Overview
Ling Beisecker, PhD, LCMHC, is a Lecturing Fellow in Duke University’s Department of Health, Wellness, and Physical Education. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, clinician, and educator whose work centers on the intersections of physical activity, mental health, identity, and well-being across major life transitions. With training in human movement science, mental health counseling, kinesiology, and psychology, she brings an integrative perspective to her teaching, scholarship, mentoring, and clinical work.
Her research examines how physical activity and sport relate to mental health, identity, and adjustment, particularly among women, college students, and athletes. Her work has explored mental health among women student-athletes, adjustment during the transition to college, athletic identity and the transition out of competitive sport, and the experiences of athlete-mothers navigating pregnancy and motherhood. She uses mixed-methods research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and the development and evaluation of physical activity-, yoga-, and mindfulness-based interventions to better understand individual experiences and the systems that support health and well-being.
At Duke, she teaches in areas including sport and exercise psychology, mindfulness, Pilates, and the relationship between exercise and mental health. Her teaching emphasizes inclusive pedagogy, active learning, critical thinking, and the application of research to students’ lives. She approaches advising and mentoring as a collaborative process that supports students in identifying their interests and goals, building confidence, and connecting their academic experiences with meaningful educational and career pathways.
As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, she brings a human-centered, relationship-based, and evidence-informed approach to her work with individuals navigating mental health concerns, identity development, and major life transitions. She has particular interest in supporting individuals in high-pressure academic, athletic, and professional environments. Across her roles, she seeks to bridge research and practice to promote psychological health, sustainable engagement in physical activity, and overall well-being.