
Frequently Asked Questions
I get it—navigating support for the mental side of sport can feel overwhelming or unclear. Maybe you’ve never worked with someone in this space before. Maybe you’re not sure if what you’re feeling is “big enough” to need help. Or maybe you’re a coach or team leader trying to figure out how to better support your athletes.
Below are some of the most common questions athletes, coaches, and teams ask me when we first connect.
And if your question isn’t here, that’s okay. You can always reach out or book a consult—we’ll figure it out together.
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Nope. This is mental performance coaching—not therapy. We won’t be digging into your past or diagnosing mental health conditions. Instead, we’ll focus on the present and what’s showing up for you now in sport and life. This is about building mental skills that help you show up for the hard stuff with more awareness, flexibility, and alignment.
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Not at all. I work with athletes and performers at all levels—whether you’re chasing a PR, navigating a comeback, or just wanting to feel more connected to your sport. You don’t need to hit a certain pace or podium to belong here.
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Nope. I work with athletes both in person in Tucson, Arizona, and virtually via Zoom from anywhere. The space is the same either way: grounded, supportive, and centered on what matters most to you.
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Most athletes start with weekly 1:1 sessions for three months. This structure gives us time to dig into the work—not just learn skills, but practice them, reflect, and adjust as you go.
After that, if you want to continue, you can move to biweekly sessions at a reduced 'continuing athlete' rate of $125 per session, or we can adjust the schedule based on your needs, season, and goals.
If you’re unsure if the three-month structure fits you, we can talk about it during our consult.
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Yes—if you’re coached by someone outside of my own Integrated Stride Coaching roster, we can absolutely integrate mental performance coaching or custom mental skills training plans into your existing program.
If you’re coached by Maddie Hart through Integrated Stride, you’re good to go.
Due to dual-role boundaries, I don’t offer mental performance coaching to athletes I personally coach in running.
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Yes. I offer periodized mental performance training plans designed to complement your current training and race calendar. This is ideal if you already have a coach but want a plan to build mental skills into your season.
You can also combine a plan with optional 1:1 check-ins or coaching as needed.
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That’s okay. You don’t have to be certain to reach out!
You can schedule a consult using my Calendly link—no pressure, no commitment. Just a conversation to explore where you are, what’s showing up, and whether this feels like the kind of support you need right now.
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Yes. I work with coaches, teams, and organizations to help integrate mental skills into your culture, practices, and athlete development systems.
This can look like one-time workshops, a series of sessions, or custom programs built around your season and goals. I focus on making these sessions interactive and applied—so your athletes and coaches walk away with tools they can use right away, not just theory.
We can cover topics like confidence, handling mistakes, managing pressure, leadership, building resilient team culture, and how to support the whole athlete—not just the part that competes.
If you're a coach or organization curious about this, feel free to reach out or schedule a consult to see what might work for your group.
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Great question. Coaching is typically focused on physical training, race plans, and performance metrics. Mental performance consulting focuses on the mental side of sport—confidence, handling mistakes, focus, resilience, self-talk, etc.
We’re not working on your physical workouts—I’m here to support the skills and mindset behind the performance.
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Yes. Everything we discuss in our 1:1 sessions stays between us. Confidentiality is a key part of creating a safe space to do this kind of work. What you share is not shared with your coach, team, parents, or anyone else—unless you give explicit, written consent.
If we’re working together as part of a team or organization, I’ll always clarify what’s confidential and what’s part of the team process. Group workshops or team sessions may include shared discussions, but anything personal you bring up privately remains between us.
Before we start, all athletes (and parents/guardians if the athlete is a minor) will receive an informed consent form that explains exactly how confidentiality works, what the boundaries are, and what you can expect from me as your mental performance consultant. This is standard practice and ensures we’re both clear on our roles and expectations.
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Yes, I work with youth athletes (typically ages 13 and up).
When working with minors, I require signed informed consent from both the athlete and their parent/guardian before we begin. This ensures everyone is clear on what this work is, what it isn’t, how confidentiality works, and how we’ll collaborate as a team to support the athlete.
Depending on the athlete’s age and comfort level, we may also include parent/guardian debriefs or support calls to keep adults in the loop—while still respecting the athlete’s autonomy and privacy within our sessions. This is always discussed and agreed upon at the start of our work together.
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Absolutely.
In fact, many athletes I work with already have a coach or follow a training plan. I can help you integrate mental skills work directly into your existing routine, so it complements—not competes with—your training.
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I understand that financial barriers can make this kind of support feel out of reach for some athletes. I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots or custom payment plans.
If you feel like this might apply to you, let’s talk about it during your consult.
Still not sure where you fit—or what kind of support might feel right for you or your team? That’s okay. The first step is just a conversation.
No pressure, no commitment—just space to get curious about where you are, what’s showing up, and how we might work together.
You don’t have to have the right words or a polished goal. You just have to show up as you are.