Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question that isn't answered here? Please reach out, I'm happy to talk more.

About Sport Psychology for Equestrians

  • Sport psychology is the study and practice of the mental side of athletic performance. It addresses things like confidence, focus, anxiety, fear, resilience, and the internal experience of competing. And yes, it is absolutely for equestrians.

    In fact, equestrians have one of the most psychologically demanding sports in existence. We aren’t just managing our own nervous system, we’re managing a living partnership with our horse who responds directly to what we’re feeling. The mental demands are real, they are specific, and they matter enormously for how we ride.

    My practice is devoted entirely to equestrians. Everything I do is built around the specific psychological landscape of riding and competing with horses.

  • Not exactly but there are overlaps. Sport psychology focuses specifically on performance: helping you build the mental skills that allow you to compete at your best, manage pressure, and develop a healthier relationship with your riding. It is goal-oriented and skills-focused.

    Traditional psychotherapy focuses more broadly on mental health, emotional wellbeing, and the deeper patterns that shape how you move through the world.

    As a licensed Clinical and Sport Psychologist, I'm trained in both, which means I can support you both at a performance level and at a clinical level underneath it, depending on what you need. Sometimes what looks like a performance issue has deeper roots. Being able to address both without switching providers is one of the core advantages of working with me.

  • You don't need to compete at all. I work with riders across the full spectrum from those showing at the A-circuit level to recreational riders who simply want to enjoy their horses without the anxiety getting in the way.

    Fear, self-doubt, and the inner critic don't check your show record before they show up. If the mental side of riding is affecting your experience in the saddle, whatever level you ride at, this work is for you.

  • We start with a free 20-minute consultation call. No commitment, just a conversation. It's a chance for you to tell me a little about what's coming up in your riding/equestrian life, ask any questions you have, and get a sense of whether working together feels right.

    If we decide to move forward, the first full session is an intake. I'll ask about your riding history, what's bringing you in, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping to get from our work together. It's a collaborative process from the very beginning, you set the goals, I bring the tools and the expertise.

    Sessions are 50 minutes and held via telehealth (video call) for riders in California and Oregon.

  • It depends entirely on what you're working on and what you want from the process. Some riders come with a specific issue such as pre-competition nerves before show season or fear after a fall and we address it in focused sessions over the course of several months. Others find the work opens up deeper questions about their riding, their relationship with their horse, or their relationship with themselves, and they continue longer.

    I don't have a set program or a predetermined number of sessions. We check in regularly about how things are going and adjust as needed. You're in charge of the timeline.

What I Help With

  • Yes and this is one of the things I work with most. Fear after a fall isn't weakness and it isn't just "being in your head." When you've had a frightening experience, your nervous system files it away as a threat. The next time you're in a similar situation, your brain tries to protect you even when the danger is no longer there.

    This is a real neurological process, and it responds to real clinical work. We'll address both the mental and the somatic (body-based) dimensions of fear because fear after a fall lives in the body as much as it lives in the mind. Many riders find relief and the ability to rebuild confidence within a focused period of work.

    You don't have to stay stuck. And you don't have to white-knuckle your way through it alone.

  • Absolutely. The sense that something is getting in the way that you can't quite name. The feeling that you're capable of more and frustration that it isn't showing up when you need it. Or the lack of joy while riding that you once felt and now you’re questioning continuing in the sport at all.

    If any of these things are showing up, or any other mental side of riding struggles arise, that's enough. You deserve support.

  • This is one of the most common things I hear and I want to address it directly: your struggles are not too small to deserve support.

    So many of the riders, including my own younger self, spent years telling themselves their challenges weren't serious enough to get help. That their nerves were not actually impacting their riding. That the fear would go away on its own. That they should be able to figure it out.

    In nearly every case, those feelings were more impactful than the rider realized, precisely because they'd been minimized and pushed down rather than addressed. You're allowed to want more ease in the saddle. You're allowed to ask for help getting there.

    Small struggles addressed early rarely grow bigger. Big struggles addressed later take longer to unwind.

