Visualization is an extremely effective mindset strategy that can be used to block out "the noise", set your intentions, and get in the zone prior to getting on the ice. Listen to these visualization scripts above to help guide you on how to use visualization, and be sure to click here to check out five tips on how to enhance your visualization.
Imagine someone on a dock, they are hesitating to jump in. They are worried that it is too cold, so they dip their toe in. They might even jump in, but they get right back out. This person is not swimming and certainly not enjoying themselves. Alternatively, what you want to do is get on the dock, run full speed, jump in, and enjoy swimming. This is a relatable analogy that I use to simplify the mental game. Instead of being the person that is hesitating and has a head full of inner conflict, you want to clear the noise and ‘jump’ into the zone. You either do it or you don’t. The challenge of being on the dock is there can a lot of inner chatter - including: Self-doubt Overthinking Worrying about what others think Holding on to the past, or Worrying about the future The bottom line is if you lack alignment within your thoughts, feelings, and actions, you end up losing the ability to just be in the flow. So here are 3 steps to align your thoughts, feeling, and actions, so that you can ‘jump’ into the zone and achieve Consistent Elite Performance. STEP 1: Name the Noise The key here is becoming more aware of your inner dialog. The negative self-talk or inner noise that holds us back is most commonly related to: Results Challenges What Others Think Once you get better at naming the noise, then you also want to measure it. This gives you a baseline to work from. STEP 2: Prepare to Jump Acceptance is the fundamental concept to getting centred and clearing the noise. Accept that you might lose. Accept that you might get uncomfortable. Accept that you might not be liked by everyone. It is a willingness problem, but when you truly get perspective and accept the range of results you optimize the probability to achieve the intended results. The four fundamental tools our athletes use to prepare to jump include: Unique Alter Ego 10 Second Reset Routine Personalized Mental Scorecard Imagery with Coping Planning for Adversity STEP 3: Jump into the Water This analogy boils down to being aware, then choosing to jump in. You can feel the difference. When you are stuck on the dock you have an internal conflict between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. But when you jump in the water you can feel the alignment. You are in a mental state that is: Connected to the love the game Appreciates the opportunity to grow Prepared for the ups and downs of competition You are fully in the water. If want 1-on-1 coaching to help you ‘jump’ into the water just click the link below to book in your free 1-on-1 intro session. Book Now
Every athlete plays the “What if?” game. It’s one thing to ask “What if I won that game?” But it’s another thing to ask “What if I didn’t let fear hold me back?” I remember when I first did this when I was 8 years old playing hockey. I was in the dressing room, putting on my Stoney Creek Stars jersey, while my coach was creating a list of players who wanted to play goalie. Growing up a Leafs fan, I adored Curtis Joseph and Felix Potvin. I always wanted to play goalie and I wanted to put my name forward. But I was scared. So I said I didn’t want to. What if I decided to play goalie? Looking back at it, I let fear hold me back from doing what I wanted. The fear of losing. The fear of not being as good as others. The fear of embarrassing myself in the net. All this fear held me back from doing what I wanted. This wasn’t the only time I let fear and doubt influence my action. In high-school, I tried out for the football team and made it. Our coach told me that I would get to play on both sides of the ball - offence and defence. I was pumped. But I broke my hand, missed most of the season, and sat on the sidelines for all practices and games. Before I knew it, fear and doubt crept back into my head. Having been out for so long I lost my confidence to make plays and I was no longer aggressive on the field. For the rest of my high-school years, I didn’t play again, because I was scared of getting re-injured. It was another situation that I envisioned myself enjoying and thriving in, but I let fear hold me back and I never pulled the trigger on playing again. Situations like these quickly became a pattern. And patterns quickly become habits. I felt deja-vu from my experience in high-school when I went to try out for the Canadian Bobsleigh Program. I was coming off another major injury (torn pectoral muscle), and felt fear creeping in that I wouldn’t be able to perform at my best. I went to the tryouts, but never actually tried out - I sat on the sidelines, refusing to pull the trigger and jump in. I used my injury as an excuse to cover up my lack of confidence, and lost out on another opportunity that I look back on and think, what could have been if I didn’t let fear hold me back? It wasn’t until I transitioned to tennis that I experienced a shift in my mindset. There was no longer room for fear. In team sports, I hid behind others or used injuries as an excuse. Now I had nobody to hide behind, and no injury to use as an excuse. Fear stood in front of me, and I had no choice but to attack [...]
