background:

Nicholas Lee is a sport psychotherapist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and author specializing in mental skills training for athletes. He earned his Master of Education in Counseling with a concentration in Sport and Performance Psychology from Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, where he received the Outstanding Advocacy Award for his work advancing mental health outcomes among athletes with marginalized identities. He currently practices at Greenberg Psychological Services PLLC in New York City and serves as a co-coordinator for the LGBTQ+ Special Interest Group within the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

A lifelong athlete, Nick competed as a four-year member of the Vassar College Men’s Tennis Team, where he studied Psychology and Hispanic Studies. His early experiences with chronic neck pain and nerve symptoms – initially attributed to overuse injuries – sparked a deeper interest in the connection between mental health and performance under pressure.

Syringomyelia Diagnosis

In 2023, Nick began experiencing progressive neurological symptoms, including widespread paresthesia, motor control challenges, and migraines. After extensive evaluation, he was diagnosed with syringomyelia in July 2024 following the discovery of a syrinx at C6–C7. Like many in this community, his path to diagnosis was marked by uncertainty and limited answers.

Since then, Nick has navigated persistent symptoms while adapting his lifestyle and redefining his relationship with movement and performance. His personal journey, combined with his clinical expertise, fuels his commitment to understanding the psychological impact of chronic conditions and expanding access to meaningful mental health resources for those living with syringomyelia.

Nick brings a powerful, patient-informed perspective to the coalition’s Medical Advisory Board – bridging performance psychology, lived experience, and a mission to improve quality of life for this community.