Reaching Ahead LLC

03/04/2026

03/04/2026

Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 CMPC Group Mentorship Cohort at Reaching Ahead Counseling and Mental Performance.

This 20-hour small-group mentorship experience (10 months of 2 hour meetings) is designed for practitioners pursuing the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) credential who want thoughtful guidance while developing their applied work with athletes, performers, and other high-performing populations. Licensed and non-licensed practitioners are welcome to apply; however, preference may be given to licensed professionals depending on group composition and training needs.

Emphasis:

• Mentorship and professional identity development in sport and performance psychology
• Case conceptualization and applied consulting strategies
• Professional development planning within the field of mental performance
• Working effectively with athletes, performers, and other high-performing individuals

Participants also receive full access to the Reaching Ahead Mental Performance Training comprehensive online curriculum.

Price: $1249 (APA approved CEU's will likely be available - TBD, for only $50 additional)

The application process is informal. If you are interested, please use the contact form on the website. In your message, briefly share a little about yourself, why you are interested in the program, and a few days/times you would be available for a short Zoom or phone conversation.

More information:

MENTAL PERFORMANCE GROUP MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: Group mentorship - CMPC Certification and/or general professional development for licensed providers WHY JOIN? Professional isolation, particularly in smaller communities and within specialized practice domains, presents unique challenges for ethical prac...

02/27/2026

Performance is shaped every day by what gets reinforced.

In college lacrosse and other team sports, behaviors like effort, communication, composure, and accountability grow when they are intentionally acknowledged. Positive reinforcement strengthens trust, builds culture, and drives performance under pressure.

Reinforcement must move through the entire team:

Coach to player
Player to player
Player to coach

When that flow is strong, standards become self-sustaining.

If you want a stronger team culture, start by identifying the behaviors you consistently reinforce.

Read the full breakdown and build a smarter performance system: reachingahead.com/positive-reinforcement/

02/20/2026

Starting out in private practice or performance psychology?

Build real credentials.
Carve your niche.
Share your work.
Stay persistent.

This field rewards depth, humility, and consistency.

If you are launching your career or refining your path, this post offers practical advice from years of experience across private practice, the military, and elite performance settings.

Read more and start building your foundation the right way:reachingahead.com/advice-for-starting-out/

02/16/2026

Apparently, this is me! :)

01/29/2026

We spend a lot of time teaching skills.
What often matters more is how we show up.

In performance psychology, outcomes are shaped less by technique alone and more by trust, presence, and perceived safety in the relationship. Authenticity is not oversharing or informality. It is alignment between values, awareness, and action.

This blog revisits a conversation that continues to guide my work across performance settings and highlights why who you are matters as much as what you do.

Read the full article here:
https://reachingahead.com/power-of-authenticity-in-performance-psychology-and-mental-performance-consulting/

01/10/2026

This is a great opportunity, working with Dr. Craig Cypher. Check it out!!! 

12/16/2025

Stress is not the enemy. Unmanaged stress is.

Performance lives in four stages: baseline, pre-performance, during performance, and recovery. Each stage asks for a different relationship with stress. Sometimes we lower it. Sometimes we ride it. Sometimes we intentionally practice shifting it.

HRV is not a single score to chase. Like color, different measures show different qualities. The goal is not a higher score, but rather better self-regulation.

Metrics are training wheels. Awareness and adaptability are the destination.

Read the full post for tools and perspective: https://reachingahead.com/self-regulation-hrv-drill/

12/02/2025

Noticing how we feel in the body is crucial to deepening awareness and supporting healing.

This body sensations poster is a tool used to help people name and connect with what they’re experiencing physically, a key step toward emotional insight and regulation.

Explore more resources for mind–body awareness at http://www.reachingahead.com

11/18/2025

New podcast episode out now!

Dive into the mental side of sailing with sport psychologist Tim Herzog as he breaks down how mindset, focus, and resilience fuel peak performance on the water. Whether you’re a sailor, athlete, or coach, this conversation will help you unlock a calm, consistent focus on controllable processes.

Listen to "Unlocking Sailing Success Through Sport Psychology and Mental Training with Tim Herzog” now on Buzzsprout, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Check it out: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2500477/episodes/17501788-unlocking-sailing-success-through-sport-psychology-and-mental-training-with-tim-herzog

11/18/2025

11/06/2025

Healing starts in the present moment.

Check out our new blog post on how mindfulness helps recover your body and mind. When injury pulls you out of the game, mindfulness brings you back to the present. Learn how staying aware, compassionate, and connected during rehab can accelerate healing and build long-term resilience.

Read the full article here: https://reachingahead.com/mindfulness-in-injury-rehabilitation-helping-athletes-heal-in-the-present/