Spotlight on Sport Psychology & Counseling: Dr. LaKeitha Poole, LPC-5, NCC, BC-TMH

Dr. La Keitha Poole serves as the Director of Sport Psychology & Counseling for the LSU Athletic Department. As a licensed professional counselor and board approved clinical supervisor (LPC-S), Dr. Poole's clinical interests include identity development, cognitive and behavioral modifications, and interpersonal relationships. In the SPC department, she works with student-athletes to overcome depression, anxiety, grief, sport & career-related issues, stress, addiction, dysfunctional eating, and relational conflicts. She also works with individual sports teams on creating wellness, team building, and mental skills training plans to increase cohesion and strengthen overall performance.

A native of New Orleans, LA, and graduate of Florida State University, Louisiana State University, and Regent University, Dr. Poole's research emphases include mental health and wellness techniques among college students, vulnerability and resilience in domestic minority populations, and family systems. Her clinical training included practicums and internships in the LSU Student Health Center Mental Health Services, LSU Office of Multicultural Affairs, HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two, Inc. (HAART), and the Olinde Career Center.

A former Assistant Director in the LSU Office of Multicultural Affairs and coordinator of the LSU African American Cultural Center for over 5 years, Dr. Poole also serves as an adjunct instructor in the College of Human Sciences & Education, is a Board Member for the Baranco-Clark YMCA in Old South Baton Rouge, and is the owner of a local private practice, Small Talk Counseling & Consulting, which was featured in Ebony Magazine's 2016 list of Black Mental Health Resources. Dr. Poole is passionate about the intricacies of working with diverse populations, particularly young adults involved in sport, on transitional life issues.

Her roles at LSU have allowed her to present on a wide-range of mental health topics to a number of campus community constituents and professional organizations including the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE}, the American Counseling Association (ACA}, the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), Women Leaders in College Sports, the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A), the Sun Belt Conference, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA}, and the National Football League (NFL). Dr. Poole is also a Board Certified-Telemental Health (BC-TMH) provider, allowing her to be able to support our student-athletes, coaches, and staff while they are on the geaux.

In her free time, she enjoys taking trips home to New Orleans to visit family and attend festivals, traveling, reading, and studying interior design.