A Talented Mind Clinic

09/03/2026

Don’t Show Weakness: When it comes to sports, there is pressure to be rugged, perfect, and always aim for the top. This mindset will become prominent and make athletes feel like mental health issues are a sign of weakness (Purcell et al., 2019). Check out Future Trend 5 on perfectionism and college athletes.

By Michael Cerreto Perfectionism is on the rise. If the trend continues for the next ten years, it may profoundly impact the personalities and mental health of athletes who enter college in the 2030s. The following is the fifth of a seven-part series about how the rise of perfectionism can impact f

09/01/2026

The pressure to be perfect can stem from internal sources or, significantly, from societal expectations, which can feel like an overwhelming burden. (Psychology Today, 2019; Perfection: The Harm in Striving for Perfection - in Education Inc., 2023)
Trend 4 in the Rise of Perfectionism in College Athletes!

By Michael Cerreto Perfectionism is on the rise. If the trend continues for the next ten years, it may profoundly impact the personalities and mental health of athletes who enter college in the 2030s. The following is the fourth of a seven-part series about how the rise of perfectionism can impact

08/31/2026

08/27/2026

These grown-ups teach young athletes to dig deep into the nitty-gritty of their sport in the never-ending pursuit of flawlessness. From a young age, athletes learn that perfection is the key to gaining adults' attention and approval, and it carries into college.

By Michael Cerreto Perfectionism is on the rise. If the trend continues for the next ten years, it may profoundly impact the personalities and mental health of athletes who enter college in the 2030s. The following is the third of a seven-part series about how the rise of perfectionism can impact f

08/23/2026

As perfectionism grows, college athletes in the 2030s will increasingly develop perfection-at-all-costs or the ends justify the means mindset. This mindset will increase unsportsmanlike and unethical behavior (Kang et al. 2021).

Trend Two: College Edition

By Michael Cerreto Perfectionism is on the rise. If the trend continues for the next ten years, it may profoundly impact the personalities and mental health of athletes who enter college in the 2030s. The following is the second of a seven-part series about how the rise of perfectionism can impact

08/20/2026

Which kid were you?🤣

08/18/2026

Back to School is Here! Let's examine my favorite tips and trends for college athletes.

Being a perfectionist can be both good and bad. When people have high standards and work hard, it is called adaptive perfectionism, which is good. However, when it leads to fear of failure and harsh self-criticism, it becomes maladaptive perfectionism, which is terrible news. Athletes who are too obsessed with being perfect experience adverse, maladaptive mental health outcomes, such as anxiety, self-criticism, and depression (Simmons & Ross-Nash, 2022).

By Michael Cerreto Perfectionism is on the rise. If the trend continues for the next ten years, it may profoundly impact the personalities and mental health of athletes who enter college in the 2030s. The following is the first of a seven-part series about how the rise of perfectionism can impact f