Education & Credentials

Beginning at the age of six years old, I knew deep down that I was destined for success. However, I believed that success would only come by way of sports. I quickly took on the identity of an athlete participating in both baseball and football before settling on football as my main sport. My goal as a football player was to play in the NFL. Although I was an all-state sprinter in the 100 meters in high school in the state of South Carolina, I was absolutely certain that my purpose on this earth was to be a football player. 

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While I earned a football scholarship to Bethune-Cookman College, now Bethune-Cookman University, and had a brief stint as a walk-on at the University of South Carolina, my path was filled with a lot of overcoming both mentally and emotionally. Like when I was initially cut from the ninth grade football team because the coach thought I was just simply too small before I even had chance to put on the pads. This was my first challenge as an athlete because since I started playing football, I was always a starter and an all-star. However, when given a second chance to prove myself, this was proof that mental and emotional resiliency is more than just bouncing back; it’s about learning to thrive under pressure, embracing setbacks, and letting challenges light the fire inside of you.

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During my freshman year in college, I found myself once again being challenged mentally and emotionally due to a lack of playing time. Reflecting on my past successes in the sport, I regained my confidence and earned playing time in the second half of my freshman season. Emotional resilience is like a tree in a storm with strong roots, you might bend, but because your roots run deep, no matter how fierce the winds of adversity blow, you find a way to stay planted and stand tall again.

 

Both my athletic and professional journey has taught me the importance of mental strength. Instead of breaking, you adapt, learn, and grow stronger with every blow of frustration that tries to knock you down. Mental and emotional resilience is like a muscle. Just like how lifting weights strengthens your body, facing challenges and setbacks strengthens your ability to cope. At first, difficult moments can feel heavy and exhausting, but with each repetition you grow stronger. Over time, what once seemed impossible to overcome, becomes easier, because you've built the inner strength to handle whatever life throws your way. 

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As a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT) and ​mental strength performance specialist, I aim to help athletes and high performing individuals develop a bend but do not break mentality by strengthening their mental and emotional distress tolerance. It is your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines whether you will give in or keep going.