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Why Being a Sports Fan Can be Good for Your Mental Health

Sep 11, 2026
Why Being a Sports Fan Can be Good for Your Mental Health

Sports can bring us joy, excitement, anticipation, and sometimes disappointment. But what if being a sports fan offers benefits that go far beyond the final score?

In this episode, we chat with therapist Luke Wright to explore the connection between sports fandom and mental health. Together, we discuss how rooting for a team can foster a sense of belonging, strengthen social connections, and even help us build resilience through life’s ups and downs.

From game-day excitement and dopamine to community, identity, and shared experiences, they unpack why sports hold such a meaningful place in many people’s lives.

Luke Wright, MA, LMHC

MEET THE GUEST

Luke Wright, MA, LMHC

Luke M. Wright is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington who has been practicing since 2022. He has an MACP from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology and a Certification of completion from the Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level II at The Allender Center. In Luke’s approach to therapy, you will find it conversationally and relationally driven. He believes that relationships are the framework in which change, and healing occur regardless of the therapeutic context a therapist draws from. In addition to this, Luke believes that our symptoms and pain are rooted in the deep stories of our life. The experiences we have gone through shape the narratives we believe about ourselves. Through the engagement of these narratives, we are able to bring healing to shame, trauma, and abuse. In your sessions you will have the opportunity to engage your story and your relationship at your own pace as you and Luke coauthor what therapy will look like for you. Clinically, Luke finds himself informed by Relational Psychoanalysis, Narrative Therapy, British Object Relations, and Internal Family Systems. Outside of work, Luke enjoys exploring the beautiful PNW, the Portland music scene, and the many local coffee shops.
View Luke's Profile

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