I interviewed Joe Alleva, Physiatrist and competitive Jiu Jitsu athlete to discuss the mental and physical challenges of being an older athlete. As a doctor and competitive athlete, both Joe and I understand the difficulty of balancing physical fitness and career. Joe opens up about his difficulties with his mental game in sport explaining that…
I sat down with Mr. Charles Grantham to discuss the mounting pressure facing collegiate athletes and professional athletes, as well as the trickle-down effect it’s having on youth athletes. Charles Grantham has spent over twenty years as the union executive for the NBA Players Association serving as a negotiator, and supporter on the players’ behalf.…
I went on Brian Jodice’s podcast, Pick Up The Six Productions, to discuss my new book, What’s Your Everest?: How to Win in Sports, Career, and Life. As a licensed Clinical Psychologist and certified Mental Game Coach (IMGCA) I work with highly ambitious clients looking to improve their mental health and/or their mental game. In…
The physical benefits of exercise such as lowered blood pressure, and reduced risk of heart failure, diabetes, and cancer are widely known and accepted. As awareness increases for mental health support, research reveals that exercise has the same positive effect on one’s mental health. Many people may question the scientific reasoning, so let’s talk…
I sat down with Mark Vives, National Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion and founder of New Breed Training Center in Chicago, and his successful mentee Devin Dallaire. Both Devin and Mark are highly successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes who speak on critical components of coach-athlete dynamics as well as what it takes to succeed at an elite level. …
Since the 1950s, female students have surpassed their male peers at increasingly unprecedented levels in the classroom. This is displayed throughout all levels of education but is most detrimental in college as women now significantly outnumber males. Tutoring companies are seeing a massive uptick in parents seeking services for middle-school-aged boys lacking personal organization skills…
High-quality friendships can have lasting effects on your mental and physical health as well as your behaviors. Studies show that people with high-quality friendships tend to live longer and exercise 9% more frequently. These people also have a reduced risk of depression by 17% and are 19% less likely to have a stroke. “High-quality…
People often think of happiness as something that just is there, or isn’t. However, happiness requires awareness, and practice throughout the entirety of our lives. Here are some strategies to think about when looking for joy in your life. What Does Happiness Look Like For You Reflect and discover more about your happiness to…
Most people have regrets as they enter old age. You must try to honor some of your lifelong dreams along the way before it’s too late. It’s easy to become wrapped up in the day-to-day and forget about the blessings and opportunities that quality health brings you. The best way to ensure you don’t fall…
I sat down with the founder of charity Generation Next Robert Jones Black, as well as Duke collegiate athlete Pheobe Brinker and Taylor Roberts, Florida collegiate athlete, to discuss mental health for golf athletes. Generation Next Project’s mission is to provide mental health awareness and support for young golfers. As the expert Clinical Psychologist…
As a former Division One basketball player I have played for nearly 50 different coaches in my life. The most consistently clear distinction is that good coaches lift up, inspire, and motivate while bad coaches bring down, discourage, and instill self-doubt in their athletes. The problem here is that nearly all coaches would place themselves…
In today’s world, youth athletes are facing unparalleled levels of pressure from themselves, their parents, and their coaches. As the competition continues to grow stronger, the demands of perfection placed upon athletes begin earlier. As a former collegiate athlete at Colgate University and current psychology graduate student, I can attest to the magnitude of influence…
Eating should be a thoughtful process that takes roughly 30 minutes for each meal. This pace allows you to relax, enjoy, and sense how both your mind and body feel before, during, and after eating. Many people use an eating/emotional log to track and gauge the patterns of their eating as well as how it…
Unfortunately, disordered and emotional eating is extremely common but disproportionately affects women. Many people struggle with disordered eating due to a lifetime of chronic dieting, neurodiversity, traumatic events, and/or other mental health issues. If you are engaging in disordered or emotional eating it is likely due to a disconnect your mind has with your body.…
Mental game matters in ALL sports, but the nature of individual sports, such as golf, poses an added challenge because, at the end of the day, you can only rely on yourself (and you only have yourself to blame). Repetitive practice, in particular with coaching, continues to build confidence, which will benefit your mental game.…
In my practice, I regularly come across people who are looking for some support and guidance in achieving their big goals. If you dream of being a highly successful person 11 daily habits will help you reach the summit of your Everest. Check out https://apple.news/A2Kuxs14-TXCsXC8O1tE10Q for more info! Seek Discomfort While it requires going against…
