Top Sports Psychologists | Sports Counseling | Performance Psychology

About MindBalanceSPORT

Closing the gap in mental performance training for elite youth 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.

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

Everything you need to know about training with MBS.
Who are MBS Coaches?

MBS mental performance coaches hold advanced certifications and specialized training in youth psychology. Our coaches are former professional athletes, have worked with championship-level programs across multiple sports, and understand the unique mental demands of competitive athletics.

Program length depends on your goals and package selection. The Performance Package (6 sessions) is ideal for targeted intervention on specific challenges. The Mastery Package (12 sessions) provides comprehensive transformation through our complete five-stage approach. Many athletes continue with periodic check-ins after completing their initial package.

Your mental performance coach will walk through your assessment results, introduce The MBS Approach, and begin goal collection. You’ll leave with a firm understanding of your objective for mental performance work and the steps you’ll take to reach success.

By session three and four, most athletes notice a shift in how they mentally approach tasks, setbacks, and intentions. The conscious effort you exert to ingrain a habit will be paying off! Sustained transformation requires continued practice and application in competitive environments.

Yes! Team training addresses the organizational layer of sport that individual work cannot touch. We engineer the culture required for sustained competitive success through shared goals, communication workshops, and staff development integration.

MBS supports all high-performing individuals. We match athletes to coaches whose specializations align with their sport, identified needs, and location preferences. The psychological skills we teach (visualization, attentional control, stress regulation) transfer across all competitive contexts.

No. While we work with elite competitors, The MBS Approach is designed for any athlete committed to improving their mental game. Whether you’re a youth athlete building foundational skills or a seasoned competitor optimizing performance, mental training creates measurable gains.

Mental performance coaching focuses on enhancing competitive performance through psychological skills training (visualization, focus control, stress management). While we address performance-related stress and setbacks, we are not a substitute for clinical mental health services. If clinical concerns arise, we can provide appropriate referrals.

Ready to Begin Your Mental Performance Journey?

Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn how MBS can help you achieve your competitive goals.
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Dr. Brenna Chirby, Psy.D.

Co-Founder, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Brenna Chirby is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who received her doctorate degree from the American School of Professional Psychology in 1999. Prior to that she obtained a master's degree from California State University, Long Beach and since has spent 20+ years working in the sport psychology and mental health field.

Dr. Virginia Jones, Psy.D.

Co-Founder, Licensed Counseling Psychologist

Dr. Virginia Jones is a Licensed Counseling Psychologist who received her doctorate degree in 2000 from the American School of Professional Psychology. Prior to that she obtained her master's degree in psychology from Marymount University and since has spent 20+ years working in the counseling psychology and mental health field.

Paula Castro M.S., CMPC

Paula Castro M.S., CMPC

Mental Performance Coach

Paula is a former DI and DIII athlete who won the NCAA championship with Emory University in 2016. She has a B.A. in psychology and completed a Master's degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology. She now works as a Certified Mental Performance coach, helping athletes reach their highest potential.

John M. Howard M.A. LPC

John M. Howard M.A. LPC

Mental Performance Coach, Licensed Mental Health Professional

John is a practicing LPC counselor and mental skills coach who works with student athletes of all ages and skill levels looking to improve their mental game in individual and team sport settings. He played high school basketball, baseball and football while starting a mental skills summer camp for youth baseball players. John has his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Dallas and M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University.

Raven Gerald M.A. and CMPC in progress

Raven Gerald M.A. and
CMPC-in progress

Mental Performance Coach

One of our Mental Skills Coach for athletes and a Sport & Performance Psychology doctoral student at the University of Western States. Raven has 8 years of college basketball coaching experience to go along with over a decade of youth sports coaching experience. Prior to her coaching career, she played college basketball at the Division I & II levels. Additionally, Raven is a writer and mental health advocate.

Junko Araki (荒木淳子), EdD, LCPC, LPC, BC DMT, CMPC In Progress

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

Mental Performance Coach

Dr. Araki is a licensed professional counselor, board-certified dance/movement therapist, and mental performance coach. She has her doctorate in sport and performance psychology. She is particularly interested in the mind-body connection. Dr. Araki works with athletes of all ages and abilities.

Brady Dinnsen, M.S. CMPC

Brady Dinnsen, M.S. CMPC

Mental Performance Coach

Brady is a lifelong athlete who played indoor volleyball at the University of Arizona and then semi-pro beach volleyball. He has his Masters in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology. Brady has built a career in sport psychology as a mental performance coach and resilience trainer with the U.S. Army, helping athletes strengthen their mental skills for success in sport and life.