Benefits of Sports Psychology
Mental well-being is the cornerstone for top level athletic performance. A talented, well trained athlete who lacks adequate coping skills, belief in oneself, and the ability to perform under pressure can have difficulty unleashing their true athletic potential.
When athletes believe in their abilities, they are more likely to stay focused, push through challenges, and perform at their highest potential. This self-belief, often nurtured through mental training and positive reinforcement, can create a powerful mindset that enhances resilience and reduces performance anxiety. Sports psychology supports athletes by proving the necessary tools that foster ongoing belief.
A sports psychologist acts as a mental coach, supporting athletes by helping them understand the mental and emotional aspects of sports, cope with pressure, sustain motivation, increase confidence and understand the difference between nerves and anxiety. Sports psychology professionals work with individual athletes, teams, and coaches.
"Ginger has been incredible in helping me unlock my potential, guiding me to set meaningful goals, master visualization techniques, and embrace positive self-talk for peak performance. For my alpine ski racing career and aspirations, the tools I've developed through working with Ginger not only have assisted me with race day nerves and anxiety, but also have played a big role in reminding myself about why I love the sport when I do have a bad day on the hill."
Brooks Reed '26
Colby College D1 Alpine Ski Team
“I've been fortunate to work with Ginger on two separate teams, and I can't speak highly enough about the incredible impact she’s had on us. Her expertise was essential in helping our team not only improve performance but also build mental resilience, enhance communication, and foster stronger cohesion."
Annie Bergeron '28
Tufts University Women's Lacrosse
Sports Psychology with Individual Athletes
Building the mental strength to persevere through adversity, setbacks, and failures, helping athletes bounce back after losses and tough performances.
Teach athletes the difference between nerves and anxiety, manage the pressures of competition and maintain a positive mindset, particularly when stakes are high.
Encourage athletes to build a strong sense of self-worth that is not solely tied to their athletic achievements, which can help them manage both success and failure with resilience.
Support athletes in understanding what motivates them to train and compete. This can involve intrinsic motivation (internal drives like personal growth) or extrinsic motivation (external rewards like trophies or recognition) and develop strategies that sustain motivation.
Support athletes in viewing mistakes or losses as learning opportunities rather than setbacks, helping them to recover and maintain a positive mindset.
Sports psychology professionals trained in mindfulness, meditation and yoga help athletes increase their focus and ability to self regulate their emotional responses using visualization, self-talk, breathing exercises and goal setting.
Guide athletes in setting realistic, measurable, and motivating short-term and long-term goals to improve performance and track progress.g.
Sports Psychology with Teams: Team Cohesion and Dynamics
Build trust, communication and relationships between team members fostering a positive, supportive and collaborative team environment
Work with team captains and rising leaders to develop leadership skills that motivate, unite and inspire team unity and cohesion.
Facilitate exercises that foster team bonding, cooperation, mutual respect and understanding which increase team cohesion and positive team dynamics.
Improve problem solving skills and strategies to mitigate tension between team members. Mediate interpersonal conflicts ensuring that the team culture and vision remains intact and at the forefront of team member conversations.
Sports Psychology with Coaches
Coaches can use sports psychology practices in various ways. From enhancing their leadership style and communication to effectiveness fostering athlete development. Support from a sports psychology professional can be an invaluable asset for coaches.
Teaching coaches to listen for the latent content of what an athlete is saying in order to assess how the athlete is thinking and feeling.
Support coaches in providing positive and constructive feedback that encourages motivation and growth while keeping the athlete’s confidence in tact.
Guiding coaches on how to handle conflicts between athletes, between players and staff members and within teams.Supporting Athlete Mental Health.
Offering insights into how coaches can support athletes' emotional health and identify signs of mental health issues, such as burnout or depression, early on.
Teaching coaches how to integrate mental recovery practices (like mindfulness or relaxation techniques) to complement physical recovery and enhance overall performance.
