Are you an athlete that wants to grow your Mental Game and grow in your Mental Toughness? Do you want to perform in games or competitions the way you perform in practices? Are you struggling to overcome mental blocks? Do you want to increase your enjoyment, confidence, and competition performance?

As a former elite athlete and professional coach, Barb specializes in supporting athletes in their mental health and mental performance. She works with teams, coaches, and individuals in person and online from high performance youth to professional athletes and Olympians across sport, including Team USA and Hockey Canada.

She particularly understands navigating injury and identity after sport, performance anxiety, visualization and sports psychology strategies to enhance performance, increasing confidence, and personalize your own mental workout and pre game mental preparation.

Barb is a former NCAA Division-1 athlete and coach at The Ohio State University. She comes from a prestigious major league baseball and football family in the US, and was a hockey goaltender with the USA Olympic Development Program, back to back National Champion with Shattuck St.Mary’s, and The Ohio State University Division-1 athlete.

She was hoping to come to Vancouver in 2010 to win an Olympic gold medal, but she’s American, so that didn’t happen and we won silver, but she also had a career ending wrist injury in Lake Placid at the USA Olympic Training Center. Navigating injuries and pressures of performance then began her career into coaching at her alma mater, Ohio State, then University of British Columbia, and Rink Hockey Academy. With firsthand knowledge of the NCAA recruiting process as a player and coach, I love supporting athletes and families through that process.

As a former two time National Champion and moving away from home at 15 to play for Shattuck St.Mary’s in Minnesota and then coaching that age group as an academy coach, Barb loves working with teen and university athletes, as well as professional and Olympic athletes as she understands the unique pressures.

As a mom of 4 and coach of her kids, she now gets what it’s like being a sport mom, especially hockey mom 😉

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Learn how visualization can help improve mental performance!

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Issues you may be having

• Who believes improving your physical strength & health will make you a better athlete? Most of us. 
• How many of us do that? Again, most of us.
• How do you do that? You probably work with a trusted strength and conditioning coach, stick to a workout program, watch what you eat, and get enough rest. 
• Who believes improving your mental strength & mental health will make you a better athlete? Most of us.
• How many of us do that? 
• How do you do that?

How we can help

The last two questions are often left unanswered, because we don’t know how. Just as we work with a strength coach to get stronger and faster to improve our performance as an athlete, it can help to work with a mental coach to improve your game and overall health.  Especially someone who has been there as an athlete and coach, who has personally benefited from these sports psychology strategies, and is a mental health professional specializing in working with athletes. 

As a player and coach, I saw that athletes believed in the importance of improving their mental health and that improving their mental game could help them perform better in their sport. However, athletes did not know exactly how to do this, thus they were still lacking in performance, confidence, consistency, and enjoyment of their sport. That is why I am passionate about using my personal and professional experience to help you implement practical and powerful strategies to perform better in your sport and enhance your overall wellbeing in your life. 

Contact Barb today

As a former elite athlete and professional coach, I LOVE working with athletes! We just finished up the seasons of tryouts, championships, showcases, junior camps and college showcases, tournaments, hockey and spring sports. It’s been incredible working with various teams across sport and individual athletes! Now is the perfect time to work in your mental health and mental game in the off season. Barb is accepting new clients online and works with individuals and teams.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

For the first time ever, all three U13, U15, U18 Kelowna female hockey teams advance to provincials, and to the provincial championship game! With the U15 and U18 winning Gold, and U13 winning silver. It has been a joy to work with these players and teams! Congratulations to all these incredible athletes!

Read more:

The Mental Game in Girls’ Hockey: How Kelowna’s Teams Became Champions

“Barb’s impact on our team this season has been nothing short of incredible. As a championship-winning athlete, coach, and mentor, she brought a wealth of experience, but it was her ability to connect with our players and strengthen their mental game that truly set her apart from her lived personal and professional experience. Her guidance helped us build confidence, stay focused under pressure, and play with resilience when it mattered most. More than that, she was a mentor—someone who inspired and believed in us, both on and off the ice. The tools she taught us went beyond hockey—they shaped us as athletes and individuals. We are so grateful for Barb’s leadership, wisdom, and unwavering support in helping us achieve our goal of winning provincials!”

