Tony Kemmochi a Sports Psychologist for Intermountain Healthcare has been working with Ballet West dancers and many other athletes whether professional or pre-professional on how to master our minds and perform at the caliber we have as athletes strived to achieve. Tony shares his journey through being an athlete in Japan to shifting his focus on how athletes can succeed at their dreams with the right approach and focus on mental health. The biggest takeaway I took from our conversation is how we are just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mental health within the Ballet Industry. Tony mentions how ballet dancers have a harder time shifting and flowing in and out of perspectives due to the controlled environment we experience on a daily basis compared to other athletes and how we need to begin creating new habits within our minds to be less like an ice cube and more like a flowing river. I really enjoyed getting to know Tony's story and I am looking forward to seeing the growth in all of us dancers as we prioritize our mental health. Thank you to Dr. Tony Kemmochi and to Intermountain Healthcare for taking care of us Ballet West Dancers!

Book: Way of the Peaceful Warrior By Dan Millman


Dr. Tony Kemmochi provides psychological services to professional and student athletes in the greater Salt Lake region. His treatment approach is based on Control Mastery Theory, an innovative theoretical orientation that combines Psychodynamic, Humanistic, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. As a bilingual immigrant, he is mindful of multicultural factors that impact our experience in the world. He has worked with highly diverse clientele in terms of nationality, culture, race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religion, spirituality, age, socioeconomic status, disability, etc.



He obtained his doctoral degree from the American School of Professional Psychology in the San Francisco Bay Area where he received culturally rich training and first-hand experiences in one of the most diverse communities in the world. He also possesses 2 master's degrees: Clinical Psychology and Sport Psychology. Prior to becoming a psychologist, he worked in the field of sports medicine as a certified athletic trainer, providing medical treatments in a variety of settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, orthopedic clinics, division I intercollegiate athletics, USA Track & Field Championship, etc.



As a clinical psychologist, he is well versed in the treatment of a wide variety of psychological struggles. He has worked with extremely severe psychiatric disorders in clinical settings, such as inpatient hospital units and neuropsychiatric programs. As a former athlete, an athletic trainer, and now a sport psychologist, he has deep appreciation for various challenges faced by athletes. He combines his clinical knowledge and sport psychology to provide comprehensive care, from emotional struggles to performance enhancements. While he incorporates evidence-based treatments, he recognizes the importance of practice-based evidence, especially when working with under-served populations, who have been overlooked by the mainstream research.



Thank you,



Tony Kemmochi, Psy.D.

Licensed Clinical/Sport Psychologist



The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital

Tel: 801-314-2221

5770 S 250 E, Suite 475

Murray, UT 84107

https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/the-orthopedic-specialty-hospital