Meet Kristen

There’s a story behind every athlete. And if you’re like most of the people I work with, your story is more than just finish lines, PRs, and race day photos. It’s a story of navigating the messy middle—the setbacks, the doubts, and the pivots you didn’t see coming.

I’ve lived this work from both sides—the athlete chasing the next level, and the human behind the scenes figuring out what that even means. I’m Kristen Schindler. Mental performance consultant. Endurance coach. Athlete. I’m a person who’s done the hard work of untangling my identity from my results. I started Integrated Stride Mental Performance because I believe coaching should support all of you—the athlete, yes, but also the person behind the athlete. The one who brings dreams, doubts, grit, and a whole life outside of sport to the start line.

I strongly believe that the best support isn’t about hacks or mental toughness slogans. It’s about learning to sit with discomfort, getting curious about what your mind is telling you, and choosing actions that line up with your values—even when they feel scary or uncertain. I believe in meeting athletes where they are, honoring the whole human experience, and helping you see that your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors aren’t things to control—they’re things to notice, work with, and move through.

This is the kind of support I wish I’d had when sport felt like it was taking more than it was giving. It’s what I offer now, to athletes like you.

You won’t find quick fixes here. You’ll find honest conversations, practical tools, and a space to untangle the thoughts, stories, and fears that can make sport (and life) feel heavy. I help endurance athletes, teams, and organizations build skills that stick—on the course, the field, the bike, or wherever your life (and sport) happens to take you.

This isn’t therapy. It’s mental performance coaching, built on trust, curiosity, and the belief that you are so much more than your performance results.

Education

University of Oregon
Bachelor of Arts, Journalism & Communication

My path into sport and performance psychology didn’t start in a traditional way—it started with stories. At the University of Oregon, I studied journalism and communication, where I learned how stories shape the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world. That work lit a spark for me. It taught me to pay attention to the narratives people carry and how those stories can both limit and liberate us.

This foundation is still central to the work I do now. I bring a narrative lens to sport and performance psychology, helping athletes rewrite the stories they tell themselves about their abilities, their potential, and what’s possible for them in and outside of sport.

University of Western States
Master of Science, Applied Sport and Performance Psychology

I completed my Master’s degree in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Western States, where my focus sharpened on mental skills training, resilience, and values-based performance for athletes, teams, and performers. This program deepened my understanding of the science behind motivation, behavior change, and performance—and helped me refine how I blend evidence-based approaches like Self-Determination Theory, Narrative Identity Theory, CBT-informed techniques, and Humanistic Theory in the way I work with athletes.

It’s given me the tools to meet athletes where they are, support them as whole humans, and help them navigate the mental side of performance with more awareness, acceptance, and skill.

Certifications

  • B.S. in Journalism and Communication from the University of Oregon

  • Master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology (June 2025)

  • UESCA Certified Run Coach

  • UESCA Sport Psychology Certification

  • SafeSport Certified

  • The Coaches Collective - OG Cohort & ALL Collective

  • Mental Health First Aid

Coaching Philosophy

It’s easy to believe greatness comes from slogans, highlight reels, and the stories we’re sold. Before I was a mental performance consultant, I spent over a decade in advertising. I know how powerful those stories can be—they can light a spark or get you out the door. But I also know what they leave out: the in-between moments, the doubt, the unglamorous work of showing up when no one is watching.

That’s the part I care about most.

Greatness isn’t something you win. It’s something you build—slowly, deliberately, and often in the quiet, uncomfortable spaces. It’s not about chasing perfection or someone else’s version of success. It’s about learning to stay in the arena with yourself—through setbacks, doubts, and failures—and continuing to choose actions that honor your values, not just when things are going well, but when they feel uncertain or heavy.

My work is grounded in a person-first approach. I coach the whole human, not just the athlete. Together, we explore the intersection of thought, emotion, and behavior, helping you build awareness, acceptance, and flexibility to navigate challenges in ways that feel authentic and aligned to you—not dictated by outcomes or external expectations.

Theoretical Orientation Behind My Approach

My philosophy is shaped by:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Theory–informed techniques: Helping you identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors so you can shift them toward more supportive patterns for growth and resilience.

  • Narrative Identity Theory: Supporting athletes in reshaping their internal narratives to foster agency, resilience, and meaning.

  • Self-Determination Theory: Centering autonomy, competence, and connection to fuel motivation that lasts.

  • Humanistic Theory–informed techniques: Meeting you where you are to help you connect with your authentic self, embrace your potential, and find meaning in your experiences.

I work from the belief that:

  • Mental skills are performance skills.

  • Thoughts and emotions aren’t problems to fix—they’re signals to notice and work with.

  • Discomfort is part of the process—and you can still move toward your values.

  • Your identity is bigger than your sport.

  • The stories we tell ourselves, particularly about ourselves, have tremendous power.

This is not therapy. It’s not about diagnoses or fixing you. It’s about learning to work with what’s here, now, and practicing skills that support a more flexible, grounded, and sustainable relationship with yourself and your pursuits.

I believe the most durable toughness is quiet, humble, and intentional—not performative or fueled by ego. In every session, I aim to bring honesty, curiosity, patience, and compassion—because that’s where the real work happens.

This is the work I’m honored to do, because I’ve seen how powerful it is when athletes feel supported as whole humans.