Nurturing Mental Well-Being in Highly Competitive Environments

Featuring Landon Donovan

January 31st, 2024 from 7:00PM - 8:15PM at Katherine Delmar Burke School

This is an adults only event. All attendees must be registered and have a ticket.

SPEAK is honored to welcome Landon Donovan, former professional soccer player who is widely regarded as the greatest American men’s soccer player of all time. As a student-athlete and young professional athlete, Donovan faced the pressures of competition and the expectations of others at the highest levels. He experienced anxiety, loneliness and, at times, depression while pursuing his greatest passion and career path in soccer. Donovan cares deeply about helping young athletes and students prioritize mental health while in pursuit of their extracurricular and academic goals. As we strive to help our children navigate highly competitive environments, Donovan‘s lived experience and lessons learned offer unique insight and guidance. His talk will inspire, educate, and give parents tools to help our children pursue their passions while preserving—and even strengthening—their mental well-being, resilience and sense of self.

Dr. Erin Skiffer (PsyD) will join Landon Donovan in a curated conversation following his talk. She will bring her psychological expertise, as well as her personal experience as a student athlete in the Bay Area, to discuss both clinical and personal tips for parenting our youth today.

Please note: We suggest an early arrival–doors to campus open at 6:15pm and the event will begin promptly at 7:00pm. Please give additional time for parking and to walk to the venue. Rideshare or public transportation is encouraged. Please see FAQs below for futher information.

About the Speaker

Landon Donovan is an American soccer legend. A forward and midfielder, he made 157 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team, including three World Cups and one Olympic Games. In addition, he played for the LA Galaxy and other national and international club teams. He remains tied for the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Men's National Team history and holds the record for assists. He is the only American to win FIFA’s Golden Ball Award which honors the Best Young Player of the World Cup. After retiring from the game in 2018 he co-founded the San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, serving as their head coach and Executive VP of Soccer Operations. Donovan is one of the most prominent American athletes championing the importance of mental health and well-being in athletics and beyond. He is a father to three young children: two sons and one daughter.

Dr. Erin Skiffer is a psychologist, parent of two children in the SPEAK consortium schools, a Bay Area native, and a former Division I athlete. She is the co-founder of Bridge to Bridge Psychotherapy Group and offers mental health services to youth, adults and families, with a special interest in working with young athletes. She is married to Joe Skiffer, Director of Athletics at Urban High School.