Raising Boys in Sports: Pressure, Mental Health & Healing The Brain

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we explore the science of sports injury, recovery, and brain health with Paige Roberts—sports psychology consultant, brain optimization expert, and founder of Performance Neuro Training.

Paige explains how both physical and emotional trauma—such as concussions, chronic stress, and performance pressure—impact the brain, and how specific therapies can help restore brain function to its pre-injury state. Drawing from traditional practices, cutting-edge neuroscience, and her own journey through injury and loss, Paige has developed a unique, holistic approach that is transforming the way athletes heal and perform.

A former NCAA athlete herself, Paige brings both lived experience and expert insight to this conversation. From trauma and concussions to performance anxiety and pressure from coaches or fathers, this is a must-listen for any parent raising a boy in sports today. We unpack the neuroscience behind emotional resilience, the risks of early sports specialization, the ongoing impact of toxic masculinity in athletics, and how we can help our sons thrive—not just on the field, but in life.

This conversation is especially important for parents of boys, who often channel their sons’ energy into sports. Paige offers critical insights into how to prevent long-term injury, what to do when injury occurs, and how to support your child’s mental and emotional health through the ups and downs of competitive athletics.

Whether you're raising a young athlete or simply want to better understand how trauma affects the brain—and how healing is possible—this episode delivers the knowledge, hope, and tools every parent needs.

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Guest Bio

Paige Roberts is a sports psychology consultant and an energy optimization expert. She specializes in helping high performers and athletes reset their nervous system to overcome performance anxiety, increase reaction times, decrease mistakes, increase performance confidence, decrease recovery time, get in on command and stay in flow state and reverse the damage from past stress or injuries. Paige owns a private practice (Performance Neuro Training) where she implements various neuroscience and quantum physics performance expansion modalities. Paige has a degree in Exercise Science, Master of Social Work and a Doctorate of Integrative Medicine. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social worker, Certified Light Therapist, Certified Brain Health and, QEEG Brain Scan Practitioner. Paige was led down the path of sports psychology through her personal experience as an NCAA athlete and the various mental and physical health challenges she faced. And through the loss of multiple athlete friends to suicide. Paige is on a mission to shift the mental health stigma paradigm. 

Topics Covered

• Paige’s personal story: injuries, healing, and the birth of her mission
• What parents need to know about boys, sports, and mental health
• The hidden cost of early sports specialization
• Concussions: how they affect the brain and emotions
• The link between trauma, addiction, and nervous system dysregulation
• How to help your son stay emotionally resilient under performance pressure
• Toxic masculinity in sports and how it harms boys
• The vital role of fathers—and how over-coaching can backfire
• The science of flow state, brain health, and recovery
• Why crying is healthy and emotional expression is key to healing
• How sports culture is beginning to shift toward openness and vulnerability
• The importance of being a safe, emotionally present parent

Links

• Perform ance Neuro Trainingwww.robertsneurotraining.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportspsychpaige/

Visit SonhoodCoaching.com for more resources for raising boys.

What makes Season 3 Different?

Too many boys today feel lost, alone, and misunderstood. And far too often, the same is true for their parents.

Behind the troubling statistics is a generation of boys quietly longing to be seen, heard, and valued — yet the conversation around boys’ emotional lives remains far too quiet.

Season 3 of Unlocking the Parenting Code is here to change that.

In this new season, you’ll hear:

🔹 Real conversations with young men who are ready to share their truth.

🔹 Powerful insights from experts in boys’ mental and emotional health.

🔹 And raw, real wisdom from dads who are walking this road every day

🔹 Solo episodes where I reflect on what I’ve witnessed, wrestled with, and learned

At the heart of this season — and at the heart of Sonhood Coaching — is a mission:

To understand the inner emotional world of boys, to recognize the very real challenges they face, and to name the damaging myths and societal expectations that continue to shape how we see, treat, and raise our sons.

This is not about fixing boys.

It’s about truly seeing them — and learning how to show up differently, with compassion, courage, and connection.

Together, we’re building a world where boys feel safe to be their authentic selves.

Because when we get it right for our boys, we begin to heal something much bigger.