Check out this video on the Fear Mindset vs. Attack Mindset. Fear can be paralyzing. Fear of mistakes, fear of failure, fear of letting others down, or fear of not meeting expectations; Whatever it is, it holds us back from just trusting our capabilities and attacking what we want. In most sports, and other areas of life, it pays to have an attacking mindset: In sports like hockey, soccer, and basketball, this often means taking the puck or ball and attacking the net While in tennis, golf, baseball, or softball, this means not being afraid to fail and fully committing to the shot In life, this means having that important conversation, putting yourself out there, or doing anything else related to going after your dreams. Follow these 3 Steps to go from a Fear Mindset to an Attacking Mindset: STEP 1: Differentiate Fear vs. Attack vs. Reckless You want to move from a fear mindset to an attack mindset, but you don’t want to end up being reckless. Here is a breakdown of the key traits within each of the 3 mental states: 1. Fear Mental State: Afraid to make mistakes, doubting ability, worrying about results. 2. Attack Mental State: Willing to make mistakes, trusting capability, being in the moment. 3. Reckless Mental State: Carelessness, over-compensating. We suggest you write out what each of these mental states looks like for you to make it clear how you want to show up. STEP 2: Going from Fear to Attack To go from the fear to attack mindset, you have to align your thoughts, feeling and actions. The following two concepts are key to helping you get that alignment: 1. Attack Mistakes > Fear Mistakes: You are going to make mistakes regardless of what mindset you are in, but the attack mindset will generally not be as harmful of a result, not look as bad, and it will serve as a learning opportunity. 2. Thinking Long-Term: The fear mindset could be better in the short-term, but the attack mindset is better in the long-term. While reading this, you might cognitively understand these points, but you need to have the emotional feeling to match or the behaviours won’t come consistently. So don’t just read this and nod your head. Make sure you reflect and look at your game; Look at when you are playing in the attack mindset vs fear mindset. Truly reflect on which mindset serves you better. The goal is to feel yourself break through the fear and fully arrive in the attack mindset. STEP 3: Lock it In To lock in the attack mental state consistently, you need to be aware, set a high standard for yourself, and have the tools to get into the state. Awareness comes from reading this and reflecting - not just once, but consistently. You should be aiming to be in the attack mindset 95% of the time [...]
When it comes to sports, parents have the ability to either help or hinder their child's mental game. Here are the 7 Biggest Mistakes Parents make in Youth Sport: 1. Lose Sight of Why It can be easy to disconnect from your why. If you can stay connected to what you really want for your child out of the sporting experience (i.e., life skills, growth, and enjoyment), then supporting their mental game comes a lot easier. 2. Screw Up the Car Ride Home Ask your child how and when they want to have post- practice and game reflections. When reflecting, the child should speak first and the most. 3. Shoulds and Expectations Your child is the one playing, so they need to take ownership of their game plan and how they mentally prepare to play at their best. Don't project your expectations onto them. 4. Not Managing Your Emotions If you want your child to go out there and be relaxed, yet focused and having fun, then be a role model and have the right mindset yourself. You can use the Alter Ego exercise for yourself. 5. Blaming Coaches There has been a pretty big buildup of tension between coaches and parents, but we are all on the same team here and all want what's best for the kids and the team. 6. Tolerating a Toxic Culture The bottom line is, as a youth sport parent, you are part of the team and you contribute to the culture of the team. The question is: Are you helping or hurting the culture? 7. Neglecting Mental Skills If you want to help your kid with the mental game, then you need to encourage it, highlight why it is important, and understand the nuances of it. If you'd like to learn more about supporting your child's mental game, click the link below for our full set of Parent Resources (assessment, PDF download, and mini video series). Get Access to Parent Mental Game Resources
I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to play. Not only in this game, but ever again. It was the start of the 2018 season, and I was on our team bus heading to a game in Truro Nova Scotia. We were having a decent start to our season, sitting well above .500 through 10 games. By some strange occurrence, I was playing really good hockey. I was over a point per game and playing on our top line - never a bad thing for a rookie in Jr. A. However, I had a dark cloud hanging over me. Heck, I felt like I was trapped IN a dark cloud. The prior year I missed half the season with post concussion symptoms. As a senior in highschool, I was barely able to pass my classes. Not to mention living in a constant state of fear. A constant state of unknowing. Unknowing if I would ever shake these symptoms. If I would ever feel like myself. And more importantly, be able to play at the level I sought to play at. But I’m a hockey player - I’ll find a way through this.. Right? Yep. That way forward was to shut up and continue playing. I was playing good hockey, so why would I stop? But here I am. Well over a year of feeling foggy, disconnected, and unsure of what to do. It was sitting on that bus that I decided I couldn’t go on like this. I needed to step back, get help, and get back to feeling normal again. That was all I wanted. I couldn’t continue to play in constant fear for my health. So I did seek help. I made a commitment to myself that I would step away from the game until I felt ‘normal’ again. And finally after 10 months away from the rink, I started to get on the right track. With dozens of doctor’s appointments and chiropractic sessions proving useless, a profound shift took place in me. I stopped looking outside of myself for answers and looked inward. That was the moment my healing process began. I started to notice the role I was having in my anxiety and fear of the unknown. I started to analyze my thinking. How were certain thoughts, feelings, and emotions I was having serving me? How were they hurting me? I began to accept the situation I found myself in as opposed to being a prisoner of my own mind. I became rigorously curious. I set forth on a relentless pursuit of learning about my own psychology. I read. I journaled. I worked with a mental performance coach. I began to observe the self imposed obstacles I had created for myself. This shift inward put me in the driver's seat. My mind was no longer using me; I was using it. What occurred following this process was something far superior to being able to continue on in my hockey career. [...]
