Dr. Erin Ayala

she/her

sport psychologist | owner & founder

A person with long hair wearing a black shirt and jeans is sitting against a colorful gradient background.

Books and waitlist are currently closed to new clients.
Please consider our other providers, who are also amazing!

AASP Certified Mental Performance Consultant logo in blue and gray, featuring the acronym CMPC and a head silhouette.
Badge for "APIT" by PSYPACT, indicating certification for Erin Ayala with mobility number 9381, expiring on October 12, 2025, issued by the PSYPACT Commission, featuring a QR code.

As a sport psychologist, my job is to help you consider new perspectives and try approaches you likely haven’t been exposed to. My approach brings together concepts from health psychology, positive psychology, and evidence-based therapies to support both your mental health and performance. Sessions with me are active—we’ll rarely sit in silence (and I’ll do much more than smile and nod). We’ll talk about sport and life.

During our meetings, we’ll explore how different parts of you show up in sport—from the inner critic to the unapologetic competitor. Using mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies, we'll develop ways to work with challenging thoughts and emotions rather than against them. We'll also clarify your values as an athlete and I’ll teach you how to set goals that align with what matters most to you. I often use analogies to help you understand sport psychology concepts while developing self-compassion, and I always emphasize the importance of rest, quality sleep, and finding joy in sport. You’ll gain not only understanding and support but also practical skills to make life and sport more enjoyable.

My work is informed by my own experiences as an avid endurance athlete. Over the past 15 years, I have completed several marathons, triathlons (including Ironman Lake Placid), and cycling races in multiple disciplines. I’m a 4x Unbound 200 finisher and continue to train and compete at a national level. This personal experience, combined with my professional expertise, allows me to approach my work with a feminist and multicultural lens, creating space to explore how your cultural identities may affect your experiences. As an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, I actively support the LGBTQ+ athlete community and have published research and contributed to legal briefings for trans athletes.

As a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), I have over a decade of clinical and research experience dedicated to helping athletes navigate the intersection of mental health and performance. I am a published author of over 20 research articles and book chapters, and my insights have been featured in publications like the New York Times, Bicycling Magazine, and Trailrunner Magazine. I also serve on the Minnesota State High School Sports League's Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, continue to serve as an adjunct professor for doctoral students, and am a sought-after speaker for national organizations like USA Hockey and the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. I find joy in using my expertise to make a meaningful impact on the health and wellness of individuals and communities.

To support our work together, each athlete and coach receives a unique link to a personalized wiki page where I share podcasts, book recommendations, readings, journaling prompts, and other tools to help you between sessions.

    • LGBTQ+ athletes

    • Perimenopausal athletes

    • Age-group athletes

    • Student athletes (14 and older)

    • Professional athletes

    • ADHD

    • Anxiety

    • Athletic Retirement

    • Burnout

    • Complex, Chronic, or Psychogenic Health Concerns

    • Depression

    • GI Distress or Nausea Before Competition

    • Injury Recovery

    • Perfectionism & Self-Criticism

    • Trauma

  • Education

    • Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Albany Medical Center

    • PhD in Counseling Psychology, University at Albany (APA-Accredited)  

    • Pre-Doctoral Internship, Albany Psychology Internship Consortium (APA-Accredited)

    • BA in Psychology magna cum laude, St. Catherine University  

    Licensure & Credentials

    • Licensed Psychologist, Minnesota, License Number: LP6042

    • Licensed Psychologist, California

    • Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology, ASPPB 

    • Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Association of Applied Sport Psychology

    • Board-Approved Supervisor for LPC and LPCC clinicians in training

    • Member of US Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry

    • running

    • road or gravel cycling

    • mountain biking

    • rowing

    • paddling

    • ultra-endurance races

    • downhill, enduro, or gravity

    • soccer

    • volleyball

    • ice hockey

    • nordic skiing

    • swimming

    • ultimate frisbee

    • figure skating

    • equestrian showjumping

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    • Anchor Relational Network

    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy

    • Internal Family Systems

    • Positive Psychology

  • Performance Coaching:

    • $205 per 53-60 minute session. Note: As of January 2026, fees will be $225 per 53-60 min session.

