Charlie Shanaver, Ph.D., LP, is a Psychologist at Children's Wisconsin with specialized training in sport and mental performance and an Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
She works closely with young athletes and individuals recovering from surgery to support their return to sport, overcome mental blocks, and manage sport performance anxiety. She also helps athletes navigate transitions out of sport, prolonged concussion or injury recovery, and life events that affect their performance.
Because of her background, she brings a unique understanding of the mental side of sport—its demands, pressures, and the distinct culture and needs in each athletic environment. This allows her to tailor care to the specific mental health needs of athletes in a way that feels relevant, supportive, and effective.
In addition to working with individual athletes, she partners with coaches and teams to strengthen communication, improve responses to failure, prepare for high-pressure situations, and address challenging team dynamics while promoting a healthy, collaborative support system for young athletes.
She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and earned her master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. After returning to University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, she earned her doctorate in counseling psychology and went on to complete an APPIC accredited doctoral internship at the University of Iowa.
Doctorate degree: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Locations: Greenfield Clinic