Mental Strength, Mental Skills, and Mental Health, are just as important
as Physical Strength, Skills, and Health!

The reason? To be the best you as an athlete and person. These sports psychology strategies can translate out of your sport into other arenas of your life, long after the season is over. For example, who wouldn’t want to be able to handle stress and pressure more effectively? Bounce back quicker after a set back? Rise to the occasion of tryouts or the big game vs. collapsing under pressure? Do not let the negative self-talk, doubt, worry or overthinking weigh on you robbing you of your confidence and enjoyment. Instead, replace it with power thoughts to help build confidence and consistency! Like the athletes above, you may agree this area–the mental game– is important, but you may be stuck on the how do I do this? I would love to help.

I work with athletes to create practical, personalized Mental Workouts they can do before practices and games to enhance consistency, confidence, and performance. Just as we have a physical pre-game warm up routine, we need to have a mental routine to warm up our mind and “get in the zone.”

Overcoming Mental Blocks in Sports: How to Build Confidence and Perform at Your Best

Mental blocks are one of the biggest challenges athletes face. Whether it’s a gymnast struggling with a skill on beam, a basketball player hesitating on a shot, or a swimmer second-guessing their dive, these invisible barriers can hold athletes back from reaching their full potential. But the good news? Just like physical training, mental training can help you break through these blocks and perform with confidence.

As a former university athlete and coach, and now a mental performance specialist, I’ve helped countless athletes push past mental blocks and rediscover their love for their sport. If you’re struggling with performance anxiety, fear, or self-doubt, this guide will help you develop the mindset skills to overcome these obstacles.

What Are Mental Blocks?

Mental blocks occur when fear, anxiety, or overthinking interfere with an athlete’s ability to perform a skill they know they can do. You might feel frozen, hesitant, or stuck—even though you’ve done the skill before. These blocks can be caused by: ✅ Fear of failure or making mistakes ✅ Past falls, injuries, or close calls ✅ Perfectionism and pressure to perform ✅ Overthinking and negative self-talk ✅ Lack of confidence or belief in your abilities

Signs of a Mental Block:

• Avoiding or hesitating on a specific skill or movement
• Feeling anxious or overwhelmed before performing
• Overanalyzing every step instead of trusting muscle memory
• Struggling to perform skills you’ve done before in practice
• Frustration or emotional reactions during training

How to Overcome Mental Blocks in Sports

1. Externalize the Fear: “Name It & Tame It”

Fear can feel overwhelming when it stays inside your head. A great way to take away its power is to externalize it by giving it a silly name.

📝 Exercise:

• Identify the fear or mental block you’re struggling with.
• Give it a funny name (e.g., “Doubt Monster,” “The Freeze,” “Worry Bug”).
• Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” say, “The Freeze is trying to stop me, but I know how to handle it.”
• Write down: The is trying to stop me, but I am choosing to instead.

2. Create a Pre-Performance Routine

A consistent pre-performance routine helps reset your mind and body before practice or competition.

🔹 Power Song & Movement: Choose a song that pumps you up and a movement (jump, shake out arms, clap) to go with it. 🔹 Visualization: Close your eyes and picture yourself successfully completing your skill with confidence. 🔹 Mantras & Power Words: Pick 2-3 phrases to repeat before performing, such as “I am strong. I am ready.”

📝 Try it:

• My power song: _______________
• My power movement: _______________
• My power words: _______________

3. Shift Your Focus to Small Wins

Instead of focusing on perfection, shift your mindset to progress over results. Celebrate effort, small improvements, and courage.

📝 Success Beyond the Score Challenge: After each practice, write down something you’re proud of that has nothing to do with winning.

• Today, I’m proud of: _______________

4. Overcoming Fear of Failure

Fear of failure can make athletes hesitant. Instead of fearing failure, focus on the next best step toward progress.

📝 Exercise:

• Big skill I feel stuck on: _______________
• One small step I CAN do today: _______________

5. Reset Your Mindset When Frustration Takes Over

Frustration is normal, but it doesn’t have to stop you. Use the 5-Minute Reset Rule: 1️⃣ Step away and take a break. 2️⃣ Take 3 deep breaths (inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 6). 3️⃣ Shake out tension and do a quick stretch. 4️⃣ Repeat your power phrase and return with a fresh mindset.

