FORMER Sports Psychologists: AT A GLANCE

Ross Flowers, Ph.D.

At A Glance:

Former Director of Sport Psychology/Psychologist
University of Missouri-Kansas City

Interest(s): Performance Enhancement, Organizational and Program Development, Anxiety, Sport Psychology, Mind-Body Inclusion, Multicultural Issues, Strength-Based Cognitive Behavioral, and Positive Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy
Major: Counseling Psychology
Emphasis: Performance enhancement, sport psychology, self psychology, organizational development,, multicultural competence.
University of Missouri - Kansas City, December 2001.
APA accredited doctoral program.

Internship: University of California, Davis 2000-2001.
APA accredited internship program.

Bachelor of Arts
Major: Psychology
University of California, Los Angeles, 1994.

Ross Flowers, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in the UC Davis CAPS and the sport consultant in the Intercollegiate Athletics Department. He specializes in performance enhancement, sport psychology, career development, and multicultural competence. Dr. Flowers provides individual, couples, and group counseling to a culturally diverse population of adults, adolescents and student-athletes, for personal, relationship, family, athletic, education and career concerns. He conducts crisis intervention, workshops, psycho-educational groups, programs and presentations. Dr. Flowers consults with sport psychology, health sciences, academic affairs, and intercollegiate athletics faculty, staff and student-athletes regarding outreach presentations, resources, referrals, development, support, and promotion of athletic education. He is the coordinator of the Performance Enhancement Group for injured student-athletes, co-coordinator of Peer Counselors in Athletics, participates with the Student Athletics Advising Committee and suggests areas and methods for development in Intercollegiate Athletics and student-athlete advising.

Dr. Flowers was a Division I, All-American track athlete at UCLA, competing in the 110-meter high hurdles and sprint relay. He garnished three individual Pac-10 titles and four team titles. He was a captain of the UCLA men's track and field team his senior year, in which he was both an indoor and outdoor All-American. Following his college experience Ross Flowers competed nationally and internationally in the 110-meter high hurdles.

During his graduate work in Kansas City, Missouri, Ross coached the University of Missouri - Kansas City men's and women's track teams. He combined his personal athletic experience and academic training in positive reinforcement, motivation, relaxation and visualization techniques to help these teams achieve success never before realized by any athletic program at the university. These track programs had never won a title. But, under his tutelage and leadership, they won six (indoor and outdoor) conference championships.

Dr. Flowers has experienced the challenges and benefits of participating in college and professional athletics and coaching college athletes. He understands the demands of balancing academics, athletics and a social life in a demanding University of California environment, and can relate his own experiences to address the issues of today's student-athlete. Dr. Flowers enjoys working with athletes who are interested in optimizing their life experiences and sport performances.

Dr. Flowers serves as a liaison between CAPS and Intercollegiate Athletics Department, helping athletes achieve optimal mental health to improve performance and understand how participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity enhance personal development, health, and wellbeing throughout life.

Kensa K. Gunter, Psy.D.

At A Glance:

Argosy University, Phoenix, Clinical Psychology, Psy.D. Program

Emphasis Area(s): Cross-Cultural Outreach / Sport Psychology

Doctor of Psychology, August 2006
Major: Clinical Psychology
Emphasis: Sport and Exercise Psychology
Argosy University/Phoenix, APA Accredited Doctoral Program

Internship, 2005-2006
University of California, Davis
APA Accredited Internship Program

Masters of Arts,
Major: Clinical Psychology
Argosy University/Phoenix
Major: Forensic Psychology
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York

Bachelor of Science,
Major: Psychology
University of Georgia, Athens

Kensa Gunter is a Psychology Doctoral Intern for the University of California, Davis CAPS and a sport psychology consultant for the Intercollegiate Athletic Department. She attended Argosy University/Phoenix to complete her doctoral work in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

At UC Davis, Kensa facilitates the SHAPE Group for injured student-athletes. She also provides individual counseling to student-athletes, and works with teams and coaches to assist them in enhancing mental preparation and skills for practice and competition. As a sport consultant, Kensa addresses student-athlete's concerns from a holistic framework, exploring how various aspects of the individual's life affects his/her athletic performance and overall well-being. She utilizes a cognitive-behavioral approach and strives to help student-athletes reach their optimal level of performance in sport and life.

Heather J. Peters, Ph.D.

At A Glance:

University of Arizona

Emphasis Area(s): Eating Disorders & Sport Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, August 2006
Major: Clinical Psychology
Emphasis: Sport Psychology
University of Arizona, APA Accredited Doctoral Program

Internship, 2005-2006
University of California, Davis
APA Accredited Internship Program

Masters of Arts, 2003
Major: Clinical Psychology
Emphasis: Sport Psychology
University of Arizona

Bachelor of Science, 2000
Major: Kinesiology
Minor: Coaching
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, 2000
Major: Psychology
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Heather J. Peters, M.A. is a Psychology Doctoral Intern at the University of California, Davis CAPS and is a sport psychology consultant for the University's Intercollegiate Athletic Department. She earned her Master's degree in Clinical psychology at the University of Arizona and will complete her doctoral work in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology at the University of Arizona.

Heather provided sport psychology services (i.e., individual meetings with student-athletes and coaches, weakly team meetings) for two U of A varsity sport teams and other individual athletes (2003-2005). Currently at UC Davis Heather co-facilitates the SHAPE Group for injured student-athletes. Heather uses specific concepts like concentration, relaxation, imagery, and team communication strategies along with general principles from cognitive-behavioral, motivational interviewing, and systems approaches to help teach student-athletes the mental skills necessary to perform consistently in practice and competition and to help them achieve their potential as individuals, students, and athletes.

