Scheherazade Collins, MPhil, MA, LMFT (90931)
Scheherazade (Scher) Collins always dreamed of being a ballerina, and she began her ballet training at the age of three in Stamford, Connecticut. When she was nine-years-old, she was accepted into the highly competitive School of American Ballet. While training at SAB, she performed in many ballets with New York City Ballet, including the 1991 motion picture film of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker.” She was invited to join the trainee program at The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet when she turned sixteen, continuing her Balanchine training and performing experience. In 1999, Scher joined the Orlando Ballet (formally Southern Ballet Theatre), where she continued to pursue her passion for dance until her retirement in 2003.
During her years in Orlando Ballet, Scher started to suffer from extreme panic attacks, brought on by a health complication. Struggling with being misdiagnosed, and therefore, not receiving the appropriate treatment or support, as well as struggling to keep up with her rigorous rehearsal and performance demands, her physical health and her performance began to be affected. The misunderstanding of her struggles also led to misconceptions about her mental and physical strength and capabilities to the artistic directors and staff, leading to fewer casting opportunities.Through her personal experience she realized there was a huge gap in mental health care for performing artists who understood the unique demands in the culture of highly competitive performance.
After her early retirement, Scher earned a bachelors degree in Theater from the University of Miami and a Master's degree in Psychology from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. After returning to the United States, she realized that she wanted to bridge the gap in mental healthcare for peak performers, firmly believing that mental skills, just like physical technique can be taught. She also wanted to provide support for those struggling with mental health conditions within the culture of elite performance as someone who had experience in the field. This realization propelled her to further her education by completing additional Master's degrees in Sport Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy. With her clinical license, she became equipped to provide comprehensive mental health treatment, specializing in addressing the specific challenges faced by individuals involved in competitive sports and performing arts.
In 2012, Scher established her private practice in Santa Monica, CA. Given her background as a former professional ballerina, Scher possesses a deep passion for assisting elite performers and those engaged in highly competitive professions in overcoming mental barriers and optimizing their performance. Her training in Sport Psychology equips her with a specialized skill set to guide and empower this population, providing them with the necessary tools to thrive in challenging environments. Scher's areas of expertise encompass peak performance, mental skills training, performance anxiety, coping skills, career transitions, and issues related to athletic injuries.
Scher adopts an integrated approach that combines biofeedback training, mental skills training, and psychotherapy to address the holistic well-being of her clients. As a Licensed Psychotherapist, her expertise is rooted in her extensive training and experience. With over fifteen years of experience, Scher is well-versed in utilizing QEEG-guided Neurofeedback (NFB) to address a wide range of symptoms and diagnoses. Her expertise extends to working with individuals seeking cutting-edge strategies to enhance their performance in elite sports and performing arts.
Scher's professional experience includes internships in private practices and the Eating Disorder Center of California, where she received comprehensive training in treating eating disorders. As a primary therapist at Linden’s Attention Learning Center, seeing hundreds of adults and children, she gained confidence that NFB can be an effective treatment for many issues of mental health.
Beyond her work in private practice, Scher is deeply committed to educating and supporting the mental health and development of dancers within the performing arts community. She has given talks and provided consultations to dance educators, and is currently on the advisory board for Danscend.
In addition she currently manages Dr. Thomas Brod's EEGym Neurofeedback practice as part of his Self-Regulation Medical Group. Collaborating with Dr. Brod ensures that Scher can make appropriate referrals for medication when necessary. Furthermore, she serves as the program coordinator for Applied Psychophysiology Education, allowing her to stay up to date with the latest research and practices in the field.