6. Reconnect with Your “Why” & Bring Back the Joy

Sometimes mental blocks happen because of pressure, expectations, or forgetting why you started in the first place.

📝 Journaling Exercise:

• Write down why you started your sport and what you love about it.
• List 3 things you enjoy about your sport that have nothing to do with results.

Start Training Your Mind Like You Train Your Body

Mental skills are just as important as physical skills. The more you practice these exercises, the stronger your mindset will become.

🚀 Want to take your mental game to the next level? Work with me to build confidence, overcome mental blocks, and perform at your best. Check out my online mental performance course for athletes (Coming Soon!)

📩 Contact me today and start your journey toward a stronger mindset and more enjoyment in your sport!

Perform in Games the Way You Train in Practice

Are you performing well in practice but struggling to translate your peak performance come game time? You are not alone. Learn how to use the pressure for you and improve your competition performance.

Perform in Games the Way You Train in Practice

As an athlete, the key to peak performance lies in aligning your training habits with your competitive mindset. If you’ve ever asked yourself why you excel in practice but struggle in games, the answer might be in how you approach both. The best athletes understand that consistent preparation is the foundation for consistent performance. Here’s how you can translate your practice efforts into game-day success.

1. Practice with Game-Like Intensity

Simulate Game Conditions: Treat every practice as if it’s the championship. Match the intensity, pace, and focus you’d bring to a high-stakes competition.
Example: If your sport demands quick decision-making, incorporate drills that force you to think and react under pressure, like scrimmages or situational challenges.

Set Realistic Scenarios: Replicate game scenarios in practice to build familiarity and confidence.
Example: In basketball, practice taking free throws when you’re fatigued or running last-minute plays with a countdown clock.

2. Focus on Fundamentals

Master the Basics: Every great athlete builds their success on strong fundamentals. Dedicate time to refining techniques like footwork, form, or passing until they are second nature.

Reinforce Muscle Memory: Repetition is the key to confidence under pressure. The more automatic your movements are, the less likely nerves will derail your performance.

3. Develop Mental Toughness

Visualize Success: Mental imagery is a powerful tool in sports psychology. Imagine yourself executing plays flawlessly, overcoming obstacles, and celebrating victory.

Stay Present: Train your mind to focus on the current play, not the scoreboard or what could go wrong. Mindfulness exercises can help improve this skill.

Manage Pressure: Build resilience by simulating high-pressure situations in practice. The more comfortable you are with pressure, the better you’ll perform when it counts.

4. Practice Communication

Teamwork Drills: Success in team sports depends on clear and effective communication. Practice coordinating with teammates, calling plays, and maintaining strong connections during drills.

Leadership Skills: Take initiative during practice, as leadership on the field starts long before game day. Be the teammate who motivates, encourages, and guides others.

5. Build Consistency

Train at Peak Effort: Avoid going through the motions during practice. Every rep counts, and giving your maximum effort will prepare you to perform consistently in games.

Establish Routines: Create rituals before practice and games to set the tone for focus and performance. This could include a dynamic warm-up, visualization, or motivational cues.

6. Reflect and Adjust

Analyze Practice vs. Game Performance: Notice any gaps between how you play in practice and in games. Work intentionally to bridge those gaps.
Example: If you’re confident and aggressive in practice but hesitant in games, practice assertiveness under simulated game conditions.

Seek Feedback: Coaches and teammates can provide valuable insights into how your practice habits translate to games. Use this feedback to refine your approach.

7. Trust Your Training

Avoid Overthinking: Overanalyzing your performance can lead to hesitation. Trust the work you’ve put in and let your instincts take over during the game.

Stay Confident: Confidence is built in practice. Remind yourself that you’ve done the preparation needed to succeed.

8. Embrace a Growth Mindset

Learn from Mistakes: Games provide invaluable lessons. Review your performance, identify areas for growth, and implement changes in practice.

Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge the improvements you’ve made, even if they’re small. Recognizing growth builds motivation and confidence.

Let your preparation speak for itself on game day. Success starts with how you train.

Performing in games the way you train in practice isn’t just about physical preparation—it’s about creating a mindset where practice and competition become seamless. By practicing with intention, building mental toughness, and focusing on fundamentals, you’ll bring your best self to every game.