Check out this episode of WIN: Championship Traits for Life, where Coach Cassidy talks about metrics for success. He talks about how overcoming adversity during his time as a hockey player has led him to a career as a Mental Performance Coach so that he can guide athletes to clearly understand what mental skills they need to work on and how to do it. In this episode, Coach Cassidy discusses: How sports inspired his career in helping others The mental skills elite athletes need Measuring success The importance of coaches being coachable, vulnerable, and growth-oriented If you would like to book a media or speaking engagement with Dr. Cassidy Preston, contact us.
Confidence is a key to high performance. Unfortunately, confidence is often misunderstood and people overlook the most important part - self-worth. Most people struggle with self-confidence because the self-talk in their head is their own worst enemy. Here are 4 other reasons why people struggle with self-confidence: Yo-Yo Confidence: Tying their self-image to external results or praise Imposter Syndrome: Believing they are not worthy and/or don't belong Victim Mentality: Blaming others and not taking responsibility Negativity Bias: Constantly beating yourself up and overly focusing on the negatives However, you can go from being your own worst enemy to being your own best ally by following these 3 steps to strengthen your self-confidence: Step 1: Start with the Roots of the Tree - Self-Worth Self-worth is the foundation for confidence. How do you see yourself? Do you think you’re worthy of succeeding? If your self-worth isn’t sturdy and firmly grounded, you’ll have a hard time developing the rest of your tree. Remember, roots are underground. Your roots - your self-worth - should not be influenced by other people, results, or any other external factors. You are responsible for choosing your own self-worth. Step 2: Grow a Well-Rounded Tree The rest of the tree is made up of 3 parts: The trunk, the branches, and the leaves. The trunk represents your self-esteem (how you feel about yourself overall). The branches represent your self-confidence (how you feel about yourself and your abilities in different areas of life). The leaves represent self-efficacy (your belief in your ability to complete a specific task). It’s normal to have some branches be weaker than others, but it’s still important to make sure you’re building self-confidence and self-efficacy in different areas of your life to make your tree as well-rounded as possible. Step 3: Put in the Work and Own Your Capabilities Don’t make it a confidence problem if it’s a capabilities problem. Because of the world we live in these days, confidence tends to be heavily tied to praise and results, which creates a lot of variability in confidence and performance. When we focus on our capabilities, we’re putting in the work, owning our capabilities, and preparing well, which allows for more stability in both confidence and performance. The most important takeaway is that you are in control of your self-confidence. It’s a skill that you can develop if you work at it. Start by strengthening your self-worth, then grow a well-rounded tree by developing your self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-efficacy. Self-confidence is a skill that can be developed if you’re willing to put in the work and own your capabilities. Be your own best ally, not your own worst enemy. Book Your Free 1-on-1 Intro Session Today
When it comes to coaching, it's important to think like a farmer. Here are 5 Rules to remember for your upcoming season: 1. Provide the best possible conditions for growth. Crops need nourishment. Not all crops need the same kind or amount, but they all need some. Be the person who creates and provides the conditions they need. 2. Don't blame the crops for not growing fast enough. Crops won't all grow at the same speed. Growth isn't linear. If you truly feel like you should be seeing faster growth, revisit Rule 1. 3. Yelling at the crops doesn't help anyone. Let's step back from the analogy for a second and just be blunt. Your players know when they made a mistake. They may not change their body language or overtly show their frustration, but they know. Athletes are notoriously hard on themselves. Instead of yelling about what they did wrong, provide direction so they can do it right next time. 4. Remove the weeds. Weeds take resources away from your crops. Crops cannot grow as efficiently and healthily if there are weeds in their way. It doesn't matter if that weed is the most skilled weed on your team. For the sake of team culture, psychological safety, trust, and success, you either need to coach that weed into a crop or remove the weed. 5. Don't uproot crops before they've had a chance to grow. Growth takes time. If crops are in a new environment and growing under different conditions, there may be an adjustment period. Be patient, revisit Rule 1, and give each crop an opportunity to grow. Rule 1 provides a foundation for, and is at the core of, Rules 2-5. Sometimes, it's difficult to know how to provide ideal conditions that meet the varying needs of your crops. The coaches at CEP Mindset can help you figure that out. If you're interested in learning more about how we can help you provide the best possible conditions for growth, schedule a free consult call with us. Book Your Free Coach Consult Call
Do you find yourself afraid to make mistakes, derailed by adversity, worried about what others think, or struggling with confidence?That means you are in your own head and not performing at your full capability - this is stage 1 of the Mindset Mountain. The CEP Journey up the mountain is made up of 5 stages: 1. In the River - In your own head, underperforming, & need to start mental training 2. Base Camp - Overcome initial mental blocks, quick spike in performance, & need to personalize the fundamentals 3. First Summit - In the Zone 85% of the time, elevated performance, & need to take ownership of your mindset & hold yourself to even higher standards 4. Final Ascent - Multiple games in the Zone 95% of the time, consecutive peak performances, & need to optimize your habits & mental toolbox 5. The Peak - Master your mindset, achieve consistent elite performance, & focus on maximizing your leadership skills Check out the diagram below to see how you can go from underperforming to achieving Consistent Elite Performance: When you use the right tools in the right way you will not only climb the mountain quickly & effectively, but you will reconnect to the love of your sport and develop life skills. Do you want to get to level 5 of the Mindset Mountain? If so, click below to get started with a FREE 30-minute introduction session. Book Your Free 1-on-1 Intro Session
Nicholas is a Senior High-Performance Coach and holds a doctorate in Sport & Exercise Psychology. From his specialized psychology research program, to his PhD studies, Nicholas has gained a tremendous foundation of knowledge and appreciation for the human experience. His passion for psychology has accumulated to a commitment to studying and applying performance psychology and stoicism. This commitment has led Nicholas to conduct many research studies focusing on understanding why and how some people thrive and prosper while others do not. His admiration for evidence-based solutions has propelled Nicholas to produce studies revolving around mindfulness, grit (perseverance and passion), performance, quality participation, social relationships, and well-being.
