The USA Fencing Member Wellness Program offers free, confidential counseling services to members who need mental health support.
Athletes, coaches, officials or other USA Fencing members who need mental health support can reach out to USA Fencing by emailing CEO Phil Andrews at p.andrews@usafencing.org or Director of Member Safety & Organizational Compliance Jess Saxon at j.saxon@usafencing.org.
Andrews or Saxon will then connect that member with a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed professional counselor or a licensed professional with a doctor of psychology degree.
The member’s information will be kept in confidence, and Andrews/Saxon will connect the member with an appropriate professional in their local area as soon as is reasonably possible.
If you’re experiencing any type of mental health strain, don’t wait or wonder whether your concerns qualify for this program. Reach out right away.
This might include forms of trauma like exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, sexual assault, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual harassment, bullying, violence, athletic retirement or another significant loss that has occurred either accidentally or intentionally at any time in your life.
Exposure can include direct involvement, but witnessing an event or having an event occur to a loved one can qualify under this definition. The trauma suffered does not have to be related to the sport of fencing in any way.
(Note: If you have experienced sexual or non-sexual abuse or misconduct while participating in fencing, please file a report through FenceSafe and/or the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Learn more here.)
In addition, USA Fencing will support any athlete or former elite athlete who is currently or who has suffered from addiction and/or depression related to their participation in the sport of fencing. This includes those who suffer from a diagnosed mental health disorder.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to your nearest emergency room.
If you are an elite athlete (meaning you have attended the FIE or IWAS World Championships, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or Pan American Games in the past 10 years), you can also take advantage of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s mental health resources here.
How to Volunteer
Individuals with an LCSW, LPC, LPCC, LMHC, LMFT, PsyD or related certification who would like to participate in the USA Fencing Member Wellness Program as a provider are encouraged to reach out to Phil Andrews at p.andrews@usafencing.org.