Your Injury Is Healing on Schedule.
The Rest of You Might Not Be.
Your physical therapist at VH360 referred you here because rehab has two halves, and only one of them shows up on a strength test. We work the other half — with athletes, on the mental side of getting back.
100% confidential · Sports-informed therapists and coaches who have been through rehab themselves ·
VH360 athletes get 10% off performance coaching
As Featured In:
Where you might be right now
You're doing the work. The home exercises, the PT visits, the whole protocol. And still:
✔️ You brace before the movement that caused it, and you can feel yourself doing it
✔️ You've been cleared for something you don't feel ready for
✔️ You watch your team train and can't decide whether to go
✔️ You're not sure who you are during a season you're not competing in
✔️ You're further along than you were, and further behind than you should be, and both feel true at once
✔️ The pain is manageable; the not-knowing is not
✔️ You're pushing so hard in rehab that your PT has told you to back off
What Athletes and Parents Are Saying
WHAT WE ACTUALLY WORK ON
Rebuilding trust in the injured joint, so you stop bracing without meaning to
Reducing fear of reinjury, and telling the difference between fear and useful caution
Closing the gap between medically cleared and actually ready
Staying connected to your identity and your team during a season on the sideline
Managing the frustration, grief, and boredom of a long rehab without white-knuckling it
Rebuilding confidence after a setback or a second injury
Keeping perfectionism from turning rehab into another performance to win
Handling the first real return — the first practice, the first contact, the first race
We work alongside your VH360 team, not on top of them. Your PT owns the physical protocol. We take the part that happens between your ears, and with your consent we'll coordinate so you're not getting two different plans.
You Don’t Need to Figure This Out Alone
Therapy or Coaching—Which One?
Performance Coaching — mental skills for sport: confidence, competition anxiety, fear of reinjury, focus, motivation, return-to-sport readiness. No diagnosis involved. Available in all states. Not covered by insurance, and we don't issue superbills, because coaching isn't a health care service. This is where your VH360 10% applies.
Mental Health Therapy — for when the injury has pulled something bigger along with it: depression, anxiety, trauma, disordered coping, or an identity that has taken a real hit. Includes a formal diagnosis. Available in Minnesota with all providers, and California with Staci. Eligible for out-of-network reimbursement.
Many athletes in rehab need coaching. Some need therapy. Some start with one and move to the other. You don't have to sort this out before you call — that's part of what the free consult is for.
Why Athletes Trust Us
We're athletes and coaches ourselves, and our work reaches past the clinic:
Advisory boards for Strong Girls United, the MN State High School Sports League, and Feisty Media
Trusted sport psychology provider for the Sisters in Sports Foundation
Pro bono services addressing racial and gender disparities in sport, because access matters
Out on the course every fall cheering youth mountain biking teams through the MN Cycling Association
Over $10,000 donated to Bras for Girls, Athlete Ally, Girls on the Run, and the Coaches of Color Initiative
At the heart of it all, we love seeing athletes thrive, families feel supported, and communities grow stronger through sport.
Your VH360 Benefit
VH360 athletes get 10% off performance coaching at Skadi.
Performance coaching is available in all states and covers the mental skills side — confidence, fear of reinjury, focus, return-to-sport readiness, goal setting. It requires no diagnosis and it's the service most athletes in active rehab want.
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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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Our mental health professionals specialize in supporting athletes and coaches in Minnesota through:
Depression and anxiety management
Injury recovery and rehabilitation
Significant life stressors
Self-criticism and perfectionism
Athletic identity challenges
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Your body already knows how to move from stress into recovery. Chronic stress, chronic illness, and years of pushing through can make that shift harder to find. We measure the health of your nervous system using medical grade equipment, and then we teach you how to regulate it on demand.
What the free call is like
Twenty minutes, no cost, no commitment. A real conversation with someone who understands rehab, not a sales call.
Book your 20-minute strategy call with a provider who understands athletes. Meet with a sport psychology provider online for the call.
We'll ask what your injury has been like, where you are in your protocol at VH360, and what's actually getting in your way.
We'll tell you honestly whether coaching, therapy, or neither is the right fit, and if we're not the right people we'll say so and point you somewhere better.
If it is a fit, you'll leave knowing who you'd work with, roughly how many sessions, and what it costs after your VH360 discount.
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.
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![photo of Erin Ayala]()
Erin Ayala, PhD, LP, CMPC
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 Avery Nelson]()
Avery Nelson, MS, MS
ATHLETIC COUNSELOR
Avery is an athletic counselor who provides therapy, coaching, and workshops to athletes, coaches, and parents. He loves supporting clients with ADHD, injury recovery, stress management, depression, anxiety, and more.
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![Smiling Laurie against colorful background]()
Laurie Miller, MEd
ATHLETIC COUNSELOR
Former gymnast & current gymnastics coach who loves working with youth and collegiate athletes on anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, and other mental health concerns. Athletic counselor with master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
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![Person with long dark hair and a floral top smiling against a colorful gradient background.]()
Staci Mannella, MSc, MA, PLY
ATHLETIC COUNSELOR
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.
Ready when you are
Whether you want to return to your sport with real confidence, stop bracing every time you plant that leg, or just feel like yourself again after months of feeling sidelined — that work is available, and your PT already thinks you'd benefit from it.
VH360 athletes: 10% off performance coaching.
Frequently Asked Questions
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), 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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Our Free Consultation is more than just a quick intro—it’s a welcoming, pressure-free conversation with someone who truly understands the ups and downs of sports. During this call, we:
Listen closely to your concerns—whether you're an athlete, a parent, or both.
Uncover what’s standing in the way: confidence, pressure, burnout, motivation, injury recovery, or identity struggles.
Discuss your goals and explore possibilities—including whether therapy, performance coaching, or a blend could serve you best.
Walk you through what a customized plan might look like: who you’d work with, how many sessions, and how we’ll support your journey.
This call helps you feel seen, heard, and clear on next steps—no commitment required, just clarity, kindness, and real understanding.
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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 partner with athletes—and their parents—who are hungry for deeper change. You might be:
Feeling stuck despite putting in the work
Battling self-doubt or perfectionism
Recovering from injury, burnout, or performance anxiety
Struggling to reconnect with why you love your sport
Here’s what sets us apart:
We combine mental health therapy and sport-specific performance coaching depending on your needs. Therapy helps address emotional challenges impacting your life and performance, while coaching builds mental skills like resilience, confidence, and focus.
From the very first call, we’ll make a plan that’s unique to you—down to who you work with, how many sessions, and your goals.
We offer a holistic, personalized support plan that actually fits your life, goals, and identity—not a one-size-fits-all solution.
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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.