Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Smalley.
Hi Tom, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began with a deeply personal battle against severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which became debilitating when I was 15. I didn’t have a name for what I was going through at the time—only that I was stuck in exhausting rituals that could last up to 14 hours a day. After months of suffering in silence, I opened up to my parents. With their support, I eventually found a therapist who specialized in OCD and received a definitive diagnosis.
The treatment, known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, was incredibly challenging. It required me to purposefully trigger my intrusive thoughts without engaging in compulsions. In the beginning, it made things worse before they got better. I was overwhelmed, hopeless, and struggled with suicidal ideation. I also had to give up sports, which felt like losing a core part of my identity. But with consistent therapy, medication, my faith in God, and the unwavering support of my family, I began to cope—and eventually heal.
When professionals told me college might not be realistic, I took it as a personal challenge. I worked tirelessly with my therapist to regain control of my life. A year after my diagnosis, I spoke at an awareness event at Yale University. That experience sparked a passion for advocacy. I went on to speak at IOCDF conferences, schools, organizations, and on podcasts. Shifting from “Why me?” to “Why not me?” helped me see purpose in my pain and gave me the motivation to educate others about OCD and mental health.
Professionally, I’ve channeled this journey into helping others. I’m a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and hold a Master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Merrimack College, as well as a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Siena College. I’ve worked with athletes at the youth, high school, collegiate, and professional levels, as well as coaches and entire teams—focusing on areas like confidence building, emotional regulation, leadership development, focus, and performance under pressure.
In 2021, I became a Lead Advocate for the International OCD Foundation and co-founded the Anxiety in Athletes initiative, an IOCDF-backed resource dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—and that’s not just because of the symptoms of OCD themselves, but also because of the stigma that surrounds mental health, especially in athletics and high-achieving environments.
Before I was diagnosed, I kept everything inside. I didn’t have the language to explain what I was experiencing, and I was terrified of what people would think if they knew. Even after starting treatment, I worried constantly about being seen as “weak” or “broken.” The fear of being judged or misunderstood was just as paralyzing as the OCD itself. Mental illness, especially in high-performing spaces like sports, is often something people avoid talking about—and that silence can be incredibly isolating.
I also encountered stigma from professionals. When I began speaking publicly about my OCD, there were people who didn’t understand why I’d want to “air my struggles.” I’ve heard comments that minimize OCD, like “Oh, I’m so OCD about being organized,” which only deepens the misconceptions. But I’ve learned that the only way to break stigma is to keep showing up and telling the truth—even when it’s uncomfortable.
Now, as a mental performance consultant and advocate, I work to dismantle that stigma for others—especially athletes who are taught to push through pain and never show vulnerability. If I can create space for someone to say, “I’m struggling” without fear or shame, then all the hard parts of my journey were worth it.
We’ve been impressed with Struggle into Strength Performance, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Using a holistic approach, Struggle into Strength Performance provides science-backed mental performance consulting services to enhance mental fitness and provide the necessary tools for athletes, professionals, and other high performers to achieve peak performance. Our services are designed to help athletes, professionals, and high performers strengthen their mental fitness, develop essential mental skills, and elevate their peak performance. Our mission is to equip individuals with the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts needed to navigate challenges, optimize performance, and cultivate resilience—because peak performance isn’t just about talent; it’s about mental strength, adaptability, and the willingness to grow through adversity.
Struggle into Strength is the mantra my family and I created during my time in intensive treatment. It is all about showing the world that struggle can be turned into something uplifting and positive. We as a society can show that vulnerability can actually be our biggest strength.
This philosophy is about more than just overcoming obstacles; it’s about transforming them into something meaningful. It’s about proving that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the foundation of true strength. In a world that often tells us to hide our struggles, Struggle Into Strength challenges that narrative by embracing them, learning from them, and using them to fuel growth.
When we shift our perspective, we realize that our hardest moments don’t break us—they build us. And through that process, we don’t just find strength—we redefine it.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Favorite Books:
The Bible (my faith and spirituality is my north star)
Atomic Habits
Daring Greatly
Leaders Eat Last
Start with Why
Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Mind Gym
Contact Info:
- Website: www.struggleintostrength.com
