Think fast. Play smart. Win big. Unlock your potential. That’s Dr. Harold Shinitzky’s philosophy, guiding everyone from Olympians to junior champs to master mental conditioning… before the game starts.

This Tierra Verde resident is the author of A Champion’s Mindset: 15 Mental Conditioning Steps to Becoming a Champion Athlete and the mastermind behind A Champion’s Mindset™ and The Winning Zone ©. He is the trusted expert working with Olympians, professional athletes (PGA, NFL, MLB, ATP, WTA, NBA, NHL), and nationally ranked developing juniors. Not to mention being a highly sought-after presenter. 

When he was 13, his mother was president of a nonprofit in Chicago, raising money for children with neurological disorders, HARC. “We would go on the street corners and wear HARC vests; drivers would drop change into canisters. Then we’d bring the canisters to the facility where the children were residentially placed.” Witnessing children struggle to walk, talk, and breathe made him realize he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

A couple of years later, at 15, his parents introduced him to a variety of psychologists in different specialties. It left an impression on him, so much so that it cemented his choice to pursue psychology as a career.

Harold attended the University of Iowa, majoring in psychology. He focused on research, cognitive studies, neurology, and perception. Through required clinical rotations and volunteer work at the school of medicine, he gained extensive hands-on experience, working with children with spina bifida, cancer oncology, autism, and other neurological conditions. By graduation, he had accumulated two and a half years of clinical experience

Harold went on to earn his Psy.D., which focuses on clinical psychology and research, at the Forest Institute. Harold completed his internship and residency at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, where he was offered a faculty appointment to head two programs: Director of Prevention Services in Pediatrics and the Director of Communication Skills. As the Director of Prevention Services, he focused on helping children flourish, remain socially engaged, stay in school, and move from ill health or distress to productive, successful futures. He implemented youth prevention and resiliency programs in the public schools, the archdiocese, and local community centers. Through prevention initiatives we can alter the life trajectory of today’s children in order to help them become tomorrow’s leaders.

Even after his doctorate, Harold pursued two more three-year fellowships while working at Johns Hopkins. During this time, he collaborated with coach Morgan Wootten at DeMatha High School in Washington, D.C., to work with athletes, helping prevent trouble while promoting peak performance. He also worked with Dunbar High School in Baltimore where they won the state championships in football and basketball, developing a specialty in sports psychology.

Moving to Florida was a family-based decision. “I’ve got 20 cousins in Pinellas County,” he smiles.  Here, he took on roles in local schools, developing programs for seriously emotionally disturbed (SED) students in high school. The programs provided transitional support, including teaching, psychology, and social work services, to help students succeed academically and socially before integrating into general population classrooms.

Throughout his career, Harold has focused on prevention. His career motto has been, “I would rather deal with an issue than wait for it to become a problem. I have no interest in sitting passively in my office and waiting for people to have problems.”

He has presented at international conferences, including the UN’s substance abuse prevention and treatment conference, and served as a media psychologist for ABC in Baltimore and Tampa. He also contributed to NBC Today, FOX, and Radio Disney, to name a few media outlets. He contributes to parenting and sports psychology education, working with athletes, students, and families across the country. Harold is passionate about prevention by sharing evidence-based research with the general public, which is the motivation behind doing television, radio, and podcasts.

Does Harold still practice today? Absolutely! With in-person and remote sessions, he helps his clients optimize their potential and address issues before they become problems. “I’m going to keep practicing until I get it right,” he laughs. “You have to laugh at yourself a bit,” he adds.

When not working, Harold loves to play tennis, travel the world with his father, and hopes to learn to play the piano soon. He takes time to relax and recharge here in Tierra Verde, all while having a heart of gratitude and being a natural optimist. 

“I’m a very happy individual,” he says. “On my worst day, I have nothing to complain about.”

We are honored to feature Dr. Harold Shinitzky in this month’s issue. He’s making the world a happier and healthier place, one client at a time.