Stacy Ingram coaches young athletes; not at a gym or pool, not on a field or court, but at a table for two at a local Starbucks. In fact, she can train her clients anywhere. Why? Because she trains the mind. She equips her clients for mental toughness to advance in their sport. Athletes and coaches often say that sports are 80% mental and 20% physical. Stacy's specialty lies in the 80%.
Her practice is called Cultivate Your Courage and her current clientele are between 12 and 21 years old. Years ago she saw a need for young athletes to have mental and psychological support. "Kids start playing when they are like three years old and by the time they get to middle school and high school, they are pretty darn good. They are under a lot of pressure because most of them play year-round, and they have high expectations from their coaches, parents and themselves. They don't have a lot of outlets for the pressure."
Stacy is an impartial adult, not a coach or parent, but a safe place for kids to be vulnerable. She focuses on empowering her clients to excel at their sport and to gain confidence and a positive approach as they navigate life, developing her kids to become what she calls, ”their best self.”
"Kids are very hard on themselves and don't have the skills and tools to understand how to adjust their nervous systems, how to adjust what's happening in the brain, how to diffuse their emotions, and the skills to help them calm down when they have huge anxiety and feel pressure. They aren't taught any of these skills. What we work on is all of that!" Stacy explains.
She meets with her kids at a coffee shop, in their homes, her office and over Zoom. She starts with an initial consultation for the athlete and their parents. If they all agree it's a good fit, she develops a tailored plan, specific to that person. Her program is called IMPACT and she uses key elements like identity building, resilience work, emotional regulation, goal setting and other tools. She treats the whole person using scientifically backed methods for success. Next, she starts meeting weekly with the client for a minimum of 12 weeks. Her kids use an app in between weekly sessions to reinforce the principles with brain exercises, motivational recordings, visualizations and other resources. She teaches them to disarm pre-performance fears by having them mentally rehearse their event throughout the week. They create solutions if any possible glitches occur which reduces anxiety and gives them control.
Many of her clients continue to work with her after the 12 weeks; some during their season and others for tune-ups. One young baseball player continues to meet with her weekly for support and inspiration. She also offers coaching for athletes that are making a transition away from a future in collegiate and pro sports. "Their identity becomes tied up in their sport and stepping away is a big challenge for these athletes," she tells me. Her goal is to help them through that change.
Stacy also offers services for executives and adults who want to make changes and grow. She worked in the corporate world for years and has extensive education in psychology and performance coaching.
"What's important to me is to see my clients thrive mentally and emotionally. I want to see them enjoy what they're doing. I'm giving them skills that can be used throughout their lives!' she says enthusiastically.
More information is available at CultivatingYourCourage.net.