About Mind Athlete’s founder

Hi, I'm Josie and I founded Mind Athlete with the goal of helping others develop a better relationship to challenge through self-identity, in order to perform at their potential. I'll be your coach/instructor as we dive into your mental training.

I've been working as a coach and guide in the climbing industry for the past 15 years. I worked on the Yosemite Search & Rescue team for three years and spent many years climbing big walls in Yosemite. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and have professional coach training through Performance Climbing Coach, The Flow Centre and the International Coaching Community.

In 2016, I was developing a new route in Yosemite. On pitch 6, I froze, unable to commit to going up or down, in that moment I realized that my relationship with climbing needed to change. I had put myself into stressful situations day after day, without actually letting my nervous system recover.

From guiding to search and rescue to personal climbing, I had burnt myself out. But I kept going out there, because it felt like something I should be doing. I knew I loved climbing, but it was at a point that I dreaded going rock climbing because I was operating in the red zone for far too long.

So I started researching sport psychology and working with a mindset coach to figure out how to get past this feeling. I learned how to return to the fun of climbing that I'd cast aside in favor of bigger objectives, goals and my career. 

A year later, I watched my climbing partner take 100’+ fall, resulting in a life-changing, spinal cord injury. The incident and its aftermath were some of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with. My sense of self began to unravel. If I hadn't started mental training when I did, I probably wouldn't still be climbing today. However, with this work, instead of burning out, I am now performing better in my own goals and enjoying the sport more than ever!

I never want other climbers to end up where I was. That’s why I’ve devoted my career to helping others through mental training.

Training & Expertise:

  • 20+ years of climbing experience

  • 6 years of mental performance coaching

  • Bachelor's degree in Human Development

  • Professional training in health coaching, neuroscience & flow state coaching.

  • Published articles, stories, presentations & podcast interviews on mental performance.

  • 20+ ascents of El Capitan

  • Speed records/FKTs on Yosemite bigwalls & alpine routes in the Sierra Nevada, Wind River Range & Patagonia.

  • 5.13 sport & 5.12 trad/bigwall

  • First ascents in 5 countries

  • 3 years working on the Yosemite Search & Rescue team.