Positive affirmations are very helpful for everyone, especially when people are looking to develop healthier self-esteem or are coping with grief. However, in the current climate, positive affirmations are being pushed as the solution to negative thinking. Mainstream society tells you to replace your negative thinking with positive self-talk. This counter move doesn’t ALWAYS work,…
In my practice, I regularly come across individuals and couples who feel overextended and misunderstood in their relationships. Often it’s because boundaries are unclear. There are 6 types of boundaries to consider if you are looking to improve the health and quality of your relationships. Intellectual boundaries relate to how opinions, thoughts, and conversational topics…
The Generation Next Project began with founder Robert Jones Black (great-grandson of golf legend Bobby Jones) after the tragic and inexplicable loss his good friends experienced when their 12-year-old son took his life. Motivated to make a positive and direct impact on youth mental health, both on and off the course, Robert began considering how…
Are you looking to discover practical approaches to help your child cope and heal from the distress of divorce? Change is not easy for anyone, and children are no different. Firstly, your child’s feelings must always be heard and validated. Validating your child’s feelings looks like reflecting with them and guiding them to the understanding…
In addition to the annual mental game training clinics offered for athletes, Dr. Karla Steingraber and Everest Strong Coaching LLC developed specialized sport psychology clinics for teams. The clinics build not only off of Dr. Steingraber’s Everest Strong mental fitness program, but also incorporate her newly released book What’s your Everest: How to Succeed in Sports, Career, and…
Jordyn King is a former Division 1 college soccer player who is currently pursuing her master’s in kinesiology with an emphasis in sport and exercise psychology at Northern Illinois University. Jordyn previously attended Eastern Washington University where she received her B.A. in Psychology. She is currently going into the last year of her master’s program…
Sarah Lurye is a rising junior at Duke University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Management and Market Science. Sarah has always been passionate about psychology, and she plans on pursuing a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in graduate school. At home in Chicago, she started fencing at the age of…
Losing weight is THE most common fitness and health goal. Even though people lament the process, it can be easy: amputate an arm or leg and you will drop 7-15 pounds instantly. Not what you had in mind? More than the numbers Many people who want and try to lose weight simply go…
Have you ever considered inventing something? How about a new sport? That’s exactly what happened in 1965 when 3 friends were stuck with bored children on a school vacation. The fathers took ping pong paddles and a wiffleball and lowered a volleyball net to create a new game, Pickleball. Pickleball’s odd name comes…
We tend to think a lot about our sleep…How much we are getting and whether our smart watches tell us if it was quality sleep. We all know that tomorrow will be all the more challenging if we don’t feel rested. But what can we do to ensure that we sleep well and are set…
As the weather warms and the sun comes out on a more regular basis, we begin to think about being beach body ready. We might all know exactly what it takes to get there, but few have the discipline to implement uncomfortable new habits of restraint. We can wake up with all the best…
Are you short on time? Trying to get the most out of your workouts without running late? Then taking time to rest between sets will be the more efficient use of your time. You surely have heard that rest after a workout is important for your muscles to heal from the micro-tears which ultimately…
Many of us put our children into sports because we believe it will be “good for them.” Beyond the physical movement it buoys their spirit and gets them out of the house. We see how finding a passion is good for the soul. Keeping commitments and exercising discipline prepares a youngster for the demands of…
Dr. Karla Steingraber, sport psychologist and mental game coach, welcomes college athletes Taylor Roberts and Phoebe Brinker, along with Robert Jones Black, the great grandson of the golf legend Bobby Jones, to talk about making mental health a priority, especially for teens and youth athletes. Taylor and Phoebe will share their personal stories of feeling…
We are all aware that movement is good for us, for both our mental and physical health. It is no surprise that it improves energy, strength, and flexibility, as well as mood. But when we think of exercise, many of us imagine a sweaty runner panting along a grueling path. Finding the time to…
Think you (or your child) might Professional Baseball Material? What’s Your Everest welcomes Dr. Jeffrey A. Fishbein, sport psychologist for the Chicago White Sox professional baseball organization. Dr. Fishbein and host Dr. Karla Steingraber of Everest Strong Coaching will talk about the enormous difference between collegiate and professional competitive sports, the level of discipline and…
