We recently connected with Laura HS Collins and have shared our conversation below.

Laura HS, appreciate you joining us today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

4 years ago, I met my former boss, Mickey Correa. I was 44 years old. We had a weekly check-in where at some point he would say, “I want you to trust in your experiences and use your voice. You have knowledge and wisdom that needs to be heard, You are the Clinic Director, this is your clinic. You are a Woman of Color, a mother, a former elite athlete, a veteran clinician, I want you to trust in yourself and do what you think is best.” Not just once. Nearly every week.

In most of my 21-year career, I had only known work spaces where feedback was not really welcomed, and no one looked at me – an Asian American woman – and thought “leader.” “Frontline-workhorse-who-admin-could-give-more-responsibilities-to-and-she-would-get-it-done?” Sure. But a respected “leader” with a voice that matters? Not so much.

But Mickey – a Black, Puerto Rican Methodist minister – did. And thanks to him and a community of supportive colleagues, I have fully embraced who I am, embracing all my identities that create the leader within me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I’m Laura Collins, a.k.a. The Athlete Psychotherapist.

I’m a first-generation Korean-Filipina American, a former elite and Division I athlete, and a licensed clinical social worker with over two decades of experience helping people heal, grow, and navigate life’s most complex transitions. My work is grounded in a simple truth: high performers — especially athletes and Professionals of Color — are often praised for their strength, but rarely supported in their struggle.

I bring 15 years of competitive gymnastics and diving experience, including a Division I career at UCLA, into my therapy and coaching work. I know what it means to be pushed beyond limits, to wrap identity around performance, and to silently carry grief, injury, or burnout — all while trying to “stay tough.” This personal history, combined with 20+ years of clinical practice in NYC, helps me work deeply and effectively with people navigating high stress, high stakes, and high expectations.

Clients come to me when they feel stuck, invisible, or exhausted from over-functioning.
I support:

– Former athletes wrestling with identity loss and reinvention

– Current competitors seeking mental resilience and emotional freedom

– Clients of color navigating intergenerational trauma, isolation, or the pressure to excel in spaces that weren’t built for them

– Parents and caregivers juggling complex family roles, including postpartum, sandwich parenting, and elder care

– And high achievers in all arenas who appear “fine” on the outside but are quietly unraveling underneath

I offer psychotherapy, short-term groups, athlete mental resilience coaching, and The AP Method — a workshop series that unites trauma-informed care with high-performance development. My approach blends psychoanalytic training, mindfulness, and practical tools with deep compassion and lived experience. I hold space for grief, identity work, self-discovery, and the real-life messiness that comes with growth.

Beyond my private practice, I’m the Chief Clinical Officer at HomeTeam, a new platform reimagining athlete mental health by providing retired and injured athletes with access to meaningful support and community. I’m also the co-host of Hahnacity, a podcast rooted in storytelling, culture, and candid conversations about healing, identity, and being human beyond performance.

I’m most proud of the moment when a client says, “I feel at peace.” Whether it’s helping someone feel seen for the first time, find words for their inner world, or finally feel safe enough to stop performing and start being — those are the moments that matter most to me.

You can follow my work on Instagram at @theathletepsychotherapist, or subscribe to Athlete Illuminated at lcollinslcsw.com, where I share real talk about performance, healing, and life after sport. You can also tune into Hahnacity on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and YouTube.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Community. To succeed as an entrepreneur, especially in a field centered around healing and service, it’s essential to be part of a caring, compassionate, and kickass community.

I’ve been fortunate to walk alongside wise, talented, and generous colleagues and friends. I’m also a proud member of the Embrace Change Leadership Network – a powerhouse collective of Women and Non-Binary Leaders of Color. On heavy days, they’re hugs. On self-doubt days, they’re grounding (and sometimes the loving kick in the pants I need). On victorious days, they’re loud, joyful celebrants.

Having people who see you, believe in you, and cheer you on (and vice versa)? That’s everything.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Two things: First, I’m good at what I do. My skills are hard-earned – built over 41 years of life experience and deep clinical practice – and I now use them to support people and programs on their journey toward health and well-being.

Second, relationships. I used to resist the idea of “networking” because of my own imposter construct (I don’t call it a syndrome. It’s not a pathology, it’s a conditioned response). But over time, with encouragement from my community, the drive of my athlete mindset (“Just do it, you’ve got this”), and a genuine love of connecting through story, I’ve come to enjoy meeting people, sharing ideas, and building a community of talented, compassionate humans. Many of my opportunities have come from these authentic connections – referrals, collaborations, and the mutual trust that grows from real relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lcollinslcsw.com
• Instagram: @theathletepsychotherapist
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/lcollinslcsw
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hahnacity