Barry University Athletics

Building Unity, Community & Solidarity (B.U.C.S.)

1. Join The Conversation (JTC)
2. Student-Athletes of Color Lunch
3. Taskforce Meetings

What does B.U.C.S. stand for?

Building Unity Community & Solidarity. B.U.C.S. is a taskforce made up of SEPP students, alumni, and faculty along with athletics administrators aimed at helping support and empower our student athletes.

How can I get involved?

Every month, B.U.C.S. will host the following events:

Are all events open to the community at large?

JTC events are open to the University Community. SAC Lunches are designed to create a space where our minority student athletes can feel like they have the opportunity to be open and share their feelings and experiences and, as such, are invitation only. Taskforce Meetings are limited to the board.

The Center For Counseling & Psychological Services (CCPS)

Where is the counseling center located?

Landon 105, next to Health Services

How do I make an appointment?

To schedule an appointment, please call (305) 899-3950 or stop by our office located in Landon 105.

Will sessions be released to coaches, athletic staff, or professors?

Confidentiality is an important aspect of counseling.  Our primary goal is to provide you with a safe environment in which you feel comfortable to discuss your concerns. We take protecting your privacy very seriously.  Counseling Center records are confidential and are separate from other university records. release of information requires the client’s written consent, except where disclosure is required or allowed by law (e.g., where there is a reasonable suspicion of abuse of children, dependent adults, or elderly persons; where the client presents a serious danger of violence to another person; where the client is likely to harm himself/herself; or when required by a valid court order).

Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (SEPP)

Why do you call yourself "consultants" and not "sport psychologists"?

There are 2 types of practitioners in the field. "Sport psychologists" are licensed psychologists who focus mainly on clinical issues (e.g. depression or eating disorders), but may also be qualified to work on performance-related issues. "Consultants" focus on performance-related issues and take an educational approach to teaching clients mental skills that will help them improve their mental game and increase mental toughness.

What is mental conditioning?

Our thoughts and emotions affect our actions, behavior, and performance. Mental conditioning helps individuals become more aware of how they think, feel, and respond and teaches them how to use mental skills (e.g., goal setting and imagery) to maximize performance. So the process and goals of the mental conditioning sessions are tailored to the specific needs and goals of the client(s).

I don't have a "problem", why do I need mental conditioning?

The purpose of mental conditioning is to help you improve the quality of your training and performance and help increase your mental toughness in order for you to reach your full potential. "Mental training doesn't work to 'shrink' athletes. If anything, it's designed to 'stretch' the potential of athletes or to 'enlarge' their capacity to perform better, to develop more fully, and to enjoy sport more." – Vealey (2005, p. 137). So whether you have a performance problem or not, mental conditioning can help you become more mentally prepared and increase the consistency of your training and performance.

Will our discussions be released to coaches, athletic department staff, or professors?

For clients 18 years of age and older, information discussed during sessions will be kept confidential between you and your consultant unless you give permission to discuss the information with others (for example, your coach or athletic trainer) or when required by law (for example in the case of knowledge about child abuse or if you pose a serious threat to harm yourself or someone else). If you are under the age of 18, you will need to get permission from a parent or legal guardian in order to receive services and have the information discussed be kept confidential.

How many sessions do I need before I see any performance improvements?

Just like you spent many hours and years developing your physical skills, commitment and consistent practice of mental skills is required for you to improve your performance. Unfortunately, we cannot make any guarantees that your performance will improve as the result of working on your mental game because there are so many factors that go into performance. However, you increase the probability that your performance will improve by devoting time and effort to working on your mental game and you become more mentally prepared for practice, competition, and pressure situations. So while sometimes a "quick fix" may be possible, the best results come from consistent practice over time of learning and using mental skills. It may take some time and hard work, but it will be worth it!