Dr. Brenna Chirby, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Co-Founder, MindBalanceSPORT | McLean, VA
Dr. Brenna Chirby, Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and co-founder of MindBalanceSPORT, a mental performance coaching practice in McLean, Virginia. Early in her career, she served as sport psychologist for the Virginia Tech Athletic Department, where she developed and implemented the university's sport psychology program. With more than 20 years in private practice, she co-leads clinical oversight at MBS alongside co-founder Dr. Virginia Jones, helping youth, collegiate, and elite athletes build the mental skills behind peak performance.
Or call 571-556-5423
Credentials at a Glance
- Doctorate
- Psy.D., American School of Professional Psychology (1999)
- License
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Virginia
- Sport psychology
- Sport Psychologist, Virginia Tech Athletic Department (2000–2002)
- Experience
- 20+ years in private practice
- Specialized training
- Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE)
- Professional leadership
- Former Chair, Virginia Psychological Association Ethics Committee
Background in Sport Psychology
Dr. Chirby completed her post-doctoral residency at Virginia Tech's Cook Counseling Center and Athletic Department, where she received advanced training in sport psychology and in working with university students. She then stayed on at Virginia Tech. From 2000 to 2002, she served as a Cook Counseling Center psychologist and as the Athletic Department's sport psychologist, where she developed and implemented the university's Division I sport psychology program.
Her work on the mind-body connection goes back to graduate school. At California State University, Long Beach, her master's research examined the relationship between vigorous exercise and mood. She later developed the counseling center at the Art Institute of Washington and taught graduate psychology courses at Argosy University's Washington, DC campus and at Marymount University.
Dr. Chirby is trained in Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE), a mindfulness-based mental training program developed for athletes and performers.
Why Dr. Chirby Co-Founded MindBalanceSPORT
Dr. Chirby and co-founder Dr. Virginia Jones started MindBalanceSPORT after years of watching youth sports grow more competitive while the mental side of the game went untrained. They saw too many young athletes disengage, struggle with pressure, lose their enjoyment of sport, or get hurt from overtraining. They also saw too few programs teaching the mental skills that could help.
“As youth sports kept getting more competitive, we kept asking the same question: why isn't anyone teaching these kids basic sport psychology skills? Those skills carry into school and life. We didn't want to wait until athletes were already struggling.”
Dr. Chirby's Role at MBS
At MBS, Dr. Chirby co-leads clinical oversight with Dr. Virginia Jones. Together they anchor the evidence-based standards behind The MBS Approach, the practice's five-stage mental performance framework. That oversight shapes how MBS mental performance coaches work with youth, collegiate, and elite athletes, teams, and families, keeping coaching grounded in sport psychology research.
Dr. Chirby also reviews MBS articles for accuracy, so the guidance families read on this site reflects what the research actually shows.
Education, Training & Memberships
Education
- Psy.D., American School of Professional Psychology (1999)
- M.A., California State University, Long Beach
- Post-doctoral residency, Virginia Tech Cook Counseling Center and Athletic Department
Licensure
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Virginia
Specialized Training
- Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE)
Professional Memberships
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- APA Division 47: Society for Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology
- Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)
- Virginia Psychological Association (former Chair, Ethics Committee)
Teaching & Leadership
- Developed the counseling center at the Art Institute of Washington
- Taught graduate psychology courses at Argosy University (Washington, DC) and Marymount University
Speaking
Dr. Chirby and Dr. Jones present on mental skills for young athletes, including “5 Must-Have Mental Skills for Success in Sports and School” for the StudyPro Executive Function Center (September 2025). To book Dr. Chirby for your team, school, or organization, call 571-556-5423.