Over the course of his career, Patrick van Amburgh has served in several positions related to behavioral counseling and emotional well-being. Patrick van Amburgh enjoys playing sports in his free time and participates in local basketball, flag football, and softball leagues.

While encouraging physical fitness and athletic skill development, adult athletic leagues also help to improve participants' cognitive, emotional, and social health. Research suggests that regular physical activity keeps the brain active and engaged, while exercising its ability to process information and make in-the-moment decisions. Meanwhile, the development and practice of sport-specific skills helps to preserve the brain's ability to learn and adapt to new situations.

The body also responds to exercise with the release of endorphins, which lift the mood and relieve stress. The anxiety and depression that plague everyday life begin to lift away, and the resultant feelings of relief increase the experience of exercise as a pleasurable activity. The person feels motivated and excited to come to practice, and the resultant adherence to a workout schedule is highly satisfying.

Meanwhile, the athlete arrives at practice or a game to find a collection of built-in friends. Many adults find it difficult to build and maintain friendships amid the stressors of everyday life, and league play makes room for these social connections. Just like in childhood, the team becomes a source of social support and a way of strengthening the spirit.