STOCKTON, Calif. – Pacific Athletics aims to focus on student-athlete wellbeing by adding Sonia Bradley, ASW MSW, to the athletics staff as the first staff sports psychologist. She began work at Pacific in February 2023.

"Adding a qualified and dedicated sports psychologist to the myriad of resources that support our student-athletes at Pacific was important as a next step in our program," said Pacific's Director of Athletics Janet Lucas. "Developing our student-athletes academically, athletically and personally is central to our mission. Sonia will bring her passion for helping student-athletes to Pacific daily."

Pacific has over 300 student-athletes competing at the NCAA Division I level. These students are navigating college academics in many areas, learning to live alone or away from their families, trying to manage a social life and juggling all aspects and responsibilities of being a student-athlete. 

"From a young age, athletes work on performance training for their physical health, to improve their physical fitness and learn, refine, and grow the skills needed in their sport. It is all too common for mental health to be mentioned in passing as important, without specific time and attention paid to learning, refining and growing those skills," said Pam Wrona, associate director of Pacific's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). "Athletes are often driven, focused, goal-oriented, and high-achieving, which helps them athletically and academically. However, these qualities that allow them to excel at sports and in the classroom can also drive depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns."

"As athletes, it is common to be taught to 'play through the pain', which is interpreted as both physical and psychological or mental pain," said Wrona. "When an athlete becomes physically injured, trainers, their coaches, teammates, friends, and family pay close attention to their healing process. When an athlete is mentally injured, these same support networks often disappear, leaving the athlete feeling isolated and alone. This is where CAPS and specific mental health support can be so helpful; we know how to sit with you in your journey of whatever pain you are experiencing, helping you navigate the healing journey as you work to become more fully yourself in whatever that means."

Student-athlete mental health has been gaining attention due to tragedies across the country. The NCAA surveyed over 70,000 student-athletes during Spring 2020, Fall 2020 and Fall 2021 regarding their mental health following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that 30 percent of the student-athletes surveyed felt extremely overwhelmed, and nearly 25 percent said they felt mentally exhausted (Lindberg, 2021). 

Lucas said she wants the student-athletes at Pacific to know that they always have a safe and inviting place to ask for help or talk about their growth and mental wellness. 

"We are tremendously excited to partner with CAPS to bring Sonia on board and support our student-athletes," said Deputy Director of Athletics Wes Yourth. "In the short time Sonia has been working with our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, it is unmistakable the passion and energy Sonia brings to this role and her overall desire to help foster holistic wellness."

Bradley is an associate clinical social worker that specializes in helping student-athletes. She got her master's degree from Rutgers in social work, clinical specialization in 2021. She received the Standout Student Award at Rutgers to recognize her work in the Stockton community and with student-athletes. She earned her bachelor's from Cal State East Bay in socio-cultural anthropology in 2006.

"I feel truly blessed to be welcomed into the Pacific family. I am forever grateful to all who have invested their time in me, my family, my community, students, staff and coaches. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to expand my village here at Pacific," said Bradley. "I am passionate about destigmatizing mental health in athletic spaces. Too often, athletes feel isolated due to the responsibilities of being a student-athlete, including but not limited to time limitations, academics, expectations of those around them, participation in sports and preparation to engage in sports. Athletes are performers and are trained to mask themselves."

Bradley always planned to help others working in social work but found a new specific passion for working with student-athletes after watching 'Last Chance U'. She recognized an immense need for support for that population, and one of her main goals is to destigmatize mental health in athletics.

"I aim to continue fostering a safe space for students and staff to openly communicate and build community and fellowship. That can reap benefits for athletics on and off the court, field, course, track and pool," said Bradley. "If I can participate in assisting anyone in maximizing and realizing their full potential, then I have done my job. I am a change-maker, which can provide opportunities for positive growth. I welcome this challenge wholeheartedly."

Wrona said CAPS is happy to have Bradley as its clinician within athletics due to her wealth of experience and training and her passion for working with student-athletes and supporting their holistic growth and learning. 

"Adding a sports therapist has been an integral part of increasing our support services for our student-athletes," said Hunter Konecny-Pena, coordinator of student-athlete development. "So far, I've heard positive feedback from students who have worked with Sonia, and I continue to remind others that her services are available to them. I'm very happy to see the students taking advantage of this resource and taking care of themselves in the process."