Hi, I'm Josie, I founded Mind Athlete with the goal of helping others develop a better relationship with challenge and perform to their potential. I'll be your coach and collaborator as we dive into your mental performance training.

From 2013-2015, nearly every time I went climbing, I aimed for something bigger, more challenging, or faster (which often meant more dangerous) than before. During that time, I also worked on the Yosemite Search and Rescue (SAR) team, responding to traumatic incidents involving other people (often climbers) recreating in the park.

One afternoon, 1000’ up on a Yosemite wall, I froze, unable to commit to going up or down. I wasn’t anywhere close to my physical limit, but I had reached my mental capacity. Between pressure to perform, dangerous climbs, and stressful rescues, I was burnt out. I knew deep down that I loved climbing, but I dreaded it. Something had to change.

I started researching sport psychology and training with a mindset coach to overcome this feeling of dread. Through this experience, I learned to manage stress, maintain focus under pressure, and rediscover the value that climbing added to my life. 

A year into mental training, my skills were put to the test. 1500’ up on El Capitan (Yosemite’s largest wall), I watched my climbing partner take 100’ fall, resulting in a life-changing spinal cord injury. The incident was more difficult than any of the weather or physical injuries I’ve endured, harder to stay focused through than any of the fear or performance pressure I’ve navigated, more emergent than any rescue of my career. But the work I had done in the prior year helped me. I was able to remain focused and, with the assistance of SAR, execute an efficient rescue. After the incident, I struggled, but I had a road map: instead of spiraling into negativity, I focused on my identity and values, on my why for being up there and taking those risks. And I gave myself time to recover.

I never want other performers to end up where I was; that’s why I’ve devoted my career to coaching and sharing what I’ve learned.

Now I help athletes, performers, first responders, and leaders develop mental skills to engage in challenges, manage stress, be decisive under pressure, recover effectively from setbacks, and perform to their potential.