timothyherzog, Author at Reaching Ahead Counseling and Mental Performance

About timothyherzog

Tim holds Masters degrees in both counseling/sport psychology and in clinical psychology, and a Doctorate in counseling psychology. He has worked with high performers at several universities (including the US Naval Academy), an elite sports camp (IMG Academies), and with US Army personnel (Center for Enhanced Performance at Fort Lewis). Tim gives workshops for sport psychology practitioners, coaches, and athletes for many organizations including the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, USA Gymnastics, and US Sailing.

Why Talking Through Friction Matters (vs. Sweeping It Under the Rug)
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Why Talking Through Friction Matters (vs. Sweeping It Under the Rug)

Career, Life, Performance

Why Talking Through Friction Matters (vs. Sweeping It Under the Rug)

When tension, conflict, or discomfort (“friction”) is avoided rather than addressed, it doesn’t disappear—it goes underground. Over time, this leads to: Accumulation of unresolved emotion → resentment, withdrawal, or passive-aggressive behavior Distorted communication → people start reacting to old issues instead of what’s actually happening Reduced clarity and trust → uncertainty about where others stand or what’s safe to [...]

2026-04-29T15:40:48+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Life, Performance|

Face Your Fears: College Sailing Prep (On and Off the Water)
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Face Your Fears: College Sailing Prep (On and Off the Water)

Life, Mental Skills, Sailing

Face Your Fears: College Sailing Prep (On and Off the Water)

Origins of Tim’s Perspectives I work with competitive sailors at all levels of competition (Optis, H.S./420s/29ers/ILCA, College, Olympic, and America’s Cup). I often help sailors successfully transition from one stage to the next. As junior sailors check out college sailing teams, I try to weave in some first-hand understanding from my years as a college sailor and early career [...]

2026-04-22T12:31:45+00:00By timothyherzog|Life, Mental Skills, Sailing|

Why Teams Need Space to Process Transitions
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Why Teams Need Space to Process Transitions

Lacrosse, Life, Mental Health, Performance

Why Teams Need Space to Process Transitions

Processing (not dwelling) helps mental health off the court—and clarity on it Transitions are constant in sport. A teammate transfers.A season ends.Roles change.A starter becomes a backup.A senior plays their last game. And yet—most teams move right past these moments. The assumption is simple: keep going, stay focused, don’t dwell. But that assumption is wrong. Unprocessed transitions don’t disappear.They [...]

2026-04-16T15:38:51+00:00By timothyherzog|Lacrosse, Life, Mental Health, Performance|

The Mind–Body ABCs of High-Speed Performance
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The Mind–Body ABCs of High-Speed Performance

Career, Lacrosse, Life, Mental Health, Mental Skills, Other, Performance

The Mind–Body ABCs of High-Speed Performance

Fast games reward clear minds. Whether it’s lacrosse, soccer, basketball, or hockey, athletes consistently perform better when they think less—not more. “Thinking less” isn’t about being passive—it’s about trusting what you’ve trained. Your physical reps are there so your body can act without hesitation. The same should be true for your mind. That’s where the daily Mind–Body ABCs come [...]

2026-03-29T15:15:41+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Lacrosse, Life, Mental Health, Mental Skills, Other, Performance|

Positive Reinforcement in Team Sports
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Positive Reinforcement in Team Sports

Lacrosse, Performance, Teams

Positive Reinforcement in Team Sports

Building Performance, Culture, and Trust In fast-paced team sports like college lacrosse, performance isn’t just about tactics, conditioning, or talent—it’s also about how behavior is shaped day to day. One of the most powerful (and often misunderstood) tools for shaping behavior is positive reinforcement. When used intentionally, it strengthens performance, relationships, and culture across all directions of a team [...]

2026-02-24T00:42:53+00:00By timothyherzog|Lacrosse, Performance, Teams|

Advice for Starting Out
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Advice for Starting Out

Career, Mental Health, Performance

Advice for Starting Out

Having set up private practice twice (once in Bozeman, MT and then again in Annapolis, MD), and having simultaneously worked in several other settings along the way (e.g., military and America’s Cup) – I think I can share a few pearls of wisdom for others starting out… Am I good enough? Pursue credentials and licensures, real ones like CMPC [...]

2026-02-17T00:00:08+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Mental Health, Performance|

Power of Authenticity in Performance Psychology and Mental Performance Consulting
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Power of Authenticity in Performance Psychology and Mental Performance Consulting

Career, Life, Mental Health, Mental Skills, Other, Performance, Teams

Power of Authenticity in Performance Psychology and Mental Performance Consulting

The Power of Authenticity in Performance Psychology Why Who I Am — and How I Practice — Both Matter Five years ago, I organized a conference panel around a question many practitioners wrestle with quietly: How do we bring our authentic selves into consulting while remaining ethical, professional, and appropriately boundaried? That question feels even more relevant today. The [...]

2026-01-28T23:48:04+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Life, Mental Health, Mental Skills, Other, Performance, Teams|

Understanding Stress, HRV, and Self-Regulation in Performance
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Understanding Stress, HRV, and Self-Regulation in Performance

Career, Lacrosse, Life, Mental Health, Performance, Sailing

Understanding Stress, HRV, and Self-Regulation in Performance

Four Stages of Performance Let me preface this conversation by saying we can help our clients manage stress within four different stages of performance: Baseline Pre-performance During performance Recovery We probably want to significantly reduce stress during baseline and during recovery (especially deeper, longer recovery, which becomes our next baseline). We want to optimize stress levels pre-performance and during [...]