Nicholas’s devotion to Psychology is equal to his love of sport. Growing up in the Greater Toronto Area, Nicholas played competitive hockey and was greatly influenced by watching his brother excel through Junior A and NCAA hockey. Nicholas is devoted to mobilizing his knowledge of psychology to help athletes and high-performers live happy and fulfilling lives, reach their utmost potential, and achieve consistent elite performance.
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A Native of Quebec, Sara was part of the St. Lawrence University Women’s Ice Hockey team that competed in the NCAA Division 1 hockey league ECAC. During this time, Sara helped her team appear in four ECAC Hockey Tournaments and two NCAA Frozen Fours, and was a four-time member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Squad. Following her career at St. Lawrence University, Sara played one year of professional hockey with Lugano, where she truly honed her skills in understanding the intricate connection between mindset and performance.
Sara then went on to coach NCAA D1 Hockey for 2 decades, and realized a coaches’ profound influence on both skill development and an athletes’ self-perception. This realization, among her own experiences as a player, prompted her transition from collegiate hockey coaching to joining forces with CEP Mindset.
Sara is a dedicated mental performance coach who plays a significant role in helping athletes transform both on and off the playing surface. With Sara’s support, athletes can work through their mental barriers, unlock their potential, and rediscover the joy and passion for their sport. Drawing from her battles with fear, doubt, and worry throughout her career, Sara’s coaching is infused with genuine passion, love, and care, hoping to ease the path for others. She now understands that pursuing excellence should make you feel your best, not your worst.
In addition to her extensive coaching experience, Sara is a certified sleep science coach through Spencer Institute. This certification enables her to provide specialized guidance on improving sleep quality, further enhancing athletes’ wellness and performance.
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Adam Carter is a High-Performance coach with a Masters of Arts, specializing in Applied Behaviour Analysis. From his research and coursework in psychology and behavior analysis, Adam has gained an invaluable insight into the interaction between the human mind and body. His love for these subjects has led to conducting research on eliminating anxiety-based behaviors in children, presenting at international conferences, and publishing research in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Adam’s desire to pursue these research areas and his love for sport has cultivated in his passion to be a mental-performance coach. He grew up in a competitive sports environment, playing sports such as hockey, soccer, football, and tennis, which has given him a rich history in both helping himself and others through mental struggles. His biggest passion as a coach is to help unlock the full potential of an athlete – which is so often hindered by a lack of mental skills. He believes in the devotion to practicing mental skills just as much as one would practice physical skills.
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Blair has over 13 years of experience as a Professional Dancer, Assistant Dance Captain & Cast Manager, as well as an additional 17 years of training. Over the last 3 decades, she has lived and experienced first hand the highest of highs & lowest of lows that come with pursuing a career in the Performing Arts.
As an Mental Performance Coach with CEP Mindset, Blair is able to personally understand the pressure her athletes are dealing with leading into competitions & being judged, the fear that comes with learning new skills & tricks, and the confidence issues associated with physical appearance.
Blair’s mission in connecting with other performing artists is fueled by her passion for dance and helping them see that when you prioritize having a healthy and strong mind over results, you will be able to fully enjoy being an artist & achieving consistent elite performance.
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Dr. Steve LaFay is a practicing chiropractor, teacher, and published author who has studied psychology and human performance for 30 years. He brings a career full of experience helping patients, clients and businesses excel and express their unique potential with an inside – out approach.
Dr. Steve’s love of sports began early playing hockey for St. Andrew’s College before going on to study psychology at the University of Western Ontario where he began coaching minor hockey as a student and continued for many years. He discovered his passion for coaching hockey players in a one on one setting by helping his nephew excel in the OHL/AHL/ECHL and in Europe.
His inspiration to help athletes unleash their inner greatness, live fulfilling lives and love the journey to achieving consistent elite performance is his driving force.
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Natasha Habert draws from her training in sport and performance psychology, personal experiences as a competitive athlete, and deep passion for consistent high performance. She is a lifelong athlete and high performer, excelling in volleyball as both a player and coach.
