Your Mindset Is Just as Important as Your Training. Let’s Strengthen Both.
Book a Free Call With Sports-Informed Therapists Who Specialize in Working With Athletes.
100% Confidential · Real Support From Coaches Who’ve Been There
Your Mindset Is Just as Important as Your Training.
LET’S STRENGTHEN BOTH.
Book a Free Call With Sports-Informed Therapists Who Specialize in Working With Athletes.
100% Confidential & Compassionate
How We Can Help You Perform at Your Best
Many of the athletes we work with have tried traditional therapy before — but felt it didn’t quite click. That’s where we’re different. We blend deeper mental health support with athlete-specific, actionable strategies to help you show up stronger — in your sport and in your life.
Build lasting confidence & mental toughness
Recover from injury & burnout
Quiet self-doubt and perfectionism
Stay calm under pressure
Boost focus and motivation
Set meaningful, athlete-aligned goals
Reconnect with your passion for sport
Respond to mistakes with self-compassion
What Athletes and Parents Are Saying
Is This You or Does This Sound Like Someone You Care About?
Even when things look good from the outside, the mental side of sport can be overwhelming. Pressure to perform, fear of letting people down, or just not feeling like yourself — it’s more common than you think.
Whether you're an athlete, a parent, or a coach, if any of the following sound familiar, we’re here to help:
✔️ Performance anxiety before races or events
✔️ Fear of failure and underperforming
✔️ Lack of motivation during training
✔️ Depression, anxiety, or trauma affecting multiple areas of life
✔️ Struggles with injury recovery or chronic health concerns
✔️ Self-criticism and perfectionism
How we can help
Whether you're seeking deeper mental health support, a competitive edge, or team-wide guidance, we offer multiple ways to work together — all tailored to the realities of sport.
Available virtually in 42 states and in-person in Minneapolis, our team works with athletes ages 10 and up. We know the pressure, the perfectionism, and the mental wear and tear — because we’ve lived it. We’re athletes and coaches, too.
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Our mental health professionals specialize in supporting athletes and coaches through:
Depression and anxiety management
Injury recovery and rehabilitation
Significant life stressors
Self-criticism and perfectionism
Athletic identity challenges
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Our evidence-based coaching helps you develop the mental skills needed to excel in your sport through:
Mental skills training and goal setting
Visualization and self-talk techniques
Focus and motivation improvement
Competition preparation strategies
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Whether a team, organization, parents, and/or coaches, we offer virtual and in-person workshops that can be customized to meet your interests, needs, and sport. Click here for details.
What to Expect From Your Free Consultation
This isn’t just a discovery call — it’s a real conversation with someone who understands the pressures athletes face. We’ll take the time to listen, reflect, and help you see what support could look like if you choose to move forward.
No pressure, no commitment — just clarity.
Book your 20-minute strategy call with a provider who understands athletes.
We’ll explore the mental blocks or patterns getting in your way — in sport, life, or both.
You’ll get a personalized sense of what support could look like, if we’re a good fit.
You don’t have to do this alone — we’ll help you move forward with clarity and care.
Meet the Coaches & Therapists Who Understand Athletes
We’re not just providers — we’re athletes, too. Every member of our team brings deep experience in both sport and psychology, offering guidance grounded in empathy, expertise, and lived experience.
As Featured In:
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![photo of Erin Ayala]()
Erin Ayala
OWNER & FOUNDER
Sport Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant. Expertise in working with athletes navigating hormonal transitions in life (e.g., puberty, menopause, HRT) or chronic/complex health concerns.
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![photo of Hannah Silva-Breen]()
Hannah Silva-Breen
ATHLETIC COUNSELOR & MASTERS INTERN
MA and PhD student at West Virginia University. Alum of the Tucker Center for Girls & Women in Sport. Former basketball player who has been coaching AAU girls for 12 years. Expertise in body image, disordered eating, and more.
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![Person with long dark hair and a floral top smiling against a colorful gradient background.]()
Staci Manella
ATHLETIC COUNSELOR & PRE-DOCTORAL INTERN
PhD student at Ball State University. Former Paralympic skier. Passionate about helping teen and adult athletes with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief & loss, or relationship conflicts.
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![Smiling person with graduation stole against colorful background]()
Laurie Miller
ATHLETIC COUNSELOR & MASTERS INTERN
MA student at Springfield College. Former gymnast & current gymnastics coach who loves working with youth and collegiate athletes on stress management, anxiety, perfectionism, and confidence concerns.
FAQs
We’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help you feel more informed and supported as you take this step. If you’re wondering about something not listed here, just ask—we’re happy to help.
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Mental Health Therapy: Therapy addresses emotional and psychological challenges that may impact performance (or life! Yes! We do "regular" therapy, too!). This service includes a formal diagnosis and focuses on improving mental health symptoms. Therapy is eligible for partial insurance reimbursement and limited to MN (all providers), NE (Peter), WI (Peter), and CA (Staci).
Performance Coaching: Coaching hones mental skills like confidence, resilience, and focus to improve your performance. You’ll learn strategies for managing competition anxiety, staying motivated, and achieving your goals both in and out of your sport. No formal diagnosis is required and we're able to support clients globally, but costs are not covered by insurance and we don't provide Superbills for reimbursement (as it's not considered a healthcare service).
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We love working with everyday athletes! Our team supports clients of all levels—from youth athletes (starting at age 10) to recreational competitors, collegiate athletes, and even Olympians.
*For younger clients, we include parents in the initial session to ensure everyone is aligned on goals, expectations, and confidentiality.
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Most of our sessions are conducted via telehealth for convenience. However, we also offer in-person appointments at our office in the Twin Cities area.
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We don’t accept insurance directly because our priority is to provide high-quality, personalized care without the restrictions that insurance plans often impose.
However, if you have Out-of-Network (OON) benefits, we can help you use them. You’ll pay Skadi upfront for your sessions, and we’ll assist with filing claims so you can seek reimbursement from your insurance provider.
During our free call, we can discuss this in more detail, verify your eligibility, and walk you through the process, including a simple flowchart for submitting and tracking claims.
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It really depends on your unique goals and circumstances. Some clients come in for just a few targeted sessions, while others engage in ongoing support over time. On average, most clients attend around 8 sessions per year, with a total median of 11 sessions overall. That said, we’ve worked with athletes who come for 1–3 sessions and others who have had 100+ as part of their long-term development.
Book Your Free Consultation
Every athlete has a story — and every breakthrough starts with a decision.
Maybe you’re ready to compete with more confidence. Maybe you want to feel like yourself again after an injury. Or maybe you just want support from someone who truly gets what it’s like to be in your shoes.
You don’t have to figure it out alone — we’re here to help.