Dr. Diane Benish joined Mountaineer athletics in July 2024 as behavioral health therapist in the Clinical and Sports Psychology unit working directly with West Virginia University student-athletes.
The clinical and sport psychology unit provides counseling and performance enhancement services, clinical services, including short-term individual counseling, group counseling crisis intervention services, psychoeducation workshops, risk assessment and reduction intervention for all student-athletes. The unit also serves as an instructional and educational role to promote the areas of student-athlete health, resilience and wellness.
Benish most recently owned and operated Thriving Minds Consulting, LLC, where she led individual and team mental performance training sessions for youth athletes and created and delivered workshops for approximately 20 USA soccer coach educator developers to enhance their use of coach-centered training practices.
Her professional experience includes a year stint at the Waynesburg University Counseling Center, a five-month stint at the WVU Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, a three-year tenure as a mental performance consultant trainee working with the Mountaineer women’s tennis team and another year working with Division I tennis athletes as a consultant trainee.
She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Robert Morris University in 2016, graduating summa cum laude, a master of science degree in kinesiology from Georgia Southern University in 2020, a master of arts degree in clinical mental health counseling and a doctor of philosophy degree in sport, exercise and performance psychology from West Virginia University in 2024.
In October 2024, she received her provisional license in counseling and in April 2025, she became credentialed as a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. She also possesses memberships in the Association of Applied Sports Psychology (AASP), American Counseling Association (ACA) and United States Figure Skating Association.
Originally from Zelienople, Pennsylvania, Benish currently resides in Washington, Pennsylvania.