Brian Vasquez, Ph.D.

At A Glance:
Doctor of Philosophy, August 2005
Washington State University, Counseling Psychology
Emphasis Area(s): Sport Psychology

Internship: University of California, Davis 2004-2005
APA Accredited Internship Program

Masters of Arts work
Major: Psychology
University of Houston, Clear Lake

Bachelor of Arts
Major: Psychology
University of Texas at Austin

Brian Vasquez is a Psychology Doctoral Intern for the University of California, Davis CAPS and a sport psychology consultant for the Intercollegiate Athletic Department. He attended Washington State University to complete his doctoral work in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology.

At UC Davis, Brian facilitates the Performance Enhancement Group (PEG) for injured student-athletes. He also provides individual counseling to student-athletes, and works with teams and coaches to assist them in enhancing mental preparation and skills for practice and competition. As a sport consultant, he focuses on all aspects of the student-athlete's concerns from a cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal approach, and enjoys helping athletes maximize their experiences in sport and life.

Jennifer Castro, M.S.

At A Glance:
Doctor of Philosophy, Expected August 2003
Major: Counseling Psychology
Emphasis: Sport Psychology
Michigan State University, APA Accredited Doctoral Program

Internship: University of California, Davis, APA Accredited Internship Program 2002 - Present

Master of Science
Major: Counselor Education
University of Wyoming, 1998

Bachelor of Science
Major: Psychology
University of Wyoming, 1995

Jennifer Castro, M.S. is a Psychology Doctoral Intern for the University of California, Davis CAPS and a sport consultant for the Intercollegiate Athletic Department. She earned her Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Wyoming and attended Michigan State University to complete her doctoral work in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology.

Her love of athletics began at an early age. She participated in various organized sports including volleyball, basketball, track and field, and tennis, for the competition and socialization. While attending Michigan State University, Jennifer pursued her interests in Sport Psychology through research and applied practice. Jennifer researched how an athlete's performance can become hindered as a result of cognitive anxiety and distraction, in addition to the role that perfectionism plays in athletic performance. Additional research interests include body image and life skills development. Jennifer also facilitated a group for injured athletes through the university CAPS.

At UC Davis Jennifer facilitates the Performance Enhancement Group (PEG) for injured student-athletes. She also provides individual counseling to student-athletes, and works with teams and coaches to assist them in enhancing mental preparation and skills for practice and competition. As a sport consultant, Jennifer addresses student-athletes' concerns with a holistic approach. Jennifer focuses on all aspects of the student-athlete's life, including academic/career, personal, and social issues, in addition to those issues pertaining specifically to athletics. Jennifer believes that all aspects of a student-athlete's life can either enhance or impede performance on the “playing field” and must be considered when working with student-athletes.

Steve Portenga, M.S.

At A Glance:
Doctor of Philosophy, Expected August 2004
Major: Counseling Psychology
Emphasis: Sport Psychology
University of Missouri-Columbia, APA Accredited Doctoral Program

Internship: University of California, Davis 2003-2004, APA Accredited Internship Program

Masters of Science
Major: Exercise and Sport Science
University of Utah, 2000

Bachelor of Science
Major: Computer Engineering
Univeristy of Michigan

Steve Portenga, M.S. is a Psychology Doctoral Intern for the University of California, Davis CAPS and a sport psychology consultant for the Intercollegiate Athletic Department. He earned his Master's degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Utah and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia to complete his doctoral work in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology.

At UC Davis Steve facilitates the Performance Enhancement Group (PEG) for injured student-athletes. He also provides individual counseling to student-athletes, and works with teams and coaches to assist them in enhancing mental preparation and skills for practice and competition. As a sport consultant, Steve addresses student-athletes' concerns with a cognitvie and humanistic approach. Steve helps individuals grow towards a feeling of comfort with her/his life, but also teaches how to continue to function at an optimal level.

Nicki Weber, M.S.

At A Glance:
Doctor of Philosophy Candidate
Major: Counseling Psychology
Emphasis: Sport Psychology
University of Missouri-Columbia, Degree expected August 2002, APA accredited doctoral program

Internship: University of California, Davis, 2001-2002, APA accredited inernship program

Bachelor of Science, Education
Major: Secondary Social Studies Education
University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996

Bachelor of Science
Major: Psychology
University of Wyoming, 1995

Psychology Doctoral Intern 2001-2002

Nicki Webber, M.S. was a Psychology Doctoral Intern for the University of California, Davis CAPS and a sport consultant for the Intercollegiate Athletic Department from 2001 to 2002. She earned both her Master's degree in Sport Psychology and doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

As a former athlete, Nicki had credibility with student-athletes. She was able to utilize her athletic experiences and understanding to benefit her work with athletes. She conceptualized her students from a developmental viewpoint and emphasized their strengths. Nicki's personal and friendly demeanor promoted the improvement of student-athlete health care and student-athlete understanding of enhanced well being. Nicki's professional deliverance of sport psychology in a clear, coherent, and respectful manner is a representation of her inviting approach to individual counseling, and facilitating workshops and programs.

Nicki facilitated and helped develop the psychoeducational, cognitive-behavioral Performance Enhancement Group (PEG) for injured student-athletes. She helped injured student-athletes develop effective mind and body skills to manage their emotional, mental, and physical challenges of athletic injury and rehabilitation. Nicki logged and monitored group discussions and interventions and recommended areas for future PEG development. Nicki also provided individual and team workshops throughout the year.