Natasha was involved in a variety of sports from an early age and fell in love with the competitive nature of each game, the teamwork and collaboration that was imperative for success, and the individual effort and dedication necessary to improve. Her greatest athletic passion was for the game of volleyball, where she played Division II at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. During this time, Natasha was awarded student-athlete of the year, the RMAC Summit Award (highest overall GPA in final competition), and still holds the career dig record for the university.
Since her volleyball career, Natasha went on to coach at highly competitive club and collegiate levels. Throughout her coaching career, she was able to impact elite athletes as young as 14 to 18 years old, eventually moving up to assisting the Women’s Volleyball team at Florida State University. During this time she was fortunate to have an impact on many athletes through helping them develop various athletic and life skills.
Natasha’s passion for competitive sports and love for psychology have guided her to studying and working in the field of sport psychology. Natasha’s mission is to help athletes and high performers develop the individualized tools and strong mindset that will help set them up for success, reach their full potential, and achieve consistent elite performance while enjoying the journey.
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Luciano’s hockey career is highlighted by his time playing college at the University of Victoria and two professional seasons in Europe. Throughout his career, he struggled with performance anxiety, a lack of consistency, fluctuations in confidence, and being caught in the results trap. This eventually led him to deviate from the main reason why anyone should play sports – for the enjoyment of the game. As a former athlete, Luciano has a unique understanding of the psychological pressures and struggles that athletes experience.
Luciano now strives to integrate his experience as an elite athlete with his education in Counselling and Psychotherapy. He is extremely enthusiastic about the role of athletics in mental health and well-being and believes that performance in sports is inextricably linked with mental strength and resiliency. Luciano’s ultimate aim is to make a meaningful impact on his clients through a personalized coaching approach with evidence-based interventions that are tailored to the athlete’s specific needs and goals.
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Alexis Woloschuk is a name synonymous with mental fortitude in the world of professional hockey. Throughout her career originating playing boys hockey, going to an academy away from home, playing her four years at Boston University and 7+ years in pro hockey she’s learned the importance of resilience, confidence, and dismissing both fear and other’s opinions. With a blend of relatability, confidence, and an acute understanding of playing to one’s potential, Alexis helps athletes reshape the way they perceive and harness the power of their minds.
From a young age Alexis showcased natural talent, but it was soon as a female in hockey that her determination and mental resilience would set her apart. After excelling in youth leagues and representing both Canada and her province, Alexis earned a scholarship to play college hockey at Boston University. On paper she won 3 Hockey East Championships. However most notably, it was during her collegiate years when she dealt with injury, pressure and the uncontrollable she began to delve deeper into the psychological aspects of the game, recognizing the pivotal role mental strength played in achieving success.
Upon graduating with honors at Boston University, Alexis wasted no time in pursuing her dream of playing pro hockey. She has faced ample challenge but through trial and tribulation has learned the skills to remain at the top. While playing pro, she has successfully launched a wellness app called TheLineUp and made a significant impact in communities mentoring athletes and helping them build their mental toolbox. Her approach is refreshingly relatable, often sharing personal anecdotes of overcoming adversity.
Alexis instills a sense of confidence and self-belief, empowering athletes to unlock their full potential. Alexis’ expertise lies in her ability to connect athlete to athlete. While her experience as an athlete lies in hockey, she has worked with athletes in almost all team and individual sports. Her emphasis on embracing individuality and blocking out noise resonates with athletes of all levels. Furthermore, Alexis champions the idea that one’s greatest competition is oneself. By shifting the focus inward and mastering the mental game, athletes can transcend limitations and achieve greatness beyond measure.
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Sean Mahoney is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and a Master’s candidate in the Sport and Performance Psychology program at the University of Denver. For as long as he can remember, Sean has been fascinated by human performance and how to gain an edge over the competition. For most of his athletic career, he focused on the physical aspect of performance but neglected the mental. Because of this, he struggled with performance anxiety, focus issues, and limiting beliefs pertaining to confidence and self-doubt. His lack of focus on optimizing his mental game prevented him from reaching his full potential.
Sean’s sport career began at a young age, but changed course after he suffered serious neck injury just before his senior year of high school. The injury caused him to retire from sport and set him on course for a long journey of injury recovery. This experience led him to realize the importance of the mental aspect of injury recovery, and ultimately the mental aspects of performance in general. Sean‘s unique life experiences have fuelled him with passion and drive to help others think, feel, and perform to the highest range of their capabilities as consistently as possible.
Sean has worked with youth, amateur, and professional athletes from a wide range of sports. Sean has worked with both teams and individuals and has experience working with adaptive sports and athletes with disabilities.
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Savannah Fitzgerald is earning her M.A. in Kinesiology, Sport Psychology Option at California State University, Fresno. Possessing an internal motor that fires her rage for success, Savannah forged this attribute over five years while competing as an NCAA D-I water polo player and swimmer. Combined with her opportunity to represent and compete for the United States, she feels that sport has significantly impacted her professional development. Due to her personal experience playing at all levels, Savannah’s passion for mental performance began when she struggled to overcome pre-competition nerves and post-competition processing. When she discovered a world out there that people were referring to as ‘sport psychology,’ she felt like a piece of her brain was unlocked. Reality shifted as she stumbled into a space consisting of the most beautiful blend of elite performance, mental well-being, and athletics.
