
Shrinking Heads - Season 2 - Episode 7 - Through the Jungle of Sports Social Work with Cody Smith, LCSW-BACS
From Shrinking Heads by Shrinking Heads
April 5, 2026 · 57 min · Season 2 · Episode 7
About this episode
This episode explores the emerging field of sports social work and its importance in supporting athlete mental health.
In this episode, your host Elizabeth continues navigating the jungle of mental health by exploring an emerging and often overlooked path: sports social work.Joined by Cody Smith, LCSW-BACS, join them as they unpack what sports social work actually is and why it matters in today’s athletic landscape. From supporting athletes’ mental health to addressing systemic challenges within sports culture, this conversation sheds light on the critical role social workers can play both on and off the field.Together, we explore questions like: What is sports social work, and how does it differ from sports psychology? What unique challenges do athletes face that call for this kind of support? How can social workers advocate for healthier, more sustainable sports environments? What does holistic care for athletes really look like? Whether you’re an athlete, clinician, coach, or someone curious about the intersection of mental health and sports, this episode offers insight into a field that’s expanding how we think about care, performance, and well-being.Tune in for a grounded conversation about sports social work, athlete mental health, trauma-informed care, sports culture, advocacy in…
People in this episode
Host: Elizabeth
Guest: Cody Smith
Topics covered
- sports social work
- athlete mental health
- trauma-informed care
- sports culture
- advocacy in athletics
- mental health
Keywords
- sports social work
- mental health
- athletes
- trauma-informed care
- sports culture
- advocacy
- holistic care
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: LCSW-BACS
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