    • available for athletes and coaches in all states and provinces

    Mental Health Therapy:

    • $205 per 53-60 minute session. Note: As of January 2026, fees will be $225 per 53-60 min session.

    • Available for athletes and coaches in:

      • Alabama

      • Arizona

      • Arkansas

      • California

      • Colorado

      • Connecticut

      • Delaware

      • District of Columbia

      • Florida

      • Georgia

      • Idaho

      • Illinois

      • Indiana

      • Kansas

      • Kentucky

      • Maine

      • Maryland

      • Michigan

      • Minnesota

      • Mississippi

      • Missouri

      • Nebraska

      • Nevada

      • New Hampshire

      • New Jersey

      • North Carolina

      • North Dakota

      • Ohio

      • Oklahoma

      • Pennsylvania

      • Rhode Island

      • South Carolina

      • South Dakota

      • Tennessee

      • Texas

      • Utah

      • Vermont

      • Virginia

      • Washington

      • West Virginia

      • Wisconsin

      • Wyoming

    • If you’d like, we’ll communicate with your insurance to determine whether you’re eligible for Out-Of-Network insurance benefits. If eligible, we’ll take care of the claims for you. You’ll pay up front, and then you’ll (eventually) receive a check in the mail from your insurance!

    • 4x finisher of Unbound Gravel’s 200 mile race

    • 2024- 2nd place woman 35-39 age group

    • 2023 - 2nd place woman 35-39 age group

    • 2023 - 4th place elite woman at Fat Bike Worlds

    • 2022 - 2nd place women’s single speed at Unbound Gravel 100

    • 2021 - 3rd place woman at Fat Bike Birkie

    • 2019 - 3rd place W2/3 Omnium at Tour of America’s Dairyland

    • 2018 - 1st place W3/4/5 Omnium at Tour of America’s Dairyland

    • 2015 - Ironman Lake Placid (140.6)

    • 2013 to 2016 - 7 x 70.3 mi triathlons

    • 2010 to 2015 - 9 marathons

  • Peer Reviewed Publications

    1. Ayala, E. E., Bromback, M.E.A., Kaufman, J., & Nelson, L. J. (2024). Mental Health and Developmental Needs of Youth Athletes: A Mixed Methods Study.Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 5(1), 93-120. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320770231210862

    2. Ayala, E. E., Nelson, L., Bartholomew, M., & Plummer, D. (2022). A Conceptual Model for Mental Health and Performance of North American Athletes: A Mixed Methods Study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 61. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102176

    3. Almond, A., Ayala, E., Moore, M., & Mirzoyan, M. (2021). Angry Frustrated, and Silent: Facing microaggressions as women within the discipline that coined microaggressions.Psi Chi Journal, 26(4), 408 - 421.doi: 10.24839.2325-7342.JN26.4.408

    4. Ayala, E. E., Riley-Schmida, A., Faulkner, K., & Waniger, K. (2021). Microaggressions Experienced by Women and Gender Diverse Athletes in Competitive Cycling.Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 29(1), 59 - 67. doi: 10.1123/wspaj.2020-0020

    5. Ayala, E. E., Waniger, K. J., Faulkner, K. P. A., & Riley-Schmida, A. (2020). Experiences that Affect Participation for Women and Gender Diverse Athletes in Competitive Cycling.Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 12, 10-26. doi: 10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I1-9912

    6. Hage, S., Ayala, E. E., & Schwartz, J. (2019).  The experience of doctoral students at program-affiliated practicum training clinics.Training and Education in Professional Psychology. doi: 10.1037/tep0000264

    7. Mason, H. R. C., Winseman, J., Marcellon, R., Huamatla, M., Ruiz, C., & Ayala, E. E. (2019). First generation medical student wellness in the U.S.: A cross-sectional snapshot.Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity: Research, Education and Policy, 11, 96-106.

