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Meet the face behind the hoop

About Haley Herdman

I’m an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Performance Consultant with a passion for helping athletes train their minds like they train their bodies. Before stepping into the therapy room, I was on the court—competing as a Division I basketball player at Loyola Marymount University. After earning my B.A. in Psychology, I followed my passion around mental health in sports all the way to the University of Southern California, where I earned my M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy.

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Now, I get to combine everything I’ve learned—on the court and in the classroom—to support athletes in building mental skills, navigating high-pressure environments, and creating healthier relationships with themselves and others. My work bridges the gap between performance and wellness, making sure athletes know that mental health is performance.

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I also host a podcast called Mental Training Room, where we dive into the mental game—what athletes are really experiencing behind the scenes, and how mental skills training can unlock the best in all of us. It’s raw, real, and rooted in the belief that vulnerability is a superpower.

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Outside of my work with athletes, I’m a passionate advocate for social justice.

I care deeply about issues like body autonomy, equal pay, LGBTQIA+ rights, and equity for historically marginalized communities. I believe mental wellness can’t exist without social awareness, and I bring that belief into everything I do.

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At the heart of it all, I’m here to break down stigmas, open up conversations, and empower people—especially athletes—who feel stuck in invisible battles. I’ve been there, and I’m here to help others find their way through.

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My Mission & Services
 

​I am currently only offering Mental Skills Training for

athletes and teams of all ages, levels, and genders

as well as coaches, and parents. 

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Why Mental Skills Training?

Athletes spend hours perfecting their physical skills, but peak performance isn’t just about strength and speed—it’s about mindset. Mental skills like focus, confidence, resilience, and emotional control are just as critical as physical training. Just as you build muscle through repetition, you build mental toughness through practice. Training your mind helps you stay composed under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and maximize your potential.

If you’re not working on your mental game, you’re leaving a huge part of your performance to chance.

Elevate your game by training both your body and mind—you can’t reach your full potential without both.

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At the core of my mission is a steadfast commitment to fostering a safe environment that celebrates and respects the diverse cultural backgrounds of every client. I strive to provide culturally competent services that acknowledges and integrates the unique values, beliefs, and experiences that shape each individual's identity.

My services are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that all clients feel seen, heard, and understood.

1

Individual Sessions

Individual sessions are designed to strengthen essential mental skills such as confidence, focus, resilience, and emotional regulation, helping you navigate the mental demands of competition. Through guided techniques like goal setting, visualization, self-talk, and stress management, you'll develop the mental toughness needed to perform at your highest level with consistency and control.

2

Team Workshops

Designed for teams looking to enhance performance, communication, and resilience, this interactive workshop covers key mental skills like focus, confidence, and handling pressure. Through group exercises, discussions, and practical techniques, athletes learn to strengthen their mindset, improve teamwork, and apply mental strategies for success in competition and beyond.

3

Family Sessions

Family sessions can help strengthen communication, resilience, and emotional regulation in sports and daily life. Through interactive exercises and practical strategies, families will learn how to support athletes, manage pressure, and build a positive mindset together—creating a strong foundation for confidence, motivation, and success both on and off the field.

Mental Training Room

Mental Training Room is a podcast hosted by former Division I basketball players Haley Herdman and Naomi Yim. Designed as a community and 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 mental skills training for athletes, all in hopes to close the gap from mental unprepared to 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 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.

Credentials

2025

Mentored by Association for Applied Sport Psychology Approved Mentor - Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC

MPC

2024

AMFT147651

SHIELDS for Families, Supervised by: Kimberly McElreath LCS21656

2022-2024

M.S. MFT

USC

MFT Trainee at Counseling Partners of Los Angeles / Serra High School

2018-2022

B.A. Psychology

LMU

Division I Student-Athlete / Team Captain / SAAC WBB Team Representative / WCC Student-Athlete Representative

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Interested in Mental Skills Training?
Contact me below!

I'll be in touch!

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