"Along with improving my mental game and confidence through individual and team sessions, Ginger was an enormous support for me when it came to the college recruiting process. Collegiate Hockey has a very complex recruiting process and I can't thank Ginger enough for her knowledge and guidance. "
Caden Wells '29
Bowdoin College Men's Hockey Commit
"Ginger has been incredible in helping me unlock my potential, guiding me to set meaningful goals, master visualization techniques, and embrace positive self-talk for peak performance. For my alpine ski racing career and aspirations, the tools I've developed through working with Ginger not only have assisted me with race day nerves and anxiety, but also have played a big role in reminding myself about why I love the sport when I do have a bad day on the hill."
Brooks Reed '26
Colby College D1 Alpine Ski Team
About Ginger Comstock
Ginger builds relationships with athletes that foster trust, connection and vulnerability. She listens with empathy and then focuses the athlete on their goals with actionable input and a dash of humor. This creates a unique connection through which Ginger supports her clients as they navigate the many highs and lows that come with being a competitive athlete. Ginger is refreshingly candid. She has a diverse background in clinical social work and sports psychology counseling as well as experience as a strength and conditioning coach and yoga teacher. The unique blend of these modalities enables Ginger to empower athletes to reach their full athletic potential by utilizing their mind and body equally, leading to greater success and achievement.
Ginger is a full-time sports psychology counselor at an independent school where she lives among elite athletes and coaches. From the pressure of balancing life and sport, to notable increases in anxiety, expectations, and the impact of social media, her lived experience with these student athletes provides her with a deep understanding of the particular challenges that athletes face today. The resilience and mental fortitude Ginger developed as a young athlete diagnosed with juvenile arthritis infuses her counseling with authenticity and understanding. She knows of which she counsels.
She holds a Master's Degree in Sports Psychology and a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work. She looks forward to counseling you, or your athlete, toward athletic achievement with a healthy and sustainable mindset.
Listen to Ginger on the Between the Ears Podcast.
Yoga & Mobility
Ginger Comstock has been teaching yoga for over 22 years. She teaches both hot yoga and power vinyasa. Working with teams and individual athletes is most meaningful to her as she has devoted many years to teaching athletes the benefits of yoga.
Ginger’s yoga sessions leave athletes feeling physically strong, empowered and centered.
Given the demands of being a student athlete, yoga is an integral part of maintaining perspective and peace of mind. Yoga can be a game-changer for athletes, no matter the sport.
Key Benefits
Improved Flexibility
- Helps lengthen tight muscles (common in runners, weightlifters, etc.)
- Enhances range of motion, which can improve explosiveness, overall performance and reduce the risk of injury. Better Balance and Coordination
- Yoga challenges and improves proprioception (body awareness), which is beneficial for athletes who need quick changes in direction or stability.
Injury Prevention
- By correcting muscular imbalances and increasing joint mobility, yoga can reduce the likelihood of strains, sprains, and overuse injuries.
Enhanced Recovery
- Gentle flows and restorative poses help flush out lactic acid, reduce muscle soreness, and promote faster recovery between workouts or competitions.
Strength Building
- Especially in core, stabilizer muscles, and underused muscle groups that aren’t typically targeted in sport-specific training.
Mental Focus and Clarity
- Breathing techniques (pranayama) and mindfulness improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and help with staying calm under pressure.
Improved Breathing and Endurance
- Controlled breathwork improves lung capacity and oxygen efficiency, which supports endurance sports.
Better Sleep and Stress Reduction
- Athletes often deal with performance pressure—yoga supports nervous system regulation and promotes better sleep.
Individual or team yoga sessions can be tailored for specific sports, or general athletic recovery. Sessions can be scheduled in person or virtually.
Yoga & Mobility
Ginger Comstock has been teaching yoga for over 22 years. She teaches both hot yoga and power vinyasa. Working with teams and individual athletes is most meaningful to her as she has devoted many years to teaching athletes the benefits of yoga.
Ginger’s yoga sessions leave athletes feeling physically strong, empowered and centered.
Given the demands of being a student athlete, yoga is an integral part of maintaining perspective and peace of mind. Yoga can be a game-changer for athletes, no matter the sport.
