Where Clinical Care Meets the Miles
Dr. Rieke is one of the few licensed mental health clinicians who is also a USATF Certified Running Coach — addressing performance anxiety, injury recovery, burnout, and the psychology of athletic life.
The Invisible Load Runners Carry
Runners and endurance athletes often carry a psychological load that's invisible from the outside: pressure to hit a time goal, fear of re-injury, burnout from overtraining, or the identity crisis that comes with an injury sidelining a race season. Most coaches aren't trained to work with the mental side of these struggles, and most therapists don't understand the culture of endurance sport.
How This Track Works
This track combines clinical mental health support with real coaching experience — helping runners manage performance anxiety, rebuild confidence after injury, recognize burnout before it derails a season, and develop a healthier, more sustainable relationship with training and racing.
What the Research Says
This track isn't just personal experience — it's grounded in Dr. Rieke's own doctoral research and the broader exercise-science literature:
- Dr. Rieke's doctoral dissertation, Mindful Strides, examined the role of trait mindfulness in runners' motivation, mental health, and perceived competence.Read more on Dr. Rieke's background →
- A 2025 meta-analysis (2,681 participants) found aerobic and resistance exercise produced a large improvement in depression symptoms and a moderate reduction in anxiety symptoms compared to controls.International Journal of Mental Health Nursing →
Want to go deeper? Read Dr. Rieke's research-based article series on mindfulness, motivation, and running.
This is a Tier Two integrative service, drawing on Dr. Rieke's specialized certifications beyond standard clinical therapy. It can be used alongside Tier One therapy or as a standalone coaching track.