Madison Backer, LCMHC-A
Hi, I'm Madison and I can be your counselor in Charlotte, North Carolina
Let’s be direct and to the point. Here is a bit about me:
I’m passionate about helping student-athletes who feel overwhelmed by the pressure to do it all. I support them in finding balance so they can show up in their sport and in life with more confidence and clarity.
➤ Is this your child?
Being a student-athlete is no small task. Your child is constantly balancing school, sports, and everything else in between, and sometimes, it just feels like too much.
- Maybe they are feeling the pressure to perform from coaches, teammates, or even yourself.
- Maybe an injury, a tough loss, or team dynamics are taking a toll on their confidence and motivation.
- Maybe your child is struggling to keep up with academics while dedicating so much time to their sport?
- Maybe the college recruitment process is bringing added stress, or they are just feeling overwhelmed trying to manage it all.
If any of this sounds familiar, they are not alone.
➤ How can I help?
As a therapist, I specialize in working with student-athletes who are navigating the challenges that come with their unique lifestyle. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, burnout, confidence struggles, or managing expectations, I provide a space where they can work through it all. Together, we’ll build the tools to handle pressure, set healthy boundaries, improve focus, and find balance in and out of their sport.
- I create a supportive, no-pressure space for athletes to process the emotional and mental toll of competition, performance, and life beyond the sport.
- I blend practical tools with real-life experience as a former student-athlete, helping clients navigate stress, time management, identity shifts, and burnout.
- I support athletes in building emotional awareness and confidence, setting healthy boundaries, and developing balance between sports, school, and social life.
- I work collaboratively with both athletes and parents to strengthen communication, reduce pressure, and ensure the athlete feels seen and supported as a whole person, not just a performer.
- I create a supportive, no-pressure space for athletes to process the emotional and mental toll of competition, performance, and life beyond the sport.
If you’re a parent looking for support in guiding your student-athlete, I can help with that too. Whether your goal is to perform at your best, manage stress, or simply feel more in control, I’m here to help you thrive—not just as an athlete, but as a person.
If you are looking for my credentials, here they are:
I know firsthand what it is like to be a student-athlete because I was one too. I started playing soccer at age 8 and spent the next 10 years competing at a high level on a travel team, playing soccer for my high school team as a captain, balancing practices, games, school, and everything in between. By the time I reached high school, I understood the stress of juggling academics with the demands of my sport, the pressure to perform, and the sacrifices that came with being a competitive athlete. I also grew up in a family of multi-sport athletes, with siblings who played travel soccer and other sports, so I saw how these challenges played out in different ways for each of us.
Now, as a therapist, I bring not just my professional experience but also my personal understanding of the student-athlete lifestyle. I have seen the transition to collegiate sports up close. Many of my former teammates went on to play at the next level, and my younger sister is currently a college soccer player. I understand the mental, emotional, and physical toll that comes with high-level competition, as well as the struggles with burnout, time management, injuries, and the identity shifts that happen when sports evolve or come to an end. My goal is to help student-athletes feel supported, find balance, and gain the tools they need to manage the challenges that come with their sport and their lives beyond it.
- Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) in North Carolina
- Master’s of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Virginia Tech
- Pursuing certification as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT)
- Completed two-day training on Collaborative and Proactive Solutions with Dr. Ross Greene
- Prior experience with children and their families in the school system
- Prior experience as an ADHD specialist at an addictions rehab facility