Key Benefits
Improved Flexibility
- Helps lengthen tight muscles (common in runners, weightlifters, etc.)
- Enhances range of motion, which can improve explosiveness, overall performance and reduce the risk of injury. Better Balance and Coordination
- Yoga challenges and improves proprioception (body awareness), which is beneficial for athletes who need quick changes in direction or stability.
Injury Prevention
- By correcting muscular imbalances and increasing joint mobility, yoga can reduce the likelihood of strains, sprains, and overuse injuries.
Enhanced Recovery
- Gentle flows and restorative poses help flush out lactic acid, reduce muscle soreness, and promote faster recovery between workouts or competitions.
Strength Building
- Especially in core, stabilizer muscles, and underused muscle groups that aren’t typically targeted in sport-specific training.
Mental Focus and Clarity
- Breathing techniques (pranayama) and mindfulness improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and help with staying calm under pressure.
Improved Breathing and Endurance
- Controlled breathwork improves lung capacity and oxygen efficiency, which supports endurance sports.
Better Sleep and Stress Reduction
- Athletes often deal with performance pressure—yoga supports nervous system regulation and promotes better sleep.
Individual or team yoga sessions can be tailored for specific sports, or general athletic recovery. Sessions can be scheduled in person or virtually.
Testimonials
Coaches
Conor O' Meara
Head Girls Varsity Soccer Coach, Holderness School
"I've had the privilege of seeing firsthand the transformative impact Ginger has on athletes and teams through her sports psychology work. She creates an environment where athletes feel safe to be honest with themselves and their teammates about their experience, an often overlooked but essential foundation for growth. Her sessions are both reflective and goal-oriented, helping individuals develop a resilient mindset and embrace challenges like anxiety or setbacks with confidence. By reinforcing team culture and aligning personal and group goals, Ginger empowers athletes to take ownership of their roles and actively contribute to team leadership. Her work doesn't just build better athletes; it cultivates stronger, more cohesive teams ready to tackle any challenge. I wholeheartedly recommend Ginger to any athlete or team looking to thrive both mentally and competitively."
Bianca Moreau
Head Coach Girls Varsity Hockey Holderness School
“Having my team work with Ginger on a consistent basis has given them the ability to set goals as a team and as individuals. There is a noticeable difference in my players after working with Ginger. They have developed strong habits and skills to hold themselves accountable for being the best team mate and versions of themselves. I've observed my team develop a more positive relationship with each other and the ability to grow a successful culture.”
Joe Gaudet
Assistant Varsity Hockey Coach, Phillips Exeter Academy
“Ginger has been invaluable when it's come to working with our team and providing the tools and environment needed to cultivate mental resilience. Whether it's working with individual student-athletes or our team as a whole, she's been a vital resource for helping students both set and achieve their goals and deal with the countless exigencies of athletics in this day and age. She's a critical part of our hockey team staff, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend her to any team or individual looking to enhance both performance and well-being.”
Peers / Parents
Alison Gryzb
Yoga, Mobility and Mindfulness Coach NJ Devils, Houston Astros, Rutgers University Football
“Ginger and I have partnered many times to support athletes with sports psychology, mindfulness, mobility and recovery training. Having worked with many professional sports teams in the New York metropolitan area as well as Division 1 collegiate coaches and athletes, Ginger truly stands out within her field. Her passion is contagious. Not only does she inspire and motivate the athletes she works with, but leaves me inspired to elevate my own coaching style everytime I partner with her. Ginger's unique style is the perfect mixture of authenticity, compassion, and straight forward feedback peppered with a keen sense of humor. Time with Ginger is time well spent.”