  • Yes and no. While your trainer is one of the most influential and important members of your team, your trainer does not have the specialized education to help you manage the emotional aspects of this sport and the struggles we face as riders.

    There are trainers out there that are incredibly skilled at helping support their riders with their emotions and the mental side of riding, and even some who have this specialized training. However, on the whole, it is better to find a separate specialized professional to help support you in this and let your trainer continue to support you in the way they can best, with the training of your horse and the specifics of equitation and position.

  • Yes. Trainers, coaches, and equestrian professionals face a distinct set of psychological pressures, managing client relationships, absorbing the emotional weight of the barn, performing consistently under the scrutiny of students and owners, and navigating the burnout that comes with making your passion your livelihood.

    I work with equestrian professionals on burnout, boundary-setting, confidence in their professional identity, and finding sustainability in a demanding career. This work is just as valid and valuable as working with competitive riders.

Psychologist vs. Mental Skills Coach — What's the Difference?

  • This is a great question and a longer description so bear with me.

    A mental skills coach typically has training in performance psychology techniques, things like goal setting, visualization, focus protocols, and pre-competition routines. This can be genuinely helpful for performance-focused work.

    Here's what's different about working with me:

    • I am a licensed Clinical and Sport Psychologist, meaning I can work at the performance layer AND the clinical layer underneath it. If what you're experiencing has roots in anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, or identity, I can address those directly.

    • Mental skills coaches are not licensed clinicians. They cannot diagnose or treat anxiety disorders, trauma, PTSD, or other clinical presentations. If deeper clinical work is needed, they will often refer you out, which means starting over with someone new.

    • I'm also a rider myself with over two decades of experience competing and training in Hunters and Equitation. I have also shifted gears and now ride Dressage. You won't spend sessions explaining your world to me.

    If you've worked with a mental skills coach before and felt like something was missing or like you hit a ceiling working with a Licensed Psychologist may be the next step.

  • Yes, and this can actually work very well. Some riders have a general therapist they work with for life issues and see me specifically for their riding and equestrian performance. The two roles are complementary, not overlapping.

    If you're already in therapy, I'm happy to collaborate with your existing provider where appropriate, with your permission. Just let me know during our consultation call.

Logistics — Telehealth, Location, Fees, Insurance & Getting Started

  • I am based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. My individual sessions are currently offered via telehealth only (video or phone sessions) for riders in California and Oregon.

    For clinics and workshops, I do offer in-person events at barns and equestrian facilities in California and Oregon. Virtual presentations are also available for groups across California and Oregon.

  • For individual clinical sessions, yes. I am licensed as a psychologist in California (PSY32615) and Oregon (#3481), which means I can only provide individual clinical services to clients physically located in those states at the time of our sessions.

    Please feel free to reach out for some good referral options of other providers like me within the United States.

  • My session fee is currently $250 per 50 minute session. I do reevaluate my fee each year so this may change. I offer a free 20-minute consultation call for new clients before any commitment is made.

    Please reach out directly if you have questions about fees. I'm always happy to talk through what's workable.

  • I am not currently in-network with any insurance providers. My practice is private pay.

    However, many insurance plans offer out-of-network reimbursement for mental health services. I provide a monthly superbill (a detailed receipt) that you can submit directly to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. I recommend calling your insurer before we begin to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits specifically for services with a licensed psychologist.

    Some clients are also able to use HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) funds for sessions, worth checking with your plan administrator.

  • The first step is a free 20-minute consultation call. It's low-pressure and there's no commitment required just a conversation to see if we're a good fit.

    From there, if we decide to move forward, I'll send you intake paperwork and we'll schedule your first full session. Please visit the contact me page and submit an inquiry form or email me directly.

Clinics, Workshops & Group Presentations

  • Yes! I offer in-person clinics at barns and equestrian facilities in California and Oregon, and virtual presentations for groups across California and Oregon. I collaborate with trainers and equestrian organizations to design clinics that fit their community needs.

    Topics have included managing fear and anxiety in the saddle, building confidence and mental resilience, the inner critic, pre-competition routines, and understanding the rider-horse mental connection. I can customize to your group's specific needs.