Rick Aberman, Ph.D., has been working with elite leaders and performers for over 20 years. Utilizing an innovative approach that often draws connections between the sports and business worlds, Dr. Aberman helps individuals develop leadership skills and achieve optimal performance. He works primarily with athletes, coaches, administrators and teams at the collegiate and professional levels, as well as business executives and senior management teams throughout North America.
After receiving his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and Family Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Aberman became one of the first psychologists in the country to be hired as a full-time member of an athletic department staff. He initiated a program designed specifically to meet the needs of the highly competitive student-athlete, coaches and administrators at the University of Wisconsin. His work was featured in the book “From Red Ink to Roses”; The Turbulent Transformation of a Big Ten program, written by Sports Illustrated senior writer Rick Telander.
In the early 90′s, Dr. Aberman established himself as a pioneer in the emerging area of Emotional Intelligence. His contributions of integrating Emotional Intelligence with corporations and sports organizations stand as ‘the model’ of the field. He has designed and currently provides training in Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Development. He also employs these concepts in the area of talent development, recruitment and assessment for both sports and business organizations.
Through his earlier research, Dr. Aberman is also recognized as an expert in the area of family business dynamics and consults regularly with family-run corporations. He has been a member of the Family Firm Institute since its inception and has served on its board of directors. His recent book concerning coaching and effective leadership is called “Why Good Coaches Quit”: How to Deal with the Other Stuff. The book is co-authored by John Anderson, Head Baseball Coach at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Aberman is a well-respected consultant to the university’s athletic program. He travels extensively to observe, consult and discuss issues concerning intercollegiate athletics, emotional intelligence, effective leadership, sustained optimal performance, coaching concerns, communications and team dynamics. He is a member of both the American College of Sports Medicine and the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for the Minnesota State High School League. He is also a regular consultant to several professional sports teams. He maintains a private practice in sports psychotherapy, and works as a corporate consultant and executive coach.
Dr. Aberman is a founding partner of the Lennick Aberman Group, a consulting group specializing in sustained optimal performance . Dr. Aberman resides in Minneapolis, MN.