Elite sport asks things of the mind that most clinicians never see
An athlete dealing with performance anxiety, a hitter who suddenly can't throw to first, a player sleeping four hours a night across three time zones, a starter watching the season go on without them after surgery — these are specific clinical problems. They respond to careful psychiatric and psychotherapeutic work, not to generic stress advice. They also come wrapped in pressures that make ordinary care hard to use: a culture where asking for help can feel like weakness, a schedule that ignores office hours, and a justified worry about who will see the records.
Dr. Rai built this part of his practice around those realities. He is a credentialed provider with the NBPA Mental Health and Wellness Program, treating professional NBA players, and has worked with collegiate student-athletes in coordination with university athletic counseling staff. He understands in-season versus off-season windows, travel weeks, draft and trade stress, and the firm requirement that psychiatric care stay separate from team medical files.
What he treats
Performance anxiety and the yips. Treated as the genuine clinical problems they are, with psychotherapy and, where appropriate, medication. Depression and anxiety, which affect athletes at least as often as everyone else and frequently go unreported. Sleep and circadian disruption from travel, late games, and training loads. ADHD, diagnosed and managed with full attention to NCAA, league, and anti-doping medication rules, including therapeutic use exemption documentation. Injury recovery, where the psychological work is often harder than the rehab. And identity transitions: entering the portal, going pro, being cut, retiring, or simply realizing the sport no longer fits the person you're becoming.
Confidentiality, in practice
This is a private-pay practice. Nothing is billed to insurance, so there is no claims trail. Records are never visible to coaches, team physicians, athletic departments, agents, or family members unless the athlete signs a specific release. When coordination with a team's performance staff or an athletic counseling office would genuinely help, Dr. Rai does it carefully and only with written consent.
Care that travels with you
Sessions are available in person in downtown Ann Arbor and by secure, HIPAA-compliant video. Dr. Rai holds medical licenses in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, and Washington, so care can continue through road trips, off-season moves, and trades to teams in those states. Evening and Saturday appointments accommodate practice and game schedules, and initial evaluations run 90 to 120 minutes — long enough to actually understand the situation before treating it.
He also works comfortably alongside the rest of an athlete's support system: sports psychologists, athletic trainers, agents, and family. His role is the medical one. He does not replace a performance coach or a therapist an athlete already trusts; he adds the physician-level evaluation and treatment that the rest of the team can't provide.
Fees and the full treatment approach are described on the fees page. Detailed superbills are provided for out-of-network reimbursement.
Asked before the first call
A short call is the right first step
A free 15-minute phone call with Dr. Rai to talk through what's going on and whether the practice is a good fit. Agents, family members, and athletic department staff are welcome to make the first contact on an athlete's behalf.
Prefer to talk first? Call (734) 203-0117