Meet The Psychological Services Team

PsyD, LPCC, ACS, BC-TMH, CMPC; Lead Psychological Services Provider

Dr. Angel Brutus is a member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s psychological services leadership team within the sports medicine department, joining the organization in 2021.

She completed her B.A. in audiology and speech-language pathology and M.A. in rehabilitation counseling at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as well as her Psy.D. sport performance psychology at the University of Arizona Global Campus.

Dr. Brutus is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®). She is also a certified workshop facilitator with Positive Coaching Alliance® (PCA), HeartMath® practitioner and a training facilitator in Mental Health First Aid® for adults. She serves as an executive board member and professional standards head for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology's (AASP) Race & Ethnicity in Sport Special Interest Group (SIG). She is also a member of additional SIGs (Women in Sport, Anger and Violence in Sport, Eating Disorders in Sport, Adaptive Sport & Physical Activity) and is a member of multiple committees within AASP in which she has co-chaired nominations, leadership, and development while previously assisting with professional ethics and serving as an IGNITE mentor.

Dr. Brutus incorporates several different integrative strengths-based approaches to support clientele navigating the full spectrum of mental health, well-being, and performance optimization. She uses narrative therapy, bibliotherapy, liberation-based psychological approaches to affirm individual clients’ identities, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), clinical hypnotherapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, self-compassion, somatic practicing, and heart rate variability (HRV) when appropriate.

Dr. Brutus' areas of personal and clinical counseling expertise include trauma, depression, anxiety, eating concerns, recovery maintenance, identity, emerging adulthood, injury and disability, education and career counseling. Her areas of focus in the performance enhancement space further include return to sport (co- treating with medical), attitude, motivation, goals and commitment, people skills, self-talk, imagery, competition anxiety, emotion regulation and concentration, team leadership development, team building and team cohesion as well as performance profiling collaboration with coaches and other sport stakeholders.

Dr. Brutus is licensed to provide mental health services in the states of California, Colorado, Utah, New York, Mississippi and Georgia as a licensed professional counselor (LPC), board-certified telemental health counselor (BC-TMH), and certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®). She is also a Level V yoga instructor and remains under supervision for Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) certification.

Previously, she served as the inaugural assistant athletic director of counseling and sport psychology for Mississippi State University (MSU) where she provided direct clinical and performance enhancement services, administrated and developed programming to address MSU’s sports culture. She also managed a private practice based in Atlanta, Georgia where she provided clinical and sport performance services to individuals, teams, and organizations. There she served as a medical advisory board member and training facilitator for the Eating Disorders Information Network (EDIN).

Dr. Brutus currently resides in southern California and is based out of the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (CVEATC) where she is in-clinic approximately two days per week. In her spare time, she loves being with her husband, three daughters and family, and enjoys participating in philanthropic initiatives in communities serving under-resourced populations. She also facilitates workshops and keynotes discussing the intersection of mental health, performance, and multiculturalism.

PhD, LP, CMPC; Psychological Services Provider

Dr. Julia Cawthra is a psychological services provider at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). She joined the USOPC in 2021 and is a licensed psychologist, and a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®).

Previously, Dr. Cawthra worked for Auburn University athletics as a psychologist, providing both team and individual mental performance and mental health services. She received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Indiana University where she engaged in mental performance work with collegiate teams, mental health work with student-athletes, and community-based mental health services. Dr. Cawthra completed her pre- doctoral internship at Utah State University counseling and psychological services, where she worked primarily with college students in individual therapy, group therapy, and crisis support. She holds a master of arts in sport and performance psychology from the University of Denver, where she also completed a bachelor of arts in molecular biology. She is an active member in various professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association (APA), International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP), Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). She previously served on the executive board of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, where she focused on creating meaningful connections between student members and professional members while enhancing opportunities for mentorship.

Dr. Cawthra's approach to therapy is person-centered, strengths-based, interpersonal and relationship focused, emphasizing contextual factors in understanding current distress. She believes that our mental health is a vital component to multidimensional wellbeing - particularly in high-demand environments - can contribute to optimal performance. She aims to create a warm, compassionate environment that is welcoming of all intersectional identities. Her areas of clinical expertise include mental health within the sport environment, including anxiety, depression, burnout, disordered eating and body image, identity, various life transitions, and interpersonal concerns. She has expertise in areas of mental performance including team cohesion, communication, awareness, and focus.

She is currently licensed to practice psychology in Colorado, California, Florida, and New York. Additionally, Dr. Cawthra is an authorized PSYPACT® provider.

Dr. Cawthra currently lives in Denver, Colorado with her great dane, Lincoln. She enjoys yoga, urban hikes, watching documentaries, puzzles, marveling at the Rocky Mountains, being an aunt to six nieces and nephews, and exploring new challenges across various domains.

PsyD, LP, CMPC, BCN, BCB; Senior Psychological Services Provider

Dr. Emily Clark is a licensed clinical and sport psychologist and serves as a senior psychological services provider for Team USA athletes. She has been at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) since 2021.

