Meet hope
About me
Born and raised in San Diego, California, I played soccer from the age of four through college. I attended North Carolina State University where I played Division I soccer all four years and graduated with my Bachelor's in Psychology. From there I made my way back to the west coast to continue school at California Baptist University where I earned my Master's in Sport and Performance Psychology. Working under renowned mentors and gaining experience with programs ranging from the Riverside Police Explorers to the Division 1 teams and individuals. Now a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC, under the Association for Applied Sport Psychology), I work with coaches, athletes, first responders, and performers of all kinds.
My philosophy
My journey to finding Sport Psychology is most likely similar to yours. I was faced with adversity in my soccer career where the difference between me sticking with it and walking away from my sport was all mental. I tore my ACL the summer after my freshman year at NC State. After going through my first season ever as a bench player, this injury tempted me to walk away from the game. This is when I started meeting with our Sport Psychologist and our talks and tools she gave me brought my love for the game back and I was able to come back and compete in my last 3 years of college soccer.
Because of this, I value looking at athletes holistically and pushing them to become the best versions of themselves, both on and off of the field. This means finding new forms of dedication to reach a level of performance they may have thought was impossible before, and learning how to apply every principle to life outside of sport. Creating balance in one's life will benefit their on the field performance as well as help them when they retire from sports.
I have seen what Sport Psychology was able to do for my own performance during my time as a Division I athlete with the pressures, injuries, and level of commitment needed. That is where my passion for this career was born, when I saw how much of an impact it made on my own and my teammates performance.
Education and Credentials
Certified Mental Performance Consultant
Administered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA)
Master's of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology, California Baptist University
Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology, North Carolina State University
Counseling on Lethal means Certification
Athletic Career
North Carolina State University, NCAA Division 1 Soccer
Sweet 16 appearances in 2017, 2018, 2019
San Diego Galaxy, WPSL player 2017-2021
San Diego Surf Soccer Club, Captain 2011-2016
Research
Coaching Styles and Team Success: Evaluating Coaching Styles and Overall Team Success in the NBA, 2024
Leadership is Learned, 2023
What is Sport and Performance Psychology?
Sport and Performance Psychology (SPP) has been defined in a variety of ways as the field has grown and adapted. The definition I most associate with is from the American Psychological Association which says "SPP focuses on identifying and applying psychological principles that facilitate peak sports performance, enhance people's participation in physical activities and help athletes achieve optimal human performance." An important aspect of this definition is the "human performance" meaning that this field branches outside of athletics. We as humans perform in all aspects of our lives and could apply the principles within SPP to first responders, parenting, coaching, nursing, or employee performance.
In addition to the definition above, my own interpretation of SPP puts value on the mental health of the client. Either by helping them through experiences and traumas within my scope of practice or by aiding them in finding the help that they need. No athlete should be expected to perform at peak performance while enduring mental health struggles.
What is a certified mental performance consultant
The Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) describes the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) as follows:
"AASP, the leader in serving the needs of sport and performance psychology professionals, developed the CMPC credential to recognize the specialized knowledge and skill that athletes and performers at all levels demand. The certification demonstrates to clients, employers, colleagues, and the public at large that an individual with a master’s or doctoral degree in sport science, psychology or a closely related field has met the highest standards of professional practice, including completing a combination of educational and work requirements, successfully passing a certification exam, agreeing to adhere to ethical principles and standards, and committing to ongoing professional development. CMPCs work with individuals of all ages and across a variety of performance contexts, including:
• Sport (athletes and coaches)
• Exercise (all activity levels)
• Tactical (military, firefighters, police)
• Performing Arts (dancers and musicians)
• Business (executives)"
"The only nationally accredited certification for mental performance professionals in the United States and Canada, CMPCs are recognized for their expertise and ethical practice to help performers reduce performance anxiety, improve concentration and communication, build confidence, set goals, and more."
For more information, please visit https://appliedsportpsych.org/certification/