    8. Ayala, E. E., Winseman, J., Johnsen, R., & Mason, H. (2018). US medical students who engage in self-care report less stress and higher quality of life.BMC Medical Education, 18, 189-197. doi: 10.1186/s12909-018-1296-x

    9. Ayala, E. E., & Almond, A. L. (2018). Self-Care of Women Enrolled in Health Service Psychology Programs: A Concept Mapping Approach. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. doi: 10.1037/pro0000190

    10. Ayala, E. E., Roseman, D., Winseman, J., & Mason, H. (2017). Prevalence, consequences, and perceptions of alcohol and drug use of U.S. medical students.Medical Education Online, 22, 1-7. doi: 10.1080/10872981.2017.1392824

    11. Ayala, E. E., Omorodion, A., Nmecha, D., Winseman. J., & Mason, H. (2017). What do medical students do for self-care? A student centered approach to well-being. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 3, 237-246. doi: 10.1080/10401334.2016.1271334.  **2018 Editor’s Choice Award**

    12. Ayala, E. E., Berry, R., Winseman, J., & Mason, H. (2017). A cross-sectional snapshot of sleep quality and quantity among U.S. medical students. Academic Psychiatry, 41, 664-668. doi: 10.1007/s40596-016-0653-5

    13. Ayala, E. E.., Ellis, M. V., Grudev, N., & Cole, J. (2017). Women in health service psychology programs: Stress, self-care, and quality of life.Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 11, 18-25. doi: 10.1037/tep0000141

    14. Ayala, E. E., Kotary, B., & Hetz, M. (2015). Perceived attributions of victims and perpetrators: Effects of gender and relationship.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33, 94-116. doi: 10.1177/0886260515599160

    15. Ayala, E. E., & DelTosta, J. (2014). Rejecting rape culture: Sexual aggression myth acceptance, victimization, and identification: Implications for Tertiary Prevention. Prevention and Health Promotion: Research, Social Action, Practice and Training, 6, 4-15.

    16. Ellis, M., Berger, L., Hanus, A., Ayala, E. E., Swords, B., & Siembor, M. (2014). Inadequate and harmful clinical supervision: Revising the framework and assessing occurrence.The Counseling Psychologist, 42, 434-72. doi: 10.1177/0011000013508656   **Article received 2014 Division 17 Supervision and Training Section’s Article of the Year Award**

    17. Thieman, T., Clary, G., Olson, A., Dauner, R., & Ring, E. E. (2009). Introducing students to psychological research: General psychology as a laboratory.Teaching of Psychology, 36, 160-168. doi: 10.1080/00986280902959994

    Invited Publications

    1. Brannan, D., Cannon, B., Ayala, E., Zacchilli, T. L., Hughes, J. L., Ahlum, M. B., & Rouse, S. V. (2019). Invited Editorial: Psi Chi Journal practices that foster publishable student research articles.Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 24, 15-17. doi: 10.24839/2325-7342.JN24.1.15

    2. Ayala, E. (2018).  How to prepare theses and dissertations for publication in peer reviewed journals. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 23, 268-273. doi: 10.24839/2325-7342.JN23.4.268

    Chapter Publications

    1. Nelson, N., Jensen, S., & Ayala, E. (in press). Allies & Accomplices. In D. Knutson (Ed.)., LGBTQ+ Rural Health: Disparities, Opportunities, and Emerging Research.

    2. Ayala, E. (in press). Navigating Perimenopause: A Mental Health Guide for Athlete Counseling. In M. Kerulis (Ed.), Counseling Athletes: Wellness Across the Lifespan. Cognella.

    3. Mason, H. R. C., Winseman, J., & Ayala, E. E. (2021). Wellbeing of First Generation College Graduates in Medical School.  In R. Longwell-Grice and H. Longwell-Grice (Eds.), At the Intersection: Exploring the Intricacies of First Generation College Students Today. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.

    4. Ayala, E., & Taylor, J. (2019). Building Blocks- Process. In J. Taylor (Ed.), Comprehensive Applied Sport Psychology: From Attitude to Athletic Success and Everything In Between. Routledge.

    5. Hage, S. M., Ring, E. E., & Lantz, M. (2011). Social justice theory. In R.J.R. Levesque (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Adolescence. New York, NY: Springer.

  • I eat pancakes almost every day for breakfast, and I drink cold brew coffee all year round (yep—including in subzero temps in Minnesota).

Meet Dr. Erin Ayala!