Dr. Clark received her Psy.D. in clinical psychology and M.A. in sport and performance psychology from the University of Denver. She is board certified in biofeedback and neurofeedback. She has spent her training and professional experience working with NCAA Division I and Team USA athletes addressing a broad range of mental health and mental performance needs including anxiety, depression, team dynamics, identity development, trauma, grief and loss, and interpersonal relationship concerns. She has specialty training in the areas of performance enhancement, sleep disorders, substance use, and eating disorders.

Dr. Clark practices process-based therapy from a compassion-focused approach with individuals and teams to promote healthy, effective performance in sport and life. She works collaboratively to help address obstacles, develop skills, and make lasting changes in line with client values and goals. More broadly, she sees sport as a vehicle to support social justice change and inclusivity.

She is licensed in California, New York, Colorado and an authorized PSYPACT® provider.

She is an active member of several professional associations including the American Psychological Association (APA), the Clinical and Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CSPA), the Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback (AAPB), and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

When she is not working to support Team USA, Dr. Clark, who was a former Division I athlete, enjoys staying active. To recover, you’ll find her reading, watching comedy, traveling, or connecting with friends and family.

PhD, LP, CMPC; Lead Psychological Services Provider

Dr. Karen Cogan joined the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in 2010 as the senior sport psychologist providing services primarily to the acrobat and combat sports. She is currently one of the two lead sport psychological services providers and has attended seven Olympic Games as a sport psychologist with her teams. Dr. Cogan received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Ohio State University, an M.S. in kinesiology and B.A. in psychology from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Cogan has authored “Sport Psychology Library: Gymnastics” as well as several articles and book chapters.

Dr. Cogan is a licensed psychologist in Colorado and Texas and certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®). In addition, she is a PSYPACT® authorized provider.

Dr. Cogan is both a psychologist and sport psychologist. She can address a wide range of athlete concerns though she specializes in treating depression, anxiety, and women’s issues such as disordered eating and recovery from trauma. Mental training specializations include mindfulness and imagery training, strategies for performing under pressure, developing mental training plans to maximize performance, and utilizing virtual reality training to prepare for competition.

Dr. Cogan takes an integrative approach in working with the athlete as a whole person. Sport is an important part of the athlete’s experience, so emphasis is placed on that area, but any life area is a welcome part of the discussion. She works collaboratively with athletes, coaches, and teams to provide care that meets their needs along the entire spectrum of well-being. She creates an accepting environment to meet athletes where they are and to devise a plan that maximizes both performance and life satisfaction. Strategies include behavioral interventions, mindfulness training, interpersonal process discussions, and - with the athlete’s permission - collaboration with their support system.

Dr. Cogan was a competitive gymnast for 10 years and competed for UCLA’s nationally ranked gymnastics team. More recently, she has raced in triathlons and enjoys hiking in the Colorado mountains with her family.

PhD, LP, CMPC; Senior Psychological Services Provider

Working primarily with winter sports, Dr. Cohen provides sport psychology consultation and counseling for national teams, athletes, and coaches at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Centers, various national governing body training sites, and at national and international competitions.

As a licensed psychologist and certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®), Dr. Cohen assists coaches in creating supportive performance environments that promote psychological and physical skill acquisition and mastery. He works directly with athletes to maximize performance readiness (the ability to focus on the right thing, at the right time, every time) through quality preparation, enhanced resilience, and mindful self- regulation of awareness and attention.

Dr. Cohen joined the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in 2011 after maintaining a psychology practice in Athens, Georgia. He also served as program chair for the sport psychology graduate program at Argosy University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Cohen is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Society for Exercise, Sport, and Performance Psychology and is a member and Fellow of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Dr. Cohen served on AASP’s executive board as professional standards division head (2013-2016), providing leadership in diversity, certification, ethics, and continuing education.

Dr. Cohen earned his B.A. in psychology from Texas A&M University, a M.S. in sport psychology and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Florida State University. He completed a pre-doctoral internship with a specialization in sport psychology at Kansas State University and a post-doctoral fellowship specializing in sport psychology at the University of Georgia. Dr. Cohen is licensed as a psychologist in Utah as well as being a PSYPACT® authorized provider.

Dr. Cohen resides in Park City, Utah with his wife, son, and golden retriever.

PhD, LP, CMPC; Psychological Services Provider

Dr. Alex D. Cushing is a licensed psychologist and joined the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as a psychological services provider in 2022. He is also a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®) with the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Dr. Cushing previously served as the inaugural lead sport psychologist at Pepperdine University where he oversaw the building and development of the clinical and sport psychology program within the athletics department, while working directly with athletes, teams, and coaches. Dr. Cushing is a professional member of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Division 47 (Exercise and Sport Psychology), Division 17 (Counseling Psychology), the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and the Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA). He has provided consultation and trainings to multiple universities and athletic conferences on clinical mental health and sport psychology work, programming, and implementation with NCAA Division I student athletes. He has been a guest speaker at USA Swimming Pacific's diversity, equity & inclusion camp, for the West Coast Conference and Mountain West Conference, and was a facilitator at the NCAA Inclusion Forum (sport for social change: student-athlete engagement program).