Through her current research in confidence, self-efficacy, and mental skills training, her extensive athletic background, overcoming an uncontrollable switch in sport, and her knowledge of the post-collegiate sport identity process, Savannah is genuinely motivated by the notion of helping others consistently optimize their performance. She believes it is her responsibility to hold space for those who need it. Savannah’s goal is to earn her PhD in clinical psychology with a focus in sport psychology. She is dedicated to helping her clients achieve true greatness by breaking through their perceived barriers and embracing their challenges head on.
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Gabe is currently completing his Master’s in Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria. Although Gabe played several years of high-level baseball, including a stint in the British Columbia Premier Baseball League (BCPBL), he chose hockey as his sport to pursue at the highest level possible. Gabe went on to play four years of junior hockey with the Richmond Sockeyes in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) while also coaching minor hockey. Prior to junior hockey, Gabe played 3 years in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) where he experienced the pressures and expectations of moving on to the next level. During those three years, Gabe constantly compared himself to others and struggled with coping when things did not go his way. Over time, he learned how to focus on his own process and path to the next level, while also developing strategies to improve well-being.
By having experiences as a player and a coach, Gabe has insight on what coaches think and what it’s like to be coached. In addition, Gabe hopes to use his academic knowledge in Psychology and Counselling to help understand each athlete’s unique experience in sport and help them achieve their desired mental performance goals.
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Louie is a mental performance coach from Toronto, Canada with a professional hockey career spanning over 14 years. Being a standout player at the University of Michigan, Louie was a Hobey Baker finalist and a 1st team All-American, which led him to getting drafted by the Ottawa Senators and playing in renowned leagues across the globe, including the DEL, SHL, and AHL.
Louie’s journey to success on the ice was not without its challenges. Throughout his career, he navigated the hurdles of difficult coaches, bad teammates, injuries, and fluctuations in confidence and consistency. These challenges fuelled him to find solutions by working with Dr. Jerry Lynch, a sport psychologist whose philosophies are rooted on texts such as ‘The Art of War’ and ‘Tao Te Ching’. This work resonated deeply with Louie and gave him the best mindset to squeeze the most out of his capabilities and reach elite levels of performance.
Louie’s coaching philosophy revolves around the concept of self-assessment and strategic positioning, leveraging tools such as journaling and visualization to optimize performance outcomes. By equipping athletes with the skills to effectively market themselves as premium products in the competitive landscape of sports, Louie empowers them to transcend limitations and achieve unparalleled success.
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Erin has been a professional track and field athlete since 2016 and had the honour of representing Canada as part of the 2016 Olympic Track & Field Team. Throughout her professional career, Erin struggled mentally to disconnect from results and allow herself to properly rest and recover. This resulted in chronic fatigue, energy deficiency, and anxiety around training and racing. Eager to reignite her passion for elite athletics, Erin decided it was time to work 1-on-1 with a mental performance coach. Since then, Erin has competed for Canada in the 5000m, 1500m and Cross Country, owing her recent success to her ability to cultivate strong mental performance practices.
Now, as a mental performance coach herself, Erin strives to utilize her elite experience and professional knowledge in sport psychology to help athletes optimize their performance and enhance their overall health and lifestyle in and out of sport. Although she specializes in individual and endurance sports, she still loves working with athletes of all sports and competitive backgrounds. Erin firmly believes that the most successful athletes are healthy, happy, and adaptable. She aims to instill this belief in every athlete she works with.
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Mia Landry is a former varsity hockey player at Brock University, where she competed at the USPORT level and was part of the 2021-22 OUA gold medal team. Mia currently represents Canada on the Women’s National Ball Hockey team and is pursuing a Master of Kinesiology Sport Psychology at her alma mater. Her research focuses on areas such as team cohesion, group dynamics, leadership styles, and sports culture.
Beyond her sport and academic careers, Mia has embraced roles as a mentor and coach. As a Hockey Canada’s Creating Coaches program member, she actively contributes to developing hockey athletes within the St. Catharines, Ontario community. Her passion for hockey extends beyond playing, as Mia dedicates herself to coaching and promoting mental performance training.
Mia’s ultimate goal is to empower athletes to excel in their respective sports by enhancing their mental performance capabilities. She is passionate about providing athletes a pathway for overcoming adversity and achieving their goals.
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As a former member of McMaster University’s women’s soccer team, Emilie intimately understands the demands and challenges athletes face on and off the field. Although she encountered many challenges as a high-level athlete, particularly struggling with self-doubt and overthinking, Emilie was able to make a remarkable transformation when she began to embrace the principles of sports psychology.
Through dedicated practice and guidance, Emilie learned to manage her mindset, overcome self-doubt, and channel her focus effectively, ultimately leading to a significant improvement in her game. This pivotal shift not only elevated her performance on the field, but also instilled in her a deep appreciation for the profound impact of mental training on athletic success and enjoyment.