Jane Lewis Raymond
Hilltop Strategies, ROTC and former athlete parent
“For the past five years, I have been witness to Ginger's singular ability to connect with her athletes. She uniquely creates an environment of trust - with and among her athletes. This powerful sense of belonging and community has elevated her athletes' and their team's cohesiveness. She teaches practical skills that provide athletes with the tools to evoke a positive mental focus- both individually and as a team dynamic. As a professional coach, I recognize her ability to dynamically engage her athletes to better know themselves as athletes and as leaders. The collective experience and common language that is built among the athletes is a key driver to positive performance. The self-knowledge athletes garner from working with Ginger will carry them through their athletic careers and set the stage for future success in personal and career endeavors.”
Pat Murphy
“In this day and age, student athletes find that building mental toughness is as big of a challenge as conditioning and excelling at the skills of their sport. Student athletes frequently experience disappointments, injuries, and setbacks that can deplete their motivation and self-assurance. By working with Ginger Comstock, my daughter learned how to overcome these obstacles, which gave her the tools to develop resilience. With these skills, she has not only excelled as a Division 1 College lacrosse player, but she has developed into a leader on her team, in her college community, and beyond as she has become a sought after speaker and support person for other student athletes.”
Athletes
Grace Murphy' 26
Stonehill College D1 Women's Lacrosse, Captain
“My work with Ginger has been nothing but beneficial. Before games I was always a nervous wreck and would just feel frozen before games. Now with the many skills I've learned through my sessions with Ginger I am able to step on the field and feel like myself and feel confident heading into a game. I owe so much of my success on the field to Ginger, her work has helped me become a better player, leader, and overall person!”
Evan Plunkett '28
St. Michael's College Men's Hockey, Goalie
“Without my one on one work with Ginger, I would not have achieved any of the goals that I have in my hockey career. Today, my greatest attribute is my mental game. Working on the process of developing an effective pregame routine, positive self talk, and the introduction to power yoga and meditation worked to drastically increase my consistency in performance, increase my duration mental focus, achieve flow state easier, and help me develop a more positive relationship with the game of hockey.”
Nolan Sullivan '24
Bentley College Men's Lacrosse
“I cannot give enough praise to Ginger. Through the work we have done, the mental clarity and focus I gained is unmatched. Before our work, I would suffer from pre-game anxiety resulting in multiple sleepless nights, little-to-no appetite, and constant overthinking. Ginger was there for me every step of the way, and her expertise in the Sports Psychology field relieved my crumbling anxiety and was a key contributor to my success on the field. Mentality is everything in sport, and Ginger was solely responsible for flipping mine from impeding to contributing to my performance. My only regret is that I didn't begin my work with her sooner. I cannot thank Ginger enough and I highly recommend her to any athlete in competitive sports!”
Brooks Reed '26
Colby College D1 Alpine Ski Team
“Ginger has been incredible in helping me unlock my potential, guiding me to set meaningful goals, master visualization techniques, and embrace positive self-talk for peak performance. For my alpine ski racing career and aspirations, the tools I've developed through working with Ginger not only have assisted me with race day nerves and anxiety, but also have played a big role in reminding myself about why I love the sport when I do have a bad day on the hill. Ski racing is both a team and individual sport, and in past seasons, I've struggled with negativity, especially during slumps when I've felt like I was letting my team down. Through my conversations with Ginger, she has equipped me with several effective strategies to manage and overcome these negative thoughts when they arise. I wouldn't be competing on the D1 Eastern Collegiate Ski Circuit today without the simple yet powerful positive self-talk cues that Ginger has helped me develop and seamlessly integrate into my routine.”
Brooklyn Barnhorst
“I want to thank you for all your help through this season! You have helped me change my mindset on race days and changed how I approach nervs and jitters. You have had a huge impact on me and my skiing and I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you for helping get to where I am today. Also, I have some very good news… I am going to nationals!!!! This was my season end goal and I couldn't have made it without you.”
Team Work with Athletes
Annie Bergeron '28
Tufts University Women's Lacrosse
“I've been fortunate to work with Ginger on two separate teams, and I can't speak highly enough about the incredible impact she's had on us. Her expertise was essential in helping our team not only improve performance but also build mental resilience, enhance communication, and foster stronger cohesion. Ginger has a unique ability to help each individual sharpen their skills, leaving us with a fully stocked and refined toolbox of strategies. Her background in athletics allows her to bring the perfect mix of intensity, empathy, and encouragement to each player, making her approach both effective and inspiring. The mental strategies, tools, and frameworks Ginger provided have stayed with me and my teammates long after our sessions, and continue to support us in both our athletic and personal lives.”
