Here are the most common questions received by UM. If you have a question that is not currently presented answered on this page, please visit the contact page and send UM a message.

SERVICES

• Q: Has COVID changed how you work with athletes?
• A: It sure has. COVID has offered a great opportunity to develop professionally as well as relationally with athletes. A lot of conversations that would be had face to face have moved over video chat, texting has become a more popular means of answering quick questions, and finding new ways to stay connected has become more important than ever.
• Q: Do you offer payment plans?
• A: Absolutely. If you, or your child, are in need of Mental Performance Training and you need to set up payment plans, we can absolutely make that work.
• Q: Does insurance cover your services?
• A: Currently, insurance in the United States does not cover mental performance training.
• Q: I am not in your area but I like your philosophy. Can we still work together?
• A: Absolutely! We can use services such as Google Meetings, Signal, or other services to work through your sessions.

ABOUT

• Q: Why are you not pursuing the AASP-CMPC certification?
• A: I originally was pursuing the Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification but after consulting with multiple other coaches I did not feel it was worth pursuing in its current state. I am active in AASP SIG communities which are small interest groups focused on different communities. Should the CMPC become something more than letters on a business card, I will gladly complete the requirements.
• Q: What is your educational background?
• A: This is a very common question as many people offer mental performance coaching without actually having an education in it. It is important to check to see who actually has the educational background to back up the training they are offering. My education includes:
  • B.S. in Biblical Studies – Cairn University
    • (Where I developed my philosophy that you can’t have great athletes without developing into great people)
  • M.S. in Sport and Health Science – American Military University
  • Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology – University of Western States
  • Currently pursuing – M.S. in Applied Psychology with a focus in Neuroscience – University of Oregon (GO DUCKS!)
• Q: What is your sports background?
• A: I played ice hockey from elementary school through college, lacrosse in middle school and high school, and competed as a rock crawler in the W.E.Rock and UROC rock crawling series. Additionally, after college sports were over I competed in local CROSSFIT competitions and endurance sports while still competing in Triathlons, mountain biking races, and cycling events.
• Q: Why mental performance?
• A: After working as a strength and conditioning coach for 7 years I realized that there was a huge need for mental performance development. Whether you are looking at athletes, professionals, or everyday people, the biggest factor for developing consistency is strictly mental. I find that to be incredibly interesting and I love to see athletes take the mental performance training and apply it to their everyday life as well.
• Q: Why don’t you have social media?
• A: I don’t like it. I think it is a distraction and I don’t like the idea of sharing everything with everyone online. It is a personal preference although I know it is good to have for professional purposes. I prefer books and sharing experiences with friends and family in person.
• Q: Why did you get rid of the Unconquerable Mind Podcast?
• A: I just didn’t have the time and after rescheduling my final guest three times due to life/work/school, I decided that it wasn’t fair to all of my listeners. So I closed it down and decided to focus on life/work/school instead. Maybe I will bring it back one day or maybe I will start a YouTube channel instead, but it takes a lot of time which I tend to spend elsewhere.

PRICING

• Q: Why don’t you post pricing?
• A: Pricing can be an easy way to deter someone from even reaching out. Depending on your needs, goals, and availability, pricing can vary significantly. Reach out, tell me your goals and we will go from there.

PRIVACY/HIPAA

• Q: Are you required by law to keep everything confidential?
• A: Yes, except in two very important situations. If you are a risk to yourself (self-harm) or someone else. At which time I am required by law to report those threats to authorities.
• Q: My son/daughter wants to start mental performance training, can you make sure to tell me everything going on?
• A: Yes and no. There are some restrictions on what can be shared and a lot of that is based on the athlete. When I work with athletes under 18, I encourage parents to take part in the training and I do make sure they are included when outside of sessions and training assignments are given. HOWEVER, a big part of the training I do with athletes involves self-development and self-awareness through journaling prompts and exercises. I do NOT require athletes to share their journal entries with me, their coaches, or their parents and it is up to them whether they wish to share with you (although I do encourage a strong parent-child relationship based on communication). I do encourage the active involvement of parents and invite parents to any and all training sessions, but that is ultimately between you and your child.
• Q: What do you do if a psychological issue arises during training sessions? (e.g. an athlete reveals that they are dealing with a severe anxiety disorder or PTSD due to past traumas)
• A: I have validated multiple licensed clinical psychologists and licensed counselors around the country and should something arise I often recommend a referral to those professionals depending on the need. If you are in an area where I do not currently have a licensed mental health professional that I have met and validated, I will do the legwork to find one for you with the appropriate licensure and certifications for the individual’s needs. I then work with that licensed mental health professional to make sure the athlete/professional is getting what they need and our progression plans work together.
• Q: Are you a psychologist?
• A: In the United States only state-licensed psychologists with doctoral degrees from American Psychological Association accredited Universities/programs can use the term “psychologist.” Because my doctoral degree was in sport and performance psychology, it was not an APA accredited program. I am a mental performance coach and use my academic training and life experiences to help athletes develop the mental skills needed to perform. I am currently planning to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology after completing my current master’s degree in Applied Psychology through the University of Oregon. What does that mean besides not using the term “psychologist?” It means that I do not have the capability to diagnose psychological disorders which is why I have a large referral network with licensed counselors and licensed psychologists across the United States where my athletes currently live/train.