Can we talk about what nobody says out loud?

That you're struggling with depression and it's affecting your training. That anxiety shows up everywhere—not just at competitions. That your relationship with food and your body feels completely out of control. That some days, the thought of walking into practice makes your chest tight. That you love your sport—but also, sometimes, you hate it.

If you're nodding along right now, you're in the right place.

Here's what I know about young athletes in aesthetic sports.

You're navigating mental health challenges that your coaches and teammates might not see. Depression that makes getting out of bed harder than the hardest workout. Anxiety that doesn't stay on the competition floor—it follows you to school, to meals, to bed. Disordered eating patterns that started as "fueling for performance" but became something darker. Body image struggles in a sport where you're being judged on everything—your lines, your form, your expression, whether you "look the part."

I get it. Because I've been there.

I'm a former gymnast and tennis player. I've stood on the beam knowing everyone's eyes were on me. I've struggled with perfectionism, anxiety, and the constant pressure to prove I was good enough. I've watched talented young female athletes battle mental health challenges that nobody talks about—until it's almost too late.

And now, as a USA Gymnastics coach for the past four years and a pre-licensed therapist, I see it from both sides. I know what young female athletes are up against. The unique mental health pressures. The silence around depression and eating disorders in sport. The way anxiety gets dismissed as "pre-competition jitters" when it's so much more than that.

That's why I do this work.

What working with me actually looks like.

First things first: this is a judgment-free zone.

You don't have to minimize what you're going through. You can name the depression, the anxiety, the disordered eating, the body image struggles—and I'm not going to tell you to "just think positive" or "focus on performance."

We're going to get real. And then we're going to build skills that actually work.

Here's what we'll focus on:

• Treating depression and anxiety: Whether it shows up before competition or everywhere else in your life, we'll use evidence-based approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We'll work on managing symptoms, building coping skills, and helping you feel more like yourself again.

• Addressing disordered eating and body image concerns: If you're struggling with your relationship with food, your body, or the constant pressure to look a certain way, we'll address it directly. We'll work on building body trust, challenging diet culture in sport, and developing a healthier relationship with fueling and recovery.

• Working through mental blocks and performance anxiety: Mental blocks are scary. But they're also solvable—especially when we address the underlying anxiety or trauma that might be fueling them. We'll break down what's happening, why it's happening, and how to move through it safely.

• Reframing perfectionism and self-criticism: Perfectionism often masks anxiety or low self-worth. We'll figure out where it's coming from and build healthier ways to think about performance, mistakes, and your worth as a person—not just an athlete.

• Finding balance between sport and mental health: You don't have to choose between being a competitive athlete and taking care of your mental health. We'll figure out how to honor both—and when it might be time to step back.

My style? Warm, real, and occasionally funny.

I believe healing happens in connection, not perfection. I'll challenge you when you need it, but I'll also meet you where you are. Every session is tailored to you—what you need that day, what feels safe for you. Some days we'll dig deep into difficult emotions. Other days we'll pull out Uno or Connect Four while we chat. Both are okay. The goal isn't to turn you into someone you're not. It's to help you heal, grow, and decide who you want to be—in sport and in life.

What makes me different.

• I specialize in young female athletes with mental health concerns. I'm not just a sport psychologist focused on performance. I'm a mental health counselor who understands the unique intersection of being a young woman, an athlete, and someone navigating depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental health challenges.

• I've been in your shoes. I know what it's like to struggle with anxiety and perfectionism in sport. I'm not just a clinician reading about these challenges in a textbook. I've lived them.

• I'm supervised by Dr. Erin Ayala. Every single client I work with benefits from Dr. Ayala's oversight and expertise. You're getting high-quality, evidence-based mental health support (at a more accessible rate!)

• I use approaches that actually work for mental health. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills, Feminist Therapy, and trauma-informed approaches—all grounded in research, all tailored to you.