Episode 53: Dr. Jerry Lynch on Self-Reflection and Awareness

In life, without self-awareness, we cut off our potential to grow in a way that we find really deep true meaning in life. - Dr. Jerry Lynch

While most would consider him simply a sports psychologist, Dr. Lynch is a coach, mentor and teacher who guides and coaches athletes and parents to explore the meaning and purpose of sport, as a powerful vehicle to help us all understand the components of the athletic game and how they apply to the bigger game called life. In the process of this exploration, overall athletic performance is greatly enhanced. Dr. Lynch has been recognized as one of the top five in his profession nationwide. He has worked with men's and women's basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf and other sports at the universities of North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, California, Syracuse, Stanford, Harvard and Middlebury and continues to work with several teams and parent groups nationally.  Several of his clients have participated in various summer and winter Olympic Games. Most recently, he has established a consultancy with Steve Kerr, head coach of the World Champion Golden State Warriors. In the past 30 years alone, he has been part of 54 Final Four and 36 National Championship at the collegiate and professional levels. Dr. Lynch is a well known and in-demand public speaker at Leadership, Coaching, athletic and corporate conventions, a national presenter of conferences, clinics and workshops for coaches, sports parents and athletes. Dr. Lynch has had extensive media interview coverage such as being an invited guest on CBS, NBC, and PBS national television, the New York Times, Oprah Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Baltimore Sun, Outside Magazine and over 50 national radio broadcasts, podcasts and webinars. Dr. Lynch received his doctorate in psychology from Penn State University, and has done extensive post-doctoral work in the area of philosophy, Taoist and Buddhist thought, comparative religions, leadership development and performance enhancement. He has been a national class athlete, having been a member of a national championship team and, to this day, continues to run and bike. He has coached at the high school level as well as AAU sports. He is the author of 13 books. Dr. Lynch is the founder and director of Way of Champions, a performance consulting group geared toward helping others master the inner game. He maintains a private practice and an extensive sports psychology consultation service. He is the father of four high energy, athletic children. He divides his time between his offices in Santa Cruz, California and Boulder, Colorado where he works and writes in the spirit of what he teaches and coaches. If you enjoy the show, please like, share, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. Dr. Lynch has been inspired by other sport parents in his desire to grow to become a better person. He and Kathy discuss sensitivity and self-reflection as major strengths for parents and athletes alike, and utilizing LUV; listening, understanding through questioning, and validating. He encourages parents to engage in behavior that puts athletes into the RIVER; feeling relevant, important/inspired, valued, empowered, and respected. This meaningful conversation can’t be missed! Kathy would also love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through https://www.kafcounselingandsportperformance.com/contact.