MENTAL Skills Training FOR ATHLETES
High Performance Starts in the Nervous System.
Pressure doesn’t break athletes — dysregulation does. I support athletes training their brains the same way they train their bodies: with intention, consistency, and tools that actually work under fire.
Your Sport Demands a Lot, So Does Your Nervous System
high-pressure sport — asks the impossible: Be perfect. Be fearless. Be consistent. Be coachable. Don’t crack.
But here’s the truth nobody says out loud:
Your brain isn’t wired for perfection. It’s wired for protection.
And when pressure spikes? When fear shows up out of nowhere When your confidence disappears and your skills start to slip?
That’s not weakness. That’s your nervous system doing its job — a little too well.
My job is to help you take back the wheel.
WHAT ATHLETES ACTUALLY STRUGGLE WITH
Not the sugarcoated version — the real one.
Fear blocks or freezing on skills you’ve already mastered
Confidence that swings wildly depending on the day
Perfectionism that keeps moving the finish line
Feeling overwhelmed, unfocused, or mentally drained
Carrying expectations from coaches, parents, teammates
Not knowing how to speak up without feeling “difficult”
Feeling guilty when your body says stop but everyone else says go
These aren’t character flaws.
They’re nervous system responses.
And they can be trained.
HOW MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACHING WORKS (TRAUMA-INFORMED + SCIENCE-BACKED)
This is not therapy. It’s not “motivation.” And it’s definitely not a quick fix.
This is mental skills training grounded in neuroscience, trauma-informed principles, and performance psychology.
We build:
Emotional regulation under pressure
Focus that doesn’t crumble mid-routine
Confidence that isn’t dependent on one good practice
Fear recovery tools that actually work
Pre-competition routines that stabilize the nervous system
Post-competition review that builds mastery, not shame
And we do it in a way that respects your boundaries, your body, and your goals.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ATHLETE–COACH–PARENT TRIANGLE
Athletes never perform alone — even in “individual” sports.
Behind every routine, every meet, every moment… there’s a coach, a parent, and a whole ecosystem of expectations.
That ecosystem can regulate an athlete… or destabilize them.
Here’s how I navigate it:
My primary relationship is with the athlete.
Their experience, safety, and performance are the center of this work.
I collaborate with coaches when it supports performance.
Not to critique coaching.
Not to step into training decisions.
But to help integrate mental skills into practice , rhythm,and communication.
I support parents without pulling them into the pressure loop.
Parents want to help.
But athletes also need autonomy.
I help families understand how to support without overwhelming.
Clear boundaries. Clear roles. No blurred lines.
This is performance work — not therapy, not family mediation.
"Stephanie helped me rebuild my confidence and sharpen my mental game after a tough season. Her coaching gave me the tools to stay focused, bounce back from setbacks, and compete with clarity. It’s been a game-changer for my performance."
The Science Behind Your Strongest Season Yet
I’m Stephanie — a Trauma-Informed Performance Psychology Coach with a Master’s in (Sports &) Performance Psychology and a PhD in Psychology in progress, specializing in trauma and community resilience. My work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and ambitious performance.
I help athletes train the part of their sport no one teaches: the nervous system.
This isn’t therapy, and it isn’t cheerleading. It’s science-backed mental skills training designed for athletes who want to perform with greater stability, clarity, and self-trust.
If you want the mental side of your sport to finally match your physical potential, I’m your coach.
As someone with an athletic background (triathlete, marathoner, gymnast, and lifter), I understand the mental load of pushing your body to its edge. My coaching is grounded in both science and lived experience — the fear, the pressure, the injuries, and the drive to keep going.
Trusted by Teams and Organizations
FAQ’s
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No. This is mental performance coaching.
It’s grounded in sports and performance psychology and focuses on skills, tools, and strategies that improve confidence, focus, resilience, and consistency under pressure. We’re not treating clinical concerns — we’re training the nervous system and the mind for high performance.
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Yes — when it supports the athlete.
Nothing in sport happens in a vacuum. Mental skills only stick when they’re reinforced in practice, communication, and daily routines. Collaboration with coaches (and parents when appropriate) helps make sure what we’re building is actually applied in real life, not just talked about in a session.
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Injury is a normal — and often overlooked — part of sport.
It’s also one of the best times to work on mental performance. We focus on nervous system regulation, staying connected to confidence, reframing fear, and building mental routines that support a strong return to sport. Healing isn’t just physical — there’s a mindset component athletes shouldn’t face alone.
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Sometimes. It depends on the athlete’s age, needs, and what will actually help them progress.
We’ll discuss what’s developmentally appropriate and what supports their autonomy, confidence, and nervous system best. The goal is always to center the athlete — not overwhelm them with more voices.
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Yes — I provide team workshops, pre-season training, and group mental skills sessions.
My favorite work is hands-on collaboration with coaches: running drills, integrating mental performance into physical training, and making sure the tools athletes learn actually show up on the floor, field, or mat.