Mental Performance Coaching

The physical side of climbing gets a lot of attention — training plans, technique, strength benchmarks. But for most young athletes, what holds them back isn't what's happening in their bodies. It's what's happening in their head.

Fear of falling. Shutting down under competition pressure. Tying self-worth to a grade. Losing the love of climbing to the weight of expectation. These aren't signs that an athlete isn't tough enough — they're signs that the mental side of the sport hasn't been trained with the same intentionality as the physical side. It can be. And the athletes who learn to do that work early carry those skills for life, well beyond the climbing gym.

Mental performance coaching helps young climbers build the habits and tools they need to perform at their best when it counts — and to stay connected to why they started climbing in the first place. That includes developing a process-oriented mindset, learning to regulate nerves and arousal under pressure, strengthening commitment on hard moves, recovering well after setbacks, and building a healthier, more sustainable relationship with the sport and with themselves.

Why work with me?

As a competitive climber, I was a 4x Youth National Champion, 2x Youth Pan-American Champion, Bouldering World Cup finalist, and multi-time semifinalist in both sport and bouldering on the World Cup circuit. I know what it feels like to stand at the base of a route with everything on the line — the nerves, the pressure, the internal noise, and the moments where it all comes together. That experience isn't just background; it's the lens through which I understand every athlete I work with.

And I've spent years building the professional foundation to back it up. My undergraduate studies in psychology ( at UCLA and U of U ) gave me the theoretical grounding in how the mind works. Post-graduate studies at the Flow Research Collective deepened my understanding of peak performance states and what actually drives optimal experience. I'm currently pursuing licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist alongside my CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) certification.

What I offer isn't a generic sports psychology protocol adapted for climbing. It's a coaching approach built from the inside out — by someone who has competed at the highest levels of the sport and studied the science of performance, wellbeing, and human development with rigor and care.

Sessions are available for youth athletes individually and include parent communication as appropriate. Whether your athlete is preparing for competition season, working through a specific challenge, or simply ready to take their mental game as seriously as their physical training, I'd love to connect.

Free 30-Minute Intro Call

Before we dive into any coaching work, I want to make sure it's the right fit — for your athlete, for your family, and for what you're hoping to work toward.

In our intro call, we'll talk through where your athlete is right now, what's getting in the way, and what they're working toward. I'll share a little about how I approach mental performance coaching and what working together would actually look like. There's no pitch and no pressure — just an honest conversation to see if this is the right next step.

Parents are welcome and encouraged to be part of this call.