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.

My books and waitlist are currently closed to new clients. But the good news? Our other providers are also phenomenal—check them out below.

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.

Here's the thing about working with me.

I'm not going to sit across from you, smile, nod, and ask "how does that make you feel?" every five minutes.

Sessions with me are active. We're going to talk about the stuff you think about at 2am before a big race. The inner critic who shows up when you're struggling. The part of you that's terrified of getting slower. The version of yourself you're trying so hard to be—and the one you actually are.

We'll talk about sport. And life. And how messy it gets when those two things collide.

What nobody tells you about sport psychology.

Most athletes come to me thinking they need to be mentally tougher or they just need to lock in.

What they actually need is permission to be human.

You don't need to fight your anxiety—you need tools to work with it. You don't need to silence your inner critic—you need to understand where it's coming from and what it's trying to protect. And you definitely don't need another person telling you to "just relax."

My approach pulls from health psychology, positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems. Translation: we're going to get practical, research-backed, and occasionally weird (in a good way).

What working together actually looks like.

We'll explore the different parts of you that show up in sport—the perfectionist, the competitor, the one who's afraid to fail, the one who's tired of trying so hard.

We'll use mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies to help you stop fighting your thoughts and emotions and start making space for them.

We'll clarify what actually matters to you as an athlete (spoiler: it's probably not just the podium).

And we'll set goals that align with your values—not someone else's expectations.

I use a lot of analogies. I talk about rest and sleep more than you'd expect. And I'll push you to find joy in sport again, even when that feels impossible.

You'll leave sessions with practical skills, new perspectives, and—hopefully—a little more self-compassion.

Why I get it.

I'm not just a sport psychologist. I'm an endurance athlete who's been in the pain cave more times than I can count.

Over the past 15 years, I've finished 9 marathons, 7 half-Ironmans, Ironman Lake Placid, and I'm a 4x Unbound 200 finisher (including back-to-back 2nd place finishes in my age group). I've raced road, gravel, mountain, and fat bikes at a national level. I know what it's like to train through Minnesota winters, to question whether I'm good enough, and to wonder who I am when I'm not racing.

This isn't just professional expertise—it's lived experience.

I also approach this work through a feminist and multicultural lens. I create space to talk about how your identities—gender, sexuality, race, age—show up in sport. As an advocate for LGBTQ+ athletes, I've published research on inclusion and contributed to legal briefings for trans athletes. If you've felt like you don't quite fit in traditional sport spaces, I see you.

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.

  • Athletes:

    • LGBTQ+ athletes navigating sport spaces

    • Perimenopausal athletes adjusting to body changes

    • Student athletes (14+) balancing sport and life

    • Age-group and professional athletes across all levels

    Sports I know well:

    • Endurance sports (running, cycling, triathlon, ultra-endurance)

    • Team sports (soccer, volleyball, hockey, ultimate frisbee)

    • Winter sports (nordic skiing, figure skating)

    • Other sports (swimming, rowing, equestrian, mountain biking)

    What I specialize in:

    • Anxiety and pre-competition nerves

    • Perfectionism and self-criticism

    • Burnout and athletic identity

    • Injury recovery and return-to-sport fear

    • Athletic retirement and life transitions

    • ADHD, depression, and trauma

    • Complex or chronic health concerns

    • GI distress before competition

  • Licensed Psychologist in Minnesota, California, and 40+ states via PSYPACT

    Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology

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

    Post-Doctoral Fellow at Albany Medical Center

    Member of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry

    Published author of over 20 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters

    Featured expert in the New York Times, Bicycling Magazine, and Trailrunner Magazine

    Sought-after speaker for USA Hockey, the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, and the Minnesota State High School League

    I'm also a Board-Approved Supervisor and adjunct professor, because teaching the next generation of clinicians matters to me.

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    • Anchor Relational Network

    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy

    • Internal Family Systems

    • Positive Psychology

  • Performance Coaching:

    • $225 per 53-60 min session

    • Available to athletes and coaches in all states and provinces

    Mental Health Therapy:

    • $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

    • We can work with your insurance for out-of-network benefits. You pay upfront, we handle the claims, and you get reimbursed. No surprises.

    • 5x finisher of Unbound Gravel’s 200 mile race

      • 2026- 3rd place women’s singlespeed

      • 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.

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

    • Positive Psychology

    • Anchor Relational Network

    • Biofeedback

  • I eat pancakes almost every day for breakfast. I drink cold brew year-round (yes, even in Minnesota winters). And I believe that sport should add to your life—not consume it.

    If that sounds like someone you want in your corner, I'd love to work with you.

Meet Dr. Erin Ayala!