2025-12-15T15:03:21+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Lacrosse, Life, Mental Health, Performance, Sailing|

Mindfulness In Injury Rehabilitation: Helping Athletes Heal in the Present
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Mindfulness In Injury Rehabilitation: Helping Athletes Heal in the Present

Career, Life, Mental Health, Mental Skills, Other, Performance, Sport Injury

Mindfulness In Injury Rehabilitation: Helping Athletes Heal in the Present

When athletes are sidelined by injury, their minds often race backward and forward—replaying the moment of injury, worrying about lost progress, or fearing re-injury. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can be powerful tools for helping them return to the present moment and reconnect with their bodies during rehabilitation. Staying Present During Recovery Injured athletes frequently find themselves stuck between past and [...]

2025-11-04T19:21:40+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Life, Mental Health, Mental Skills, Other, Performance, Sport Injury|

Why Focusing on the Process—Not Just Results—Improves Performance and Well-Being
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Why Focusing on the Process—Not Just Results—Improves Performance and Well-Being

Career, Lacrosse, Mental Skills, Other, Performance, Sailing, Swimming, Teams

Why Focusing on the Process—Not Just Results—Improves Performance and Well-Being

Process Over Outcome: Focusing on Controllable Processes Builds Success and Fulfillment In performance settings—from athletics and academics to the workplace and everyday life—it's easy to become preoccupied with outcomes: results, grades, promotions, wins. But high-level performers across disciplines increasingly find that the path to excellence is not paved by obsessing over results. Instead, it’s built through consistent attention to [...]

2025-06-20T23:36:03+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Lacrosse, Mental Skills, Other, Performance, Sailing, Swimming, Teams|

“Ethically is a psychologist supposed to talk to a client in public?”
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“Ethically is a psychologist supposed to talk to a client in public?”

Career, Mental Health, Performance

“Ethically is a psychologist supposed to talk to a client in public?”

An old colleague recently posed this question on social media. I didn’t know there was a character limit (LOL). So I guess it’s a blogpost instead… He wrote: “Ethically is a psychologist supposed to talk to a client in public? AI answer: Generally, it's considered unethical for a psychologist to initiate a conversation with a client outside of a [...]

2025-07-01T21:36:24+00:00By timothyherzog|Career, Mental Health, Performance|

Brain, Body, and Fuel: a sports performance clinic like no other
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Brain, Body, and Fuel: a sports performance clinic like no other

Other

Brain, Body, and Fuel: a sports performance clinic like no other

3-Day Sports Performance Workshop (March 2, 9, 16, from 4:30-6:00pm) ***New! There will also be a section for high school athletes; same days/times (register today!)*** Unlock your full potential with our comprehensive in-person Sports Performance Clinic, designed for 5th–8th graders who want to enhance their athletic skills and build a strong foundation for future success. Led by experienced professionals in [...]

2025-02-27T19:09:51+00:00By timothyherzog|Other|

Integrating a Sport Psych? Best Practices for Organizations…
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Integrating a Sport Psych? Best Practices for Organizations…

Other

Integrating a Sport Psych? Best Practices for Organizations…

“Sport psychologists” and/or “Mental Performance Consultants (MPCs)” can do tremendous good when embedded directly into a sports organization. (In the U.S., “sport psychologist” implies sport specific training plus clinical licensure, whereas MPCs focus on performance not mental health, and may or may not be licensed.) Both can teach mind-body skills that facilitate optimal performance, provide a process to tap [...]

2024-11-21T02:56:38+00:00By timothyherzog|Other|

TV Show “Shrinking” Meets Mental Performance Consulting: Perspectives from the Ethics Committee
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TV Show “Shrinking” Meets Mental Performance Consulting: Perspectives from the Ethics Committee

Other

TV Show “Shrinking” Meets Mental Performance Consulting: Perspectives from the Ethics Committee

Tim Herzog Seth Rose Carla Carter Tim Herzog, EdD, CMPC, Reaching Ahead Counseling and Mental Performance Seth Rose, PhD, CMPC, KBR Inc. Carla Carter, EdD, CMPC, The Cognitive ClinicSpoiler alert! This article will dissect several scenarios from the AppleTV+ show Shrinking looking at the lovable (but challenged) character Jimmy. Snippets from eight different episodes will be shared; with each snippet, [...]

2023-07-14T17:58:36+00:00By timothyherzog|Other|

Managing Evolving Covid Related Stress in Athletics (MATA 2021)
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Managing Evolving Covid Related Stress in Athletics (MATA 2021)

Other

Managing Evolving Covid Related Stress in Athletics (MATA 2021)

Maryland Athletic Trainer's Association Symposium 2021 "Managing Evolving Covid Related Stress in Athletics" Presented by: Dr. Tim Herzog Dr. Herzog had the opportunity to speak to the Maryland Athletic Trainer's Association at their annual symposium. He spoke about the ever evolving nature of stress related to the Covid pandemic in the sporting world, and how this has [...]

2021-06-12T13:36:01+00:00By timothyherzog|Other|