My goal in working with athletes is to help them improve their mental strength, which may lead to an increase in their physical performance. Using a holistic approach, I help the athlete translate the mental skills taught in sport into their daily lives to help them be successful in all that they do and strive for.

A typical session involves a focus on one or more mental skills through activities such as worksheets, practice exercises, and discussions. Sometimes I will assign the athlete(s) "homework" to complete beforehand to continue a discussion or help them understand the task for the day. This prep work will be short and be feasible with the athlete's schedule. Sessions typically last 30-60 minutes.

My professional experience has centered on supporting athletes’ development both within and beyond sport. During my graduate training, I worked with collegiate and high school athletes across Western Massachusetts, providing individual support and psychoeducation in mental skills and performance enhancement. I developed and implemented sport-specific mental skills programs, conducted needs assessments, and built collaborative relationships with athletes, coaches, and sport support staff.

My applied experience also includes working alongside athletic trainers at Springfield College to support athletes’ mental readiness during return-to-play processes and developing a mental skills program for Army West Point Men’s Lacrosse based on the team's identified needs. I have also presented research on athletic identity and post-sport mental health at the Regional Association for Applied Sport Psychology Conference. My broader research interests include athletic identity, coping, psychological well-being, athlete transitions, and the intersection of mental and physical performance.

In addition to my mental performance background, I bring 14 years of competitive swimming experience, three years of coaching, collegiate cross-country and track experience, and collegiate coaching experience. These experiences have given me a firsthand understanding of the demands athletes face and have allowed me to approach athlete development from both a performance and a whole-person perspective.

The best coach I ever had was one of my club swimming coaches. He was the first coach who believed I was capable of more than my current abilities, showing it by giving me challenges and encouraging me to go faster down the pool. Although it was tough in the moment, I am grateful because his encouragement prompted me to be bold and fearless within my sport despite any challenges before me.

I offer virtual and in-person sessions. I am willing to travel to an athlete's or team's home field to conduct sessions. Virtual sessions will be conducted over Zoom.

My sessions are formed based on the wishes of the athlete. My philosophy focuses on the notion of autonomy and the athlete directing the trajectory of the session. The athlete, who experiences mental performance difficulties, is considered the "expert" of their reality and knows what they want to improve and work on. As the CMPC, I can offer skills and strategies to build a toolbox, as well as guidance on where to explore next. Or, for example, if the athlete wants to use the session as a form of talk therapy, I would put aside the tasks for the day and use the time to listen to the athlete and their concerns. If communication is established, I consider concerns from coaches and parents, but in the end, the athlete has the final say on the topics discussed in the session.

The sessions are confidential, according to the ethical standards of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Confidentiality applies to athletes of all ages. Parents of minor athletes may inquire about sessions but will not be told what specifically was discussed unless the athletes allow me to disclose that information. Confidentiality may be broken to protect the athlete and others from harm. As a mandated reporter, I am required to report incidents of being a danger to self or others, abuse or neglect of vulnerable populations (children, elderly, and disabled) without obtaining consent to release information first. If an incident were to occur where I would need to make a report, a conversation with the client about the process would take place before any action.