Colorado Psychotherapy & Sport Performance
Neal Palles, LCSW, CMPC | Mental Health Therapy & Mental Performance Coaching
Loosen the grip of anxiety & the inner critic. Feel more at Peace & confident at home & on the trail.
I help athletes and adventurers ages 17 + feel less anxious and pushed around by their inner critic without the fear of losing their edge and drive.
It’s more common than you think and you’re not alone navigating it.
The athletes I work with struggle despite on the outside looking calm and composed, having a lot of success and drive, they’re beating themselves up inside.
When they first come in, they are overwhelmed and often paralyzed by anxiety. Their inner critic is busy at work pushing them around.
They overthink and overanalyze their training. Every time they race or climb, they feel that they could have done better.
When they have a setback or injured, they feel like a failure. And they often feel like an imposter when the line up at a race.
Their anxiety and inner critic get in the way of the life they want to have in so many ways. They aren’t the athlete they want to be. They feel burned out. They feel like their failing.
Before they came to see me, they felt they could handle it on their own. They worried they weren’t normal. And they were certain that they’d never keep their edge if they didn’t just kept trying harder.
The anxiety and inner critic were destrying the joy they had in sport and life.
Like my clients, you deserve to get back to the enjoyment of sport and life without getting beat up by the critic and pushed around by anxiety.
Having a great relationship with sport and adventure is not out of your reach.
If you want to quiet the anxiety and inner critic and thrive on and off the trail, I’d love to help you get there.
Reach out now for a discovery call. I can help.
Mental Health or Mental Performance. What’s the difference?
Mental Health Therapy
Therapy helps athletes work through psychological challenges that impact both performance and overall well-being. I specifically work with clients who may be struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, people pleasing, injury related disruptions and grief and loss..
You might benefit from psychotherapy if you’re experiencing:
Feelings of hopelessness or loss of interest in things you once loved
Ongoing anxiety or depression affecting multiple areas of life
Withdrawing from social situations or avoiding social situations
Struggling with daily tasks or maintaining routines
Noticeable changes in mood, sleep, or appetite
Persistent worry about injury or performance that disrupts daily life
mental Performance
Struggling with overthinking, self-doubt, or race-day nerves? Mental performance coaching helps you train your mind like you train your body—building mental skills that help you stay present, confident, and focused when it matters most.
Performance coaching might be for you if you want to:
Develop a pre-performance routine that actually works for you
Learn how to handle competition anxiety without letting it take over
Improve focus and avoid mental fatigue in training and racing
Build confidence that lasts—even when things don’t go as planned
Set goals in a way that keeps you motivated (without burnout)
Handle pressure so you can compete with clarity and trust yourself
Team Trainings & Courses
I offer mental skills trainings designed to the needs of your team. That may include:
Goal setting and motivation.
Building a cohesive team.
Building psychological flexibility and mental strength.
Self-talk and imagery
Strategies to build confidence.
I work collabortively with you, the coach, to design something that fits specifically for your program. Reach out now for a free-introductory call.