To finish out our performance series, we will be hearing from experts who are engaged with specialized populations. These experts share a common mission; to assist people and groups to perform at their peak potential with passion and purpose.

In this episode, we hear from Natalie Graves who has a private practice specializing in athletes’ mental health & performance and is the author of an athlete workbook entitled The Athlete’s Prepbook.

She received her master’s degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and her bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University. She was a visiting student at the University of Maryland where she studied abroad in London, England in the Sport, Commerce, and Culture in the Global Marketplace Program. Natalie completed an Addictions Studies Program at City Colleges of Chicago Kennedy-King College. She also completed 30 classroom hours in compulsive gambling disorders.

Natalie is also the founder and president of the 1 in 4 PROJECT. This organization is comprised of mental health professionals focused on bringing awareness of mental health and wellness to the sport community. Natalie is a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Natalie speaks nationally and internationally on topics relating to mental health and sports. Natalie has published magazine articles on mindfulness and runners. She has been a guest on several local news sediments, radio and podcasts discussing various issues within sports. She was also featured in HBO’s documentary Student Athlete. Natalie Graves is a certified school social worker, licensed clinical social worker and certified alcohol and drug counselor.