Sean Senier '27
Babson College Men's Ice Hockey
“Ginger's impact as a mental coach for our hockey team was transformative and gave us an edge over our competition. She introduced engaging team building exercises that fostered an environment that everyone felt comfortable, increased team cohesion and established team culture.. By creating an open and supportive environment, she helped us address challenges and strengthen our connections with one another, which directly contributed to a historic season. Ginger inspired us to believe in each other, work cohesively, and perform at the highest level. Her influence had a lasting impact on our team, and paved the way for future teams to continue to succeed. This was the closest group that I have ever been a part of and I highly recommend Ginger for any team striving for excellence.”
College Recruiting
Caden Wells '29
Bowdoin College Men's Hockey Commit
"Along with improving my mental game and confidence through individual and team sessions, Ginger was an enormous support for me when it came to the college recruiting process. Collegiate Hockey has a very complex recruiting process and I can't thank Ginger enough for her knowledge and guidance. I was struggling with how to get started in the long process, and Ginger guided me through the whole journey. Whether it was finding a college that was right for me, drafting emails to coaches, helping with college applications and supplemental essays, organizing college visits, or helping me market myself, Ginger was extremely beneficial in my college process. She always knew the next step to take in what was a bumpy road. Ginger was easy to talk to and would bring positivity and humor to an otherwise stressful process. I can't recommend Ginger enough whether you need help with improving your mental game or guidance to help you get to the next level.”
Hannah Donahue
Colby College Women's Soccer
“I have worked with Ginger both individually and on two different sports teams. The things she has taught me in both settings have had lasting effects on the player and person I am today. I would not be playing soccer at Colby College if it were not for Ginger. I am grateful to have had her as a trusted adult to talk to during my high school years, college years, and beyond. Talking with Ginger about why things were or were not working has been a game changer. She is a phenomenal listener and is able to help me deconstruct any challenge barriers that I have faced. She cares about YOU and helping find the solution that fits for you. She sees you as a person and as an athlete. Her support, encouragement, and advice is something I hope that everyone can have, and I feel lucky that I do. She is an amazing guide, with sage advice and wisdom and her care for those she works with extends well beyond her initial time with you. I find comfort and joy knowing she is someone I can seek out for years to come. She is always celebrating my successes and is there for me when I am experiencing challenges.”
Alex Roguet
Bates College D1 Alpine Ski Team Commit
“Ginger has been one of my biggest and most supportive resources while pursuing skiing at the Division 1 level. She has not only helped me with the recruitment process but also my mental game. We began the process with me the summer before my senior year. She helped me find colleges that I was interested in, draft emails to coaches, and set up visits and tours. Once options started opening up, she helped me narrow down what the best school was for me. Without her help throughout this process I would not be in the position I am now. Ginger's knowledge and support throughout college recruitment has been invaluable. Skiers looking to make it to a Division 1 team are often required by coaches to take a gap year of racing before entering college. This adds a layer of stress to an already stressful process. Having a college commitment before I started my gap year was a massive relief. In the end, Ginger broke down what seemed like a daunting task into a step by step process. In addition to her support in the recruitment process Ginger also helped me with my mental game. When I felt overwhelmed and anxious at ski races she gave me techniques to help me relax and feel confident in myself and my abilities. She was and continues to be a calming pillar of support when it is needed most.”
Get Started
Book your complimentary first session with Ginger
Every counselor has their own style and approach to supporting their client's needs. Let's see if we are a fit. During your first complimentary session, we'll get to know each other by discussing your history as it relates to your sport, current issues that you are facing, as well as identify where you need the most support. After the first session, choose the coaching plan that meets your needs.
Email: vwcomstock@gmail.com
Call or text: 908-868-0409