Dr. Courtney Shields joined the Sport Psychology team at App State as a Counseling and Sport Psychologist in July 2025 in the position of Assistant Director for Sports Psychology and Mental Wellness.
 
Dr. Shields has been trained to the highest level in both mental health counseling and sport performance. She also continues to pursue development, training and education to remain on the cutting edge of best practices to provide her clients and teams. Dr. Shields is listed as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Sport Psychology Registry and maintains several professional affiliations in premier sport psychology organizations. Dr. Shields has additional specialization in working with student-athletes who experience concerns related to eating patterns, body image or identity factors.
 
Dr. Shields’ background of training and professional experience includes providing therapy, crisis intervention, programming and psychological assessment in a variety of settings, including community-based mental health, forensic-related facilities, college counseling centers, NCAA D1 athletic departments and private practice.
 
Dr. Shields obtained her Ph.D. in counseling psychology, focusing her training on sport psychology and eating-related concerns, from the University of Northern Colorado. She also has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Angelo State University.
 
Dr. Shields' passion for working with student-athletes stems from her own experiences and those of her peers. As an athlete in a time when mental health wasn’t discussed, she felt firsthand the impact it had on her performance and success. Now, she is passionate about helping student-athletes not only excel in their role as an athlete but also excel in their lives while in college and beyond.
 
Finally, her approach to therapy is relational in nature and based on the belief that all people are unique combinations of their lived experiences, cultural backgrounds, societal beliefs and more. By working collaboratively, Dr. Shields aids athletes in being able to understand how these stories impact their lives, align with their values, and develop strategies to create change to better adapt in life, on the field, and meet one’s goals.