

    Northern Nevada high school athletes: $150 per session

    Sessions are typically 35–50 minutes. Mental performance coaching is not psychotherapy and is not billed through health insurance. For clients under age 18, services are limited to mental performance coaching rather than mental health treatment.

    Available in person in Reno, Nevada and virtually where appropriate.

  • The same expertise I bring to individual clients translates powerfully to groups, teams, and organizations. Whether you are looking for a keynote speaker for your next event, a workshop facilitator for your team or athletic department, or an engaging presenter on the mental side of performance and wellness, I bring real world experience from the highest levels of sport and business to every stage I step on.

    I speak to athletic departments, schools and universities, corporate audiences, and sports organizations on topics including:

    • Mental performance and sport psychology

    • Student athlete mental health and wellness

    • Leadership and team culture

    • High performance habits and mindset

    • Coaching education and athlete development

    My speaking style is engaging, practical, and grounded in both research and real experience. Audiences leave with concrete tools and perspectives they can apply immediately, not just inspiration that fades by the next morning.

    Notable speaking engagements include:

    • Featured Speaker, Las Vegas Aces WNBA 1st Annual Mental Health Summit, Las Vegas, NV

    • Commencement Speaker, Feather River College Graduation

    • Keynote Speaker, Plumas County High School Career Fair

    • Youth Athlete Mental Health Symposium, Northern Nevada Hopes, Reno, NV

    • Mental Health Summit, Washoe County School District, Reno, NV

    • Panel Presenter, National Association for Athletics Compliance Conference, Las Vegas, NV

    • Sport Mental Skills and Life Skills Speaker, UC Davis, UNLV, and University of Nebraska Athletic Departments

    I am available for in person engagements throughout Nevada, including Reno and Las Vegas, and travel nationally for the right opportunity. To inquire about availability and rates, please reach out directly.

Contact Me

My Approach

I believe that lasting change, whether in performance or in life, comes from treating the whole person, not just the symptom or the skill gap. My approach is integrative, meaning I draw from a range of evidence-based frameworks and tailor every strategy to the individual in front of me. No two clients are the same, and no two plans should be either.

At the core of my work is a simple belief: the mental side of performance and the mental side of wellness are deeply connected. Whether you're a professional athlete managing performance anxiety, an executive navigating high-stakes decisions, or someone working through a difficult life transition, the tools we develop together will serve you both inside and outside your arena.

What sets my work apart is a deep, sport-specific knowledge base built across years of working inside elite athletic programs. I understand the unique demands, culture, and pressures of individual sports and team environments, from the mental grind of a Big Ten season to the precision and composure required on the PGA TOUR. That sport-specific fluency allows me to build plans that are not just clinically sound, but genuinely relevant to the performance domain you live and compete in every day.

I work collaboratively with my clients. You bring the goals, the self-awareness, and the willingness to do the work, and I bring the expertise, the research, and the roadmap. From the very first session, we work together to identify specific, meaningful behavioral goals that give our work clear direction and purpose. Every appointment ends with concrete, actionable steps to practice and implement between sessions, because real growth happens in the moments outside our time together, not just during it.

My approach is also pragmatic. I meet you where you are and we build from there. Progress is measured not just by how you feel in session, but by the tangible changes you're making in your daily life, your performance, and your relationships.

Contact Me

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensed Psychologist, Nevada (PY0973)

  • Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) — Association for Applied Sport Psychology

  • PSYPACT Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC) #5596

  • Listed on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health and Mental Performance Directories

Professional Experience

  • Psychological Services Provider — PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour

  • Contracted Mental Health Provider — NBA Summer League (2023)

  • Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology — UNLV Athletics

  • Athletic Psychologist — University of Nebraska Cornhuskers

  • Community Faculty Member — University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine

  • Sport Psychologist & Licensed Psychologist — Doerr Psychological Services LLC, Private Practice

Education

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology — James Madison University

  • Doctoral Internship — University of California, Davis, Sport Psychology Emphasis (APA-Accredited)

  • Master's in Sport & Performance Psychology — University of Denver

  • Bachelor's in Psychology — University of Nevada, Reno

  • Associate's in Liberal Studies — Feather River College

Awards & Recognition

  • Distinguished Alumnus — Feather River College (2023)

  • Most Distinguished Graduate Student — James Madison University Department of Graduate Psychology (2016)

  • Taylor & Francis Publishing Student Travel Award (2014)

  • Published Researcher — peer-reviewed journals and book chapters in sport and performance psychology

My path to this work didn't start in a classroom. It started on the field.

Growing up in Reno, Nevada, sport was a central part of my life. I got my first real taste of high performance culture playing baseball at Reno High School under Coach Pete Savage, an experience that showed me early what it meant to be pushed to compete at a high level. That foundation carried me to Feather River College, where playing under Coach Terry Baumgartner on a nationally ranked program deepened my understanding of what elite sport culture truly demands of an athlete, mentally and physically.

Like many athletes, I experienced firsthand the gap between physical preparation and mental readiness. I struggled with the mental side of performance, the doubt, the pressure, the inconsistency, until I discovered that the mind could be trained just as deliberately as the body. That realization was a turning point. With the right tools and the right mindset, I found my footing as an athlete and went on to compete at the college level.

But sport also taught me about loss. A career ending injury forced me to step away from competition before I was ready, and that experience opened something in me. I understood deeply what it meant to have your identity, your purpose, and your daily structure stripped away all at once. It was out of that experience that my calling became clear. I wanted to serve athletes and high achievers not just in performance, but in the full complexity of their mental health and wellness.

That personal foundation drove every academic and professional decision that followed. I began my graduate training at the University of Denver, earning a Master's in Sport and Performance Psychology under the mentorship of some of the most accomplished sport psychologists and mental performance consultants in the field. The training I received there set a standard for excellence that shaped everything that came after.

I then pursued my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at James Madison University, where I had the unique distinction of being the first sport psychology student in the doctoral program. Alongside former Association for Applied Sport Psychology President Dr. Bob Harmison, I played an integral role in helping develop the Challace McMillin Center for Sport Psychology, contributing to building something that would go on to serve athletes and coaches for years to come. My time at JMU sharpened both my clinical and research skills, and I was honored to receive the Most Distinguished Graduate Student award from the Department of Graduate Psychology upon completing my degree. My doctoral internship at UC Davis further deepened my clinical training with a dedicated sport psychology emphasis.

From there I stepped into elite collegiate sport, joining the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers as an Athletic Psychologist embedded within one of the most storied Big Ten athletic programs in the country. I traveled with teams, sat in on practices, and worked alongside coaches and medical staff to support student athletes across a range of sports, including 10 days in China with the Nebraska Women's Volleyball team. It was immersive, demanding, and exactly where I needed to be.

I then took on the challenge of building a program at UNLV Athletics, where I served as Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology. During my time living and working in Las Vegas, I led the growth of what began as a single provider operation into a three provider department with formalized policies, procedures, and programming serving over 500 Division I student athletes across 16 teams. I served as a member of the UNLV Athletic Department Senior Staff, working alongside department heads to build an integrated model of athlete support that addressed both mental health and performance.

Since returning home to Reno, Nevada, I have built Doerr Psychological Services LLC, a private practice rooted in the same philosophy that has guided my entire career. That performance and wellness are two sides of the same coin. I have had the privilege of serving as a contracted Mental Health Provider for the NBA Summer League, and most recently as a Psychological Services Provider for the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour. I also serve as a Community Faculty Member at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, contributing to the training of future physicians, and remain active as a published researcher and public speaker.

If any part of that journey resonates with you, there is a good chance we would work well together.