معرفی
Dr. Teresa Behrend Fletcher serves as Professor and Program Director for the Sport and Human Performance program at Adler University in Chicago, leveraging over 30 years of clinical and sport psychology expertise with athletes, teams, and organizations. Her practice uniquely integrates evidence-based mental performance strategies with clinical counseling to enhance resilience and well-being across diverse populations.
Her academic foundation includes:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Counselor Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2000), featuring a cognate in Exercise and Sport Science and dissertation on volleyball team cohesion
- Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University (1997)
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Loyola University of Chicago (1990)
Dr. Fletcher's research pioneers the intersection of sport psychology and grief counseling, with signature contributions in death and grief in sport and counseling skill development. As both a Division I athlete and USA Hockey Certified Level 4 Coach, she translates firsthand athletic experience into practical mental performance frameworks, particularly for youth and collegiate athletes navigating identity development and trauma.
Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals three critical trajectories: evolving mentorship models in sport psychology practice, grief processing within athletic contexts, and creative therapeutic interventions for young clients. Her work consistently bridges academic rigor with field application, emphasizing liberation-focused approaches for athletes with non-dominant identities.
Scientific recognition:
- No specific awards or fellowships documented in source material
As program director, Dr. Fletcher mentors emerging practitioners through Adler University's curriculum while maintaining active consulting relationships with sport organizations. Her clinical supervision extends to Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor credentials, though specific grant funding or advisee names aren't publicly detailed.
Her applied work operates through direct community engagement rather than formal laboratory settings, exemplified by recent initiatives like 'Promoting Activity and Wellness During Shelter-in-Place'. As an active triathlete and runner, she embodies the athlete-scholar-practitioner model central to her professional philosophy.
