Clinician

Ben Oliva

LHMC, CMPC

I am a licensed mental health counselor and certified performance consultant. I work with people of all ages, but specialize in helping high performers to address anxiety and gain confidence, focus, and emotional control. I teach my clients evidence-based mental skills and techniques for all areas of life.

What can I expect in our first session?

You can expect to feel welcomed and heard. The first session is an intake session where we’ll get to know more about each other. We’ll talk about your reasons for seeking help and what you hope to get out of it. We’ll also talk about my background and the trajectory I’ve taken to get to where I’m at now. My approach is open-ended yet solution-based; my goal is to give my clients the techniques and resources they need to feel confident in their decision making.

What inspired you to get into counseling?

I wanted to work in a field where I could combine my love of sports with my passion for helping others. I was a camp counselor all throughout my teenage years and learned that I work well with youth and families. That plus my interest in psychology made becoming a counselor a no-brainer for me.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing the positive outcomes of a breakthrough. I often work with young athletes and their families, and it can be difficult to manage anxiety, confidence issues, and emotional control, especially as a young person navigating competitive spaces. When clients are able to take the skills and techniques we work on and apply them not only to sports but all areas of their lives, it’s really fulfilling.

In another life, if you weren’t working in counseling, what would you be doing?

I’d probably be studying the stars in an observatory somewhere—I double majored in astrophysics and psychology in college. Every summer at camp my friends and I would spend countless nights stargazing.

What’s something your patients might be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve run both the Boston and LA Marathons. I’m currently training for the London Marathon!

Experience and Accolades

  • Professional member of the American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association, and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology
  • Mental Performance Coach for Fordham University Athletics
  • Works with the Baylor football program and other NCAA teams
  • Works with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Mental Performance Initiative
  • Featured expert in the field of mental performance on NBC productions and in publications including Runner’s World and Fatherly

Pronouns

He/Him

Languages

English, Spanish

Education

EdM in counseling with a concentration in Sport and Performance Psychology (Boston University)

Works With

Adults, Youth, Families

Licenses and Certifications

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)

Specialties

Youth counseling, sports counseling, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Style

Interested in working with Ben Oliva?

Experience and Accolades

  • Professional member of the American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association, and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology
  • Mental Performance Coach for Fordham University Athletics
  • Works with the Baylor football program and other NCAA teams
  • Works with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Mental Performance Initiative
  • Featured expert in the field of mental performance on NBC productions and in publications including Runner’s World and Fatherly

Get in touch

We provide personalized, hands-on care

Reach out to us using any of the contacts below or our general contact form.