Pickleball!

"Dink about it!"

A Therapuetic Pickleball Experience

Led by Jason Hsu, LCSW,

Patrik Karlsson, LCSW

We are two experienced therapists who have spent decades treating clients for depression, anxiety, and variety of other mood and trauma related disorders.

What were some common themes?

Isolation. Feeling alone in suffering. Lost in negative thoughts. Lack of connection. Shame. Guilt. Sadness.

And that's why we came up with "Dink about it!"

(Oh, and we both enjoy playing Pickleball!)

What is it?

A 16-week immersive group designed to move your body and your mood. We combine the fastest-growing sport in the world with Behavioral Activation (BA)—a proven therapeutic approach that helps you break through cycles of emotional stagnation and anxiety by engaging in meaningful, supportive, & skill-based activity.

But how does it help me?

Physical Activity: Use the court to regulate your nervous system and boost dopamine through consistent, accessible movement.
Social Connection: Reduce isolation in a supportive "team" environment where everyone is learning together.
Building Mastery: Over 16 weeks, you’ll go from a beginner to a more confident player, translating that sense of "I can do this" from the court to your personal life.

Yes, I'm Interested

Why Pickleball?

Unlike many sports, pickleball has a "low ceiling" for entry but a "high floor" for growth. This makes it the perfect vehicle for Building Mastery—the clinical process of gaining competence to improve self-esteem, emotional wellness, and resilience.

From the National Library of Medicine (2023):

"The results show significant improvements in the different psychological variables measured in pickleball practitioners: personal wellbeing, life satisfaction, depression, stress, happiness, etc., pickleball shows potential as a new tool to work and improve people’s mental health."

From NPR: Depression and Pickleball (2026):

"Exercise has been adopted as a first-line treatment in guidelines for depression globally with good acceptability and safety," he writes. Yet he says it remains underappreciated and underutilized.