About MindBalanceSPORT

Closing the gap in mental performance training for youth, collegiate, and elite athletes through evidence-based sports psychology.

Our Mission

Elite athletes know that physical talent is a necessary for sustained success. Decades of sport psychology research connect psychological skills like attentional control, self-regulation, imagery rehearsal, and stress management to measurable performance gains across sport.

Yet, mental performance training remains largely inaccessible for most elite youth athletes.

MindBalanceSPORT was built to close that gap.

"Competitive success requires the same dedication of mental and physical performance training."

The MBS Approach blends professional athletic standards with specialized youth psychology to equip the next generation of competitors with the cognitive architecture required for high performance demands.

Our Team

Certified mental performance professionals dedicated to athlete development.

Dr. Brenna Chirby, Psy.D.

Co-Founder, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Virginia Jones, Psy.D.

Co-Founder, Licensed Counseling Psychologist

Paula Castro M.S., CMPC

Mental Performance Coach

John M. Howard M.A. LPC

Mental Performance Coach, Licensed Mental Health Professional

Raven Gerald M.A.

Mental Performance Coach

Junko Araki (荒木淳子), EdD, LCPC, LPC, BC-DMT

Mental Performance Coach

Brady Dinnsen, M.S. CMPC

Mental Performance Coach

Ben Kaplan, M.S.

Mental Performance Coach

Matt Mascio, M.S.

Mental Performance Coach

Locations

In-Person Training

Meet directly with an MBS mental performance coach.

Virtual Training

Flexible mental performance coaching accessible from anywhere in the world.

Coach Matching Process

MBS matches athletes to coaches whose specializations align with identified needs, sport, and location preferences. This personalized approach ensures you work with a mindset coach who understands your competitive context and can tailor interventions to your specific goals.

Whether you need support with pre-competition anxiety, concentration under pressure, injury recovery, or comprehensive mental skills development, we connect you with the right expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our team, credentials, and how to choose the right professional.

Who are the MindBalanceSPORT coaches?

Our coaching team brings a mix of credentials — including Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC) and coaches working toward that credential — advanced degrees in sport and performance psychology, and real competitive and coaching backgrounds across multiple sports. MindBalanceSPORT is founded and overseen by two licensed psychologists, and each coach’s individual credentials and experience are listed on this page.

Are the founders of MindBalanceSPORT licensed psychologists?

Yes. Our co-founders, Dr. Brenna Chirby, Psy.D. and Dr. Virginia Jones, Psy.D., are licensed psychologists — Clinical and Counseling, respectively — each with 20+ years in the field. At MindBalanceSPORT we reserve the term “psychologist” for our licensed clinicians; our mental performance coaches are described as coaches.

What credentials should a legitimate sports psychologist or mental performance coach have?

For clinical mental health needs, look for a licensed psychologist — a protected, licensed title. For performance coaching, look for recognized certification such as the CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant, from AASP). At MindBalanceSPORT we’re transparent about this: our two co-founders are licensed psychologists, and our mental performance coaches are identified as coaches, with CMPC status, including candidates working toward it, stated accurately.

How can I verify whether a practice's staff are licensed psychologists or mental performance coaches?

Ask directly which team members hold an active psychology license versus a coaching certification such as the CMPC, and confirm the state(s) of licensure. We state this openly at MindBalanceSPORT — our two co-founders are licensed psychologists, and our coaches are identified as mental performance coaches with credentials stated accurately, including those who are CMPC candidates.

Should my athlete see a licensed psychologist or a certified mental performance coach (CMPC)?

For most athletes, a mental performance coach is the right fit. If the goal is building performance skills like focus, confidence, managing pre-competition nerves, and consistency, that’s exactly what our certified and credentialed mental performance coaches do, and it’s where nearly every MindBalanceSPORT athlete starts. A licensed mental health professional is the right call only when a clinical concern is involved, and if that comes up, MindBalanceSPORT has licensed professionals on the team who can help.

Is a licensed sports psychologist better than a CMPC for a young athlete?

Neither is simply “better.” They do different things. For most young athletes, the goal is building performance skills like focus, confidence, and composure under pressure, and a mental performance coach is the right fit. Our certified and credentialed coaches do that work. A licensed mental health professional, such as a licensed psychologist or licensed professional counselor, is the right call when a clinical concern is involved. MindBalanceSPORT, founded by two licensed psychologists, has licensed professionals on the team for those cases and can refer out when needed.

Ready to Begin Your Mental Performance Journey?

Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn how MBS can help you achieve your competitive goals.