Dr. Cushing completed his B.A. in American studies and was a member of the NCAA Division I national championship swimming team at the University of California-Berkeley. He completed an M.A. in sport psychology and Psy.D. in clinical psychology at John F. Kennedy University. Dr. Cushing provides a multicultural diversity perspective while utilizing an integrative therapeutic approach, and specializes in the intersectionality of clinical mental health and sport psychology. He subscribes to the understanding that clinical mental health and psychological performance in sport are not necessarily mutually exclusive and can often impact one another.

He is currently a licensed psychologist in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Montana. His areas of expertise include anxiety, stress and overwhelm, depression, adjustment, identity development, behavioral or emotional concerns, substance misuse, relational distress, trauma, performance enhancement and mental skills training.

Dr. Cushing is based in Los Angeles and travels to the Chula Vista Elite Training Center monthly. Outside of work, Alex collects sneakers and enjoys spending time with friends and family at the beach, barbecuing, playing golf, and checking out new restaurants.

PhD, LP, CMPC; Psychological Services Provider

Dr. Jim Doorley is a psychological services provider with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). He is a licensed clinical psychologist and a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®) with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Joining the USOPC in 2022, Dr. Doorley is also the sport psychologist for the New England Revolution (Major League Soccer) and a clinical and sport psychologist with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) sport psychology program.

Dr. Doorley received his B.A. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from George Mason University. He completed his predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. During his graduate training, Dr. Doorley provided clinical and sport psychology services for Amplify Wellness + Performance, LLC, the Boston Ballet, the United States Naval Academy, the George Mason University men’s basketball team, and the Inova sports medicine concussion program.

Dr. Doorley specializes in helping athletes and teams improve their attentional control and awareness (i.e., flexibly direct attention toward performance-enhancing cues, manage distractions, move on from mistakes), psychologically prepare for varied performance situations through imagery training/mental rehearsal, and learn effective responses to thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations (e.g., doubts, anxiety, fatigue) to maximize sport performance and enjoyment. He also helps athletes cope with sports injury, optimize rehabilitation, and maximize confidence and bodily trust during return-to-sport through mental rehearsal, structured goal-setting, and other strategies. He enjoys collaborating with sports medicine providers to help athletes achieve their goals.

Dr. Doorley applies evidence-based approaches (e.g., acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy) to help athletes work through mental health and mental performance concerns. He focuses primarily on anxiety (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic), depression, attention difficulties (e.g., ADHD), and trauma/post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He also helps address sport-specific concerns, such as burnout, sport career transitions, and relationships with coaches/teammates. Dr. Doorley is currently a research fellow in integrative medicine at Harvard Medical School and a clinical researcher at the MGH Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research (CHOIR). His current research focuses on developing, testing, and implementing behavioral and mind-body interventions to reduce pain interference in daily life and prevent chronic pain following acute orthopedic injury. He has co-authored 35 scientific articles and six book chapters on topics related to health psychology (e.g., psychology of pain/injury, health behavior change), positive psychology (e.g., well-being, savoring, self-compassion), sport psychology/athlete well-being, and psychological flexibility (harnessing negative thoughts and emotions to facilitate goal pursuit).

In his spare time, Dr. Doorley enjoys running, skiing, drumming, and listening to podcasts.

PhD, LP, CMPC; Senior Psychological Services Provider

Dr. Sean McCann is a senior psychological services provider at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Joining the USOPC full-time in 1991, he has traveled to the last 15 Olympic Games as a sport psychologist for Team USA.

As an experienced mental performance consultant and licensed psychologist in Colorado, Dr. McCann works directly with teams and coaches. He leads mental skills seminars and workshops about various sport psychology topics and does individual sessions with athletes. Given Dr. McCann’s extensive experience working during high stress moments in sport, much of his work focuses on increasing readiness to perform well under pressure.

Dr. McCann’s consulting philosophy is to work collaboratively with athletes and coaches to understand every athlete’s unique experience and develop the key skills necessary to perform when it matters most. His work has a cognitive-behavioral foundation and believes that consistent competition behavior begins with consistently effective thinking.

Throughout the last 31 years, he has worked with most Olympic and Paralympic sports. Dr. McCann has spoken and written extensively about the psychological challenges of sport for coaches and athletes. He has been a longtime member and fellow of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). He was recognized by AASP with the Distinguished Professional Practice Award in 2005, and in 2008 he was elected president of AASP.

Dr. McCann earned his B.A. in psychology from Brown University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Hawaii. He completed a pre-doctoral clinical internship and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Washington. Dr. McCann is licensed as a psychologist in Colorado.

Dr. McCann is based at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.