Today we’d like to introduce you to Ally Claytor.
Hi Ally, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a former collegiate athlete, I recognized through my own experiences how imperative it is to have strong mental skills on the competitive playing field. However, the mental side was not widely discussed in my own experiences. I, myself, struggled with performance anxiety in tough competitions, decreased confidence and self-esteem due to performance, and eventually stress and pressure-related burnout. As I worked through my own experiences through counseling, I recognized that I didn’t have to struggle alone. I began researching sports psychology as a career field, and in doing so, I recognized that I was passionate about helping athletes work through the tough times in sports similar to the ones I experienced. I attended graduate school to study sports and exercise psychology. It is here that I realized athletes can benefit from increasing their mental skills regardless of if there is a “problem” present. During my practicum, I had the privilege of working with individual athletes and teams with a wide range of goals for seeking mental performance training. I worked with athletes to build confidence, increase focus and concentration, build team cohesion, and work through adversity (slumps, injuries, life stress, etc.), to name a few. I went on to work at a youth golf academy where I worked with high school-age athletes to meet their goals of professional and/or collegiate golf.
However, I knew I was passionate about opening my own practice so I had the flexibility to serve athletes of all ages, levels, and in all walks of life. The opportunity presented itself in 2020, and I finally created Head Games Consulting. I now have two other consultants that work alongside me also serving athletes not only in the Atlanta area but nationwide as well. Head Games Consulting was founded on the mission and passion to provide support and enhance performance by teaching and implementing mental skills that are essential to a performer’s success. At Head Games Consulting we aim to meet the client’s needs by creating a supportive environment that provides them with the necessary tools to thrive not only as athletes but most importantly as individuals. We believe in implementing mental skills to build upon strengths and enhance areas in need of improvement to reach optimal performance via the mind-body connection. By using research-based techniques, we aim to empower individuals to grow mentally through self-awareness and deliberate practice of mental skills.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Head Games Consulting, LLC was officially official in February 2020. COVID-19 began shutting down cities and countries worldwide starting at the end of February and officially shut down the United States in March 2020. By then, I had gained a small name in the community, but schools, sports facilities, and businesses were closing their doors without any idea as to when they would be back open. This meant I had just decided to become unemployed right before a worldwide pandemic. Needless to say, it was tough! I continued to reach out to coaches and athletes and stayed connected in the area, but it was tough! There was no business, and I had no control over that. I stuck it out along the way, and the business was there as soon as the pandemic eased up in the United States. Individuals began seeing the need for addressing the mental aspects of sports, and this ultimately helped create a steady flow of business, but it was a difficult road, for sure! Luckily, I had so many people to support me along the way, including Michael Klim with Michael Klim Softball who believed in me enough to open his doors and share my information with his clients. I am appreciative of him and others who continue to believe in me and this journey that I am on to make a difference for athletes in the Atlanta area!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Head Games Consulting?
Head Games Consulting was founded on the mission and passion to provide support and enhance performance by teaching and implementing mental skills that are essential to a performer’s success. We aim to meet the client’s needs by creating a supportive environment that provides them with the necessary tools to thrive not only as athletes but most importantly as individuals. We believe in implementing mental skills to build upon strengths and enhance areas in need of improvement to reach optimal performance via the mind-body connection. By using research-based techniques, we aim to empower individuals to grow mentally through self-awareness and deliberate practice of mental skills.
All of our consultants have master’s degrees in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports and Exercise Psychology. I am a Certified Mental Performance Consultant ® (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sports Psychology (AASP). Head Games’s other two consultants, Marius Johnson and Michelle Wirbiezcas are currently working towards their CMPC certification. According to AASP, “Certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) demonstrates to clients, employers, colleagues, and the public at large that an individual has met the highest standards of professional practice, including completing a combination of educational and work requirements, successfully passing a certification exam, agreeing to adhere to ethical principles and standards, and committing to ongoing professional development.” This sets us apart from others who may be practicing mental training throughout the United States, as we are dedicated to ensuring the best care for our clients and are committed to continuing our education in best practices throughout our careers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.headgamesco.com
- Instagram: @headgamesco
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063473951959 (Head Games Consulting, LLC)
- Twitter: @headgamesco
Image Credits
The two action shots are of myself offering a workshop on burnout prevention at the Georgia National Strength and Conditioning Association Clinic in 2022.
