Current wait for new individual clients: ~3 months

Erin Ayala

she/her

sport psychologist | owner & founder

As a sport psychologist, my job is to help you consider new perspectives and try approaches you likely haven’t been exposed to. Sessions with me are active—we’ll rarely sit in silence (and I’ll do much more than smile and nod). We’ll talk about sport and life.

My approach brings together concepts from health psychology, positive psychology, and evidence-based therapies (ACT, IFS, and DBT) to support both your mental health and performance. During our meetings, we’ll explore how different parts of you show up in sport - from the inner critic to the unapologetic competitor. Using mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies, we'll develop ways to work with challenging thoughts and emotions rather than against them. We'll also clarify your values as an athlete and I’ll teach you how to set goals that align with what matters most to you.

When working with you, I’ll use analogies to help you understand sport psychology concepts while developing self-compassion. I’ll emphasize the importance of rest, quality sleep, and finding joy in sport. You’ll gain not only understanding and support, but also practical skills to make life and sport more enjoyable.

I approach my work with a feminist and multicultural lens, creating space to explore how your cultural identities may affect your experiences. As an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in sports, I actively support the LGBTQ+ athlete community and have published research and contributed to legal briefings for trans athletes.

Each athlete and coach who works with me receives a unique link to a personalized wiki page, where I share podcasts, book recs, readings, journaling prompts, and other tools to help you in between sessions.

    • LGBTQ+ athletes

    • Perimenopausal athletes

    • Age-group athletes

    • Student athletes (14 and older)

    • Professional athletes

    • ADHD

    • Anxiety

    • Athletic Retirement

    • Burnout

    • Complex, Chronic, or Psychogenic Health Concerns

    • Depression

    • GI Distress or Nausea Before Competition

    • Injury Recovery

    • Perfectionism & Self-Criticism

    • Trauma

  • Education

    • Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Albany Medical Center

    • PhD in Counseling Psychology, University at Albany (APA-Accredited)  

    • Pre-Doctoral Internship, Albany Psychology Internship Consortium (APA-Accredited)

    • BA in Psychology magna cum laude, St. Catherine University  

    Licensure & Credentials

    • Licensed Psychologist, Minnesota, License Number: LP6042

    • Licensed Psychologist, California

    • Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology, ASPPB 

    • Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Association of Applied Sport Psychology

    • Board-Approved Supervisor for LPC and LPCC clinicians in training

    • Member of US Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry

    • running

    • road or gravel cycling

    • mountain biking

    • rowing

    • paddling

    • ultra-endurance races

    • downhill, enduro, or gravity

    • soccer

    • volleyball

    • ice hockey

    • nordic skiing

    • swimming

    • ultimate frisbee

    • figure skating

    • equestrian showjumping

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

    • Anchor Relational Network

    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy

    • Internal Family Systems

    • Positive Psychology

  • Performance Coaching:

    • $205 per 50-55 minute session

    • available for athletes and coaches in all states and provinces

    Mental Health Therapy:

    • $205 per 50-55 minute session

    • Available for athletes and coaches in:

      • Alabama

      • Arizona

      • Arkansas

      • California

      • Colorado

      • Connecticut

      • Delaware

      • District of Columbia

      • Florida

      • Georgia

      • Idaho

      • Illinois

      • Indiana

      • Kansas

      • Kentucky

      • Maine

      • Maryland

      • Michigan

      • Minnesota

      • Mississippi

      • Missouri

      • Nebraska

      • Nevada

      • New Hampshire

      • New Jersey

      • North Carolina

      • North Dakota

      • Ohio

      • Oklahoma

      • Pennsylvania

      • Rhode Island

      • South Carolina

      • South Dakota

      • Tennessee

      • Texas

      • Utah

      • Vermont

      • Virginia

      • Washington

      • West Virginia

      • Wisconsin

      • Wyoming

    • If you’d like, we’ll communicate with your insurance to determine whether you’re eligible for Out-Of-Network insurance benefits. If eligible, we’ll take care of the claims for you. You’ll pay up front, and then you’ll (eventually) receive a check in the mail from your insurance!

    • 4x finisher of Unbound Gravel’s 200 mile race

    • 2024- 2nd place woman 35-39 age group

    • 2023 - 2nd place woman 35-39 age group

    • 2023 - 4th place elite woman at Fat Bike Worlds

    • 2022 - 2nd place women’s single speed at Unbound Gravel 100

    • 2021 - 3rd place woman at Fat Bike Birkie

    • 2019 - 3rd place W2/3 Omnium at Tour of America’s Dairyland

    • 2018 - 1st place W3/4/5 Omnium at Tour of America’s Dairyland

    • 2015 - Ironman Lake Placid (140.6)

    • 2013 to 2016 - 7 x 70.3 mi triathlons

    • 2010 to 2015 - 9 marathons

  • I eat pancakes almost every day for breakfast, and I drink cold brew coffee all year round (yep—including in subzero temps in Minnesota).