Drawing from her academic and athletic journey, Emilie is driven by a deep passion to optimize athletes’ performance through principles of sport psychology, just as she once did. Her ultimate goal is to empower athletes to consistently unlock their full potential – ensuring they perform at their peak level day in and day out.
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Max is currently attending William James College, where he is earning a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Masters Degree in Professional Psychology. During his time as an undergraduate student, Max was inducted into the International Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi), and played on the Quinnipiac University men’s club ice hockey team.
Playing goalie since the age of five, Max has developed an enhanced perception of the stressors and pressures that athletes not only put on themselves, but those placed on them by others. Max has always tried his best to be a leader on and off the ice, which led him to becoming captain of his high school Varsity team his senior year. Playing junior hockey in the EHLP exposed Max to many different experiences in which he had to learn how to manage the pressures and expectations that came along with making it to the next level. His life experiences have inspired Max to pursue a career in Clinical Sports Psychology, as he believes no athlete should ever feel the way he did while trying to make their dreams a reality. Max’s overall goal is to help athletes perform at their fullest potential, enjoy the game they love, and feel good about themselves – not only as an athlete but as a person as well.
Disclaimer: Although Max is currently earning his PsyD in clinical psychology, he does not conduct clinical work within this setting. Instead, he uses his formal education to help expand his understanding and ability to work with athletes.
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James C Nellis is a Licensed Associate Counselor and High-Performance Coach who makes his home in Scottsdale Arizona. James’ expertise is in helping elite athletes, teams, and business professionals increase their performance, improve their understanding and relationship with self, and develop an overall sense of internal congruency and well-being.
James grew up as a highly successful athlete in the sports of hockey, golf, and baseball. Although James played all three sports at the highest levels in Canada, hockey became his main focus, but injuries ended his competitive playing career. James then turned his focus to business and launched a career in the financial services industry. He cofounded Regency Advisory Corporation in 2003, a financial services firm catering to high net worth business owners in Western Canada and sold the business in 2013 after a successful 10 years of serving clients. James’ focus since then has been personal development and working to help others. His ability to honestly self asses, to be open to feedback from others, make sound decisions, listen to an assess the needs of others, and communicate his intentions directly are his greatest strengths. James works with my clients to deliver key strategies and tactics helping them to develop in the areas of self-confidence, communication, process focus and growth mindsets, achieve their personal goals, understanding positive self-talk, develop visualization skills, accountability, and self-efficacy.
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Chris is a Senior High-Performance Coach and has spent the past 30+ years in the game of hockey as a player, Head Coach, General Manager, scout, mentor, consultant and most importantly as a parent. He has done so in the NHL, with Hockey Canada, in the OHL and the OHA, as well as European pro hockey. In addition, he has spent 15+ years as a classroom teacher as well as being in leadership positions as an administrator with a private high school in Toronto. All these experiences have allowed Chris to be able to work with, lead, coach, mentor, advise, and consult with various personalities, ultimately gleaning some championship habits along the way.
Chris has coached over 100 players who have played and/or been drafted into the NHL, and 100+ players who have gone on to play NCAA or USport hockey. His passion for working with athletes and his vast experiences have provided him with countless ‘real life’ examples of what High Performance looks like. He has won multiple championships as a Head Coach and GM, notably winning a Stanley Cup ring from being a member of the scouting staff of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2012-2016.
Chris is a voracious reader who is often referring to the books he has read to aid those he works with, and is a lifelong student of coaching, leadership, high performance, human nature, and development, as well as anything that involves sports. His personal purpose is to provide athletes, coaches, executives, and organizations with the ability to be high performers and helping them grow into their peak potential.
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A native of Kingston, Ontario, Brant Stachel has dedicated his career to guiding high-performing athletes and individuals in achieving their personal and professional goals. With over a decade of experience in high-performance sport as a coach, psychotherapist, and mental performance coach, Brant has worked with elite athletes representing Canada and the United States, including Olympians and international competitors, helping them unlock their full potential in high-pressure environments.
Brant’s journey into mental performance coaching was shaped by his unique professional background and personal commitment to excellence. As a coach, Brant has represented Canada internationally three times and guided over 25 athletes to represent their country.
His extensive work reflects a deep commitment to supporting athletes and high achievers in overcoming mental barriers, improving their sport performance, and fostering a healthier relationship with their bodies. Drawing on his expertise in sport psychology, Brant specializes in helping individuals navigate their sporting and business challenges. His approach combines empathy, strategic planning, and a solution-focused mindset to empower clients to achieve sustained growth and resilience.
Brant’s coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that mental and physical well-being are inseparable and that performance should be driven by passion and joy. His work is infused with compassion and care, and he understands that pursuing excellence should elevate athletes’ lives, not diminish them.
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Michael is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and often utilizes Cognitive Behavioural, Schema, EMDR, and Solution-Focused Therapies in his clinical practice. Michael has a keen interest in the relationship between mental health and sport, with a particular focus in understanding how maladaptive coping responses appear during times of stress.
