DR. NATALIE LÉGER, PSYD, LP
Photo Credit: Diana Beague Esq.
I am a native New Yorker, former NCAA Division 1 volleyball player, and currently a licensed sport and counseling psychologist. I am the owner of The Collective Edge PLLC, my sport and counseling psychology private practice. My experiences as an athlete and high achiever, along with my values in being an advocate has blossomed into a passion for creating systems that foster healthy human development for all high performers and the stakeholders in their lives. Throughout my doctoral studies I worked at various sites providing individual therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, sport psychology services, consultation, psychological assessments, and outreach services to diverse populations in identity, mental health presentation, and leadership positions. In each of these roles I took action in creating long-standing impact in advocating for the psychological needs of high performers through professional consultation and effective relationship building with key stakeholders.
BACKGROUND
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
I have professional affiliations with the American Psychological Association (APA) and Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). I was also selected for the inaugural class of the AASP Diversity in Sport Ignite Program. Some of my professional presentations that highlight my expertise include APA 2020 Virtual Conference - Symposium: “Empowering Diverse Students in College-Creating Policies and Preventative Interventions That Matter”; Springfield College: A SEAT at the Table - “Shut up and Dribble”: Social Justice, Politics, and Sport: Tools for Preventing the Dehumanization of Athletes; Little East Conference SAAC and Conference-wide Athletic Administration Leadership - “Athlete Identity”; AASP 2021 Virtual Northeast Regional Conference - ‘Know Your Role: The Intersection of Social Justice, Sport, and Sport Psychology’.
EDUCATION BACKGROUND
I completed my Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology and M.Ed. in General Counseling at Springfield College where I successfully defended my dissertation titled ‘The Salience of Protective Factors in Managing Organizational Stressors for Collegiate Athletes’. My doctoral externship training sites included a social justice practicum at Brookings Elementary School, a community-psychology oriented practicum at Rusk Rehabilitation Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at NYU Medical Center, and a university counseling with athletics specialization role at Eastern Connecticut State University. My doctoral training culminated in an APA-accredited doctoral internship at Stony Brook University Counseling and Psychological Services where I engaged in an athletics apprenticeship. I then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at Georgetown University Counseling and Psychiatric Services. I received specialized sport psychology training through the completion of a Master’s in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology at Barry University where I also began pursuing the requirements for CMPC certification. Prior to my Master's I received a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise Science from The George Washington University where I also competed on the NCAA Division 1 women's volleyball team.
PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY
I am known as a skilled communicator that can simplify complex dynamics and concepts in a manner that promotes understanding, hope for change, and empowerment. Participating in the incredible change my clients have been able to achieve through empathic and liberation-based services has led me to see the powerful impact I can make in collaborating with the key stakeholders in my clients’ lives and the systems they perform within. It’s important to me to form bridges between everyday people and high performers in the pursuit of mental wellness and optimal performance. With many individual clinicians, high performance stakeholders, and larger organizations seeking to effectively support the high performance population, my expertise and skillset is well-served in fostering worthwhile change.
