Psychotherapist | Mental Performance Coach | Co-founder of Mental Training Room | Podcast Host | Former DI Athlete
Meet the face behind the hoop
About Haley Herdman + Mental Training Room
As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Mental Performance Coach, and co-founder of Mental Training Room, I specialize in helping athletes strengthen their quality of performance and overall well-being. My journey began on the basketball court as a Division I athlete at Loyola Marymount University. Driven by my passion for mental health in sports, I pursued a B.A. in Psychology and later earned an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California.
​
Today, I integrate my personal experiences as an athlete into my clinical/coaching work to assist athletes in developing mental skills, managing high-pressure situations, and fostering healthier relationships with themselves and others. My approach bridges the gap between performance and wellness, emphasizing that mental health is integral to athletic success.​
​
Outside of my work with athletes, I am passionate about advancing social justice. My commitments include advocating for body autonomy, equity in sports, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the empowerment of historically marginalized communities. I view mental wellness as inseparable from social awareness, and I intentionally integrate this lens into every part of my practice.
Mission & Services
While athletes dedicate countless hours to physical training, true excellence also demands mental flexibility.
Through my work at Mental Training Room, my mission is to help athletes develop the mental skills that support both performance and well-being. By strengthening focus, confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation, athletes learn to stay composed under pressure, recover from setbacks, and navigate the demands of sport and life with intention.
​
At the heart of my work with athletes, I have a commitment to creating a safe, inclusive space that honors the diverse cultural identities of every client. I aim to provide culturally responsive care that recognizes and integrates each individual’s unique values, beliefs, and lived experiences. My services are rooted in inclusivity, ensuring that every client feels seen, heard, and genuinely understood.
1
Individual Sessions
Being an athlete comes with pressure, expectations, and constant evaluation. Individual Sessions combine therapeutic insight with practical coaching tools to help athletes build confidence, manage stress, and show up as their best self in sport and in life.
2
Team Sessions
Team Sessions focus on how teams think, communicate, and perform when it matters most. Athletes learn practical mental tools to stay composed, support one another, and execute under pressure—turning moments of stress into opportunities for growth and performance.
3
Workshops
Mental Training Room workshops equip athletes with practical mental skills to perform under pressure, build confidence, and regulate emotions. Through evidence-based strategies and interactive exercises, athletes will learn how to strengthen their minds intentionally, consistently, and with purpose.
Mental Training Room: The Podcast
In addition to my clinical/coaching work, I host a podcast with my best friend, former teammate, and business professional Naomi Yim. Designed as a safe space for the athlete community, our goal is to foster honest conversations about the mental health challenges that come with sports while also advocating for more mental skills training for athletes, all in hopes to close the gap from feeling mentally unprepared to feeling mentally elite!
Through insightful discussions with a diverse range of guests including mental health professionals, current and former athletes, coaches, and much more, we aim to provide comfort, relatability, and practical takeaways for our listeners. In our episodes, we talk about mindset, performance pressure, recovery, identity, and other authentic stories. While this podcast is not a substitute for professional help, we hope each episode reminds you that you're not alone in this journey.
