Meet Dr. Dez

Dr. Festa specializes in enhancing the mental resilience and performance of athletes through personalized strategies and support. With a deep understanding of the unique pressures faced by professional athletes, she is dedicated to helping them achieve peak mental fitness and overall well-being.  Dr. Festa co-facilitates the Rookie Success and Player Development Programs, which equips players with skills for navigating professional sports. She conducts draft evaluations and assists the front office with draft selection. Dr. Festa also regularly consults with the coaching staff on optimizing culture as well as enhancing coach wellness.

In addition to working in the NFL, Dr. Festa has worked with other professional sports organizations, such as the Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Charlotte Hornets (NBA), Roush Fenway Racing (NASCAR), Stewart Haas Racing (NASCAR) and Charlotte Checkers (AHL). She has worked with NCAA Division I athletic departments, such as UNC-Charlotte and Appalachian State. Dr. Festa also owned a private practice in Charlotte, NC, where she worked with junior, collegiate, and professional athletes as well as other elite performers.

Dr. Festa is passionate about maximizing the whole athlete, both in mental performance and mental health, and does this by utilizing the latest research, evidence-based approaches, and biofeedback technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and her Master’s in Sport Psychology from Florida State University. She was a doctoral intern at The College of William & Mary where she worked with student-athletes, college students, and law students. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Eastern University where she majored in psychology and minored in sport and coaching.