Michael looks to help transform these barriers to offer the athletes greater psychological flexibility and maximize their performance potential. With special attention devoted to enhancing assertiveness and competence during instances of self-doubt, Michael aims to help develop personal assessment skills that promote healthy decision-making and confidence. Michael’s objective is to help the athlete channel resiliency in competition while relating how these concepts can be applied to navigating the unique challenges in life.
Michael grew up a sports enthusiast and continues to immerse himself in the competitive domain of athletics and fitness. Michael’s passion is to help athletes integrate self-leadership practices that will help manage their mindset barriers with authentic personal confidence.
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Thomas Singleton is Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and holds a Master’s of Education in Counseling with a focus in Sport Psychology from Boston University. With a unique background spanning multiple individual and team sports, Thomas is empowered to connect with and support a wide range of athletes.
A lifelong athlete himself, Thomas played varsity soccer, tennis, and baseball in high school. He went on to play 5 years of collegiate club tennis throughout his time as a student at the University of Southern California (USC) and Boston University.
As a college tennis player, Thomas grew passionate about mastering the mental game of tennis. He began studying sport psychology from his dorm and would apply the mental strategies he learned in both practice and competition. Thomas improved his game quicker than ever expected, and from that point on he has dedicated his career to becoming the best Mental Performance Coach he can be.
Thomas’ mission is to help athletes continuously improve their skills and consistently perform at their best. He personalizes his coaching to each athlete he works with and strives to help his clients reach their full potential as both athletes and people. Alongside his role as a Mental Performance Coach, he is an active author and has published several books on the mental performance of sports.
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Hayley has always had a strong passion for organization, efficiency and supporting teams to reach their full potential. Her success as an Administrative Assistant is driven by her diverse experiences, both in the office and beyond, which have given her a deep understanding of the importance of overcoming challenges and staying focused.
Hayley has also competed in competitive art shows throughout her youth. In these competitions, Hayley faced many of the same stressors and mental blocks that athletes often encounter, like self-doubt, pressure, and the challenge of maintaining focus under stress.
Her personal & professional experience make Hayley an extremely valuable first contact at CEP. In your intake call, Hayley will do her best to utilize all of her experiences to connect and empathize with you, and ensure you are matched with the best CEP Coach for you.
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Alana’s background in Psychology, as well as Child & Youth Work has allowed her to dedicate her career to connecting with people and providing services that truly make a difference in their lives. Her approach as an Administrative Assistant is fueled by not only education, but personal experiences as well.
Alana was a competitive gymnast for 10 years, eventually becoming a gymnastics coach for 5 years. She has learned firsthand the value of discipline, dedication, and resilience. As a coach, she had the privilege of fostering growth and helping young athletes realize their potential—lessons that extend far beyond the gym.
Being the first point of contact at CEP, Alana speaks with full understanding of the tremendous value of developing mental skills and being mentally tough. Alana is committed to optimizing your intake call to ensure you are matched with the best CEP coach for you.
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Baylie began her academic journey at Western University in 2021, where she was a member of the Women’s Rugby Team during their undefeated season before transferring to Trent University in 2022. At Trent, Baylie earned both academic and athletic scholarships and was recognized as Rookie of the Year. While her athletic career has been marked by both personal and team successes, she understands firsthand the challenges of transitioning between teams, adapting to new environments, as well as managing pre-game nerves and fear of failure.
Early success in her sport made it difficult for Baylie to focus on anything beyond outcomes. This pressure caused her to struggle with her love for Rugby, even turning down opportunities she had once dreamed of due to fear of failure. She noticed that in games when the stakes “didn’t matter”, whether it was because the outcome wouldn’t impact standings or the game was purely for fun, she played better than ever. Recognizing that this wasn’t just a coincidence, Baylie began to truly understand how large of a role mindset plays in performance.
Through her work as a Mental Performance Coach and Administrative Assistant at CEP Mindset, Baylie is dedicated to guiding athletes in overcoming mental barriers, rediscovering their passion, and building the resilience needed to succeed both on & off the field of play.
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Austin is a mental performance coach and an accomplished professional hockey player. After a five-year career in the Western Hockey League, he went on to play for the University of British Columbia’s varsity team, earning degrees in Psychology and Commerce. He then went on to play 3 years of professional hockey in Europe.
High-level sport had provided Austin with extensive insights and invaluable experiences. Overcoming serious injuries, navigating unfamiliar environments, dealing with performance fluctuations, and managing various personalities and pressures have all shaped Austin’s understanding and perception of both hockey and sport in general – including the essential role of sports psychology in relation to performance. Each challenge Austin has experienced over the past 15 years has contributed to his ever growing repertoire of tools and strategies to help overcome the many adversities faced by athletes.
Academically, Austin further developed his skills and interests, applying various psychological and behavioural theories and linking such concepts to his experiences on the ice. Recognizing the importance of mental toughness in sport, he became passionate about helping other athletes overcome personal obstacles, foster individual growth, and in turn reach levels of performance otherwise unattainable without mental performance coaching.
Austin’s coaching philosophy emphasizes training the brain as one would train the body. Specifically, Austin’s approach focuses on the incorporation of acceptance, self-perception, and cognitive control as key components to effectively support athletes in reaching their full potential.
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