I work with athletes, primarily youth and adolescent athletes, who are navigating the mental and emotional demands of sport. This may include athletes working to improve confidence, focus, motivation, and performance, as well as athletes experiencing performance anxiety, injury, setbacks, or challenges related to their athletic identity.

*PLEASE NOTE: I only see children ages 12 and older.

The frequency of sessions depends on the athlete's goals and needs. Some athletes benefit from weekly sessions, while others may prefer bi-weekly. However, I recommend meeting for at least six sessions to see growth and impact.

My goal is NOT to keep athletes in sessions indefinitely. You will gain skills, confidence, and tools to take what you've learned into competition and ultimately need less support from me after our time together.

Clinical therapy addresses mental health and emotional well-being and is appropriate when an athlete is experiencing significant distress, adjustment difficulties, or challenges related to injury.

Mental performance coaching focuses on developing psychological skills that support athletic performance, such as confidence, concentration, goal setting, visualization, and pressure management.

The Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) credential is the professional certification established by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) for qualified professionals who provide mental performance services to athletes and other performers.

CMPC certification represents a rigorous standard of education, applied training, examination, ethical practice, and ongoing professional development. Candidates must complete graduate-level education in a related field, fulfill specific coursework requirements across eight knowledge areas, complete an extensive mentored applied experience, pass a comprehensive certification examination, commit to AASP’s ethical standards, and maintain continuing professional development.

The CMPC program is also accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). AASP and CSPA currently identify CMPC as the only NCCA-accredited certification for mental performance consultants in North America. NCCA accreditation means the certification program has met nationally recognized standards for the quality, validity, reliability, and fairness of professional certification.

Working with athletes is not necessarily the same as being specifically trained in sport and performance psychology. A professional may have experience working with athletes without having specialized education, applied training, or formal preparation in the science of mental performance.

The Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential, provides a recognized standard for professionals specifically trained in mental performance. The certification requires specialized education, mentored applied experience, a comprehensive examination, adherence to ethical standards, and ongoing professional development.

For athletes and families, this distinction matters. Mental performance work should be grounded in the science of sport psychology—not simply in an interest in working with athletes.

At Woods Performance Psychology, I am pursuing the CMPC credential because I believe athletes deserve an evidence-based, thoughtfully developed approach to the mental side of performance.

Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Athletes are busy, and its important for everyone that time is not wasted!

Injury can affect an athlete far beyond the physical limitations of the injury. I help athletes navigate the emotional and psychological challenges of being sidelined, including frustration, loss of confidence, fear of reinjury, changes in identity, and uncertainty about returning to competition.

I also understand this experience firsthand, having personally navigated multiple knee surgeries, chronic back pain, and herniated discs. This lived experience informs my approach and allows me to connect with athletes who are struggling with the psychological side of injury and recovery.

No. Mental performance work is not only for athletes who are struggling. Athletes who are already performing well may want to strengthen their mental skills, prepare for higher levels of competition, or develop strategies to perform more consistently under pressure.

Please fill out the Contact Form (click) and I will be in touch as soon as possible!