About Dr. Jacob Cooper Ph.D.

Dr. Cooper currently employed as a licensed clinical sport psychologist (HSP-P) in the state of North Carolina as well as a certified mental performance consultant through the American Association of Sport Psychology (AASP).

He has over 10 years of private clinical and consultative practice for college & professional athletes (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, PGA, NASCAR, Olympic Athletes). He serve as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic athlete mental health registry and NFLPA prefered clinician directory.

From the first day he began formally pursuing a career in sport psychology, through a double master’s program at Ball State University (2011-2013), it has been Dr. Coopers primary career goal to be able to contribute to the mental well-being of athletes and high performers at the highest level. Having the opportunity to be a scholarship athlete he learned first hand the unique stressors athletes are tasked to navigate daily. Through numerous injuries (ACL rupture, concussions, Tib fib fractures resulting in 4 surgeries over a successful playing career) he learned first hand how to navigate the mental health issues that can accompany the pursuit of elite performance. He also knows how pivotal a well-integrated sport psychologist can be throughout an athletes player's journey after their playing days are over. These experiences set the foundation for my ongoing pursuit of acquiring the highest level of professional development available to work as a sport psychologist full-time. 

Throughout his clinical training at Boston University, where Dr. Cooper completed his APA accredited PhD in clinical psych with a concentration in sport psychology, he had the opportunity to work within several dynamic high performance contexts including military hospitals, Division 1 athletic departments, prison systems, Pro sport franchises, and inner-city sport-based youth development programs. These experiences have equipped Dr. Cooper with a one of a kind blend of culturally relevant and evidence-based practices to best work with low helping-seeking, high performing individuals from diverse backgrounds. This experience to-date has helped forge a culturally humble and relationship-focused approach to working with athletes at the individual level and with stakeholders at the institutional level. This has been essential in building trust and cultivating buy-in for a comprehensive approach to mental health care.