As we approach another Valentine’s Day in the pandemic, consider how you might spend some time with someone special. Known for being a day for displaying your love and affection, Valentine’s Day can hold significant meaning for your relationship and boost your feelings of love, no matter how long you and your special someone have…
A Year in Review Just prior to January 1, 2021, I was searching for a new annual resolution and was subsequently challenged to complete 10,000 kettlebell swings in the first month of 2021. This piqued my interest as it was a SMART goal: specific, measurable, achievable (if I pushed myself), relevant (as in reasonable, realistic,…
I recently had the opportunity to interview Davia Samms, founder of Lifeaholic Costa Rica, on my YouTube show “What’s Your Everest.” Davia, a “Melanated person,” as she calls herself, said the PTSD of daily micro (and macro) aggressions from living as a person of color in the US was overbearing. “Why would I live…
Why would I live in a country that hates me?” asks Davia Antonia Samms, founder of Lifeaholic Costa Rica. Davia, a “Melanated person,” as she calls herself, said the PTSD of daily micro (and macro) aggressions from living as a person of color in the US was overbearing. So she changed the playing field,…
41,000,000 minutes makes up the average lifespan in the United States. This sounds like a lot. With that many minutes you have plenty to spare, right? Breaking it down, there are 525,600 minutes in a year and 1440 in a day. Why do I mention this? Because in August 2021 a nutritional index was released…
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee Do you want to become unstoppable in your sport or craft? There is a specific path to move from the place of novice to being an expert.…
When we are trying to get (or stay) healthy and lean, eating at home provides us the greatest flexibility and control. We can shop according to plan, keep an eye on the amount of salt, fat, and sugar we are using, and even have a better ability to manage portions. But sometimes time constraints…
We all know that as we age our brains and bodies begin to slow a bit. (Read how, here.) But there are things we can do to maintain brain health and cognitive function. 5 Simple Tricks to Sharpen Your Brain as You Age A Body in Motion… Neurological research has determined that movement…
Financial investment wizard by day. Winning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor by night. Devin Dallaire shares how he sets and keeps goals, gets Monday morning ready after losing (or winning!) a weekend tournament. His coach, Mark Vives, National Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion, Founder of New Breed Training Center in Niles IL, and also Devin’s coach talks…
What’s Your Everest? The Mental and Physical Sides of Injury…Post-40 with Joseph Alleva, M.D. and Karla Steingraber, Psy.D. Joe is a physiatrist with North Shore University Health System, and also a competitive Jiu Jitsu athlete. Karla and Joe talk about the physical demands of intensive training post 50, as well as the mental side of…
I play beer league hockey, A division. Not really a big deal. Played college hockey, but never was going to make it to the big leagues so the idea of using a mental game coach just so I could stop a few more pucks never entered my radar. However, a friend of mine recommended Dr.…
Karla helped me figure out how to find my comfort zone between where one can hyper focus and almost have too much anxiety before a competition and where one comes out too relaxed and flat. This way I’m just ready for anything and there is no hesitation in my fights. No hesitation in moments of…
If we asked Charles Grantham what his Everest was on June 29, 2021, he likely would have said “to see the NCAA change their policy on the rights of college athletes to own their name and likeness.” Then, BREAKING NEWS! On June 30, the NCAA approved regulations that will usher in a new era of…
Self-efficacy and self-actualization are terms that have begun popping up in self-help jargon of late. And today’s parents, much like their children, are often looking for shortcuts and quick tips on how to raise better, more accomplished, empathic and successful humans. We try to afford them every opportunity to become their best selves, whether it…
When we first imagine having children we are full of hope. We are going to procreate beautiful, empathic, successful, smart and athletic prodigies. We enroll them in soccer or ballet or karate, hoping that by providing them with exposure and opportunities: they will find their talent and enjoy themselves; that it will bring out…
Sports anchor and journalist Prim Siripipat and sports psychologist and mental game coach Dr. Karla Steingraber talk about the mindset behind “pre” and “post” athletic career transitions. From navigating how to return to “civilian” life after a career-ending injury (which Prim has researched and reported on extensively), to knowing when and how to support your…
Martial arts is a wonderful activity for fun, fitness and competition, for all ages. Dr. Karla Steingraber, Psy.D. and an IMGCA Certified Mental Game Coach, sits down with John Fonseca, founder of Fonseca Martial Arts and Sensei Jaime Gamboa to talk about how to support youth growth in the martial arts and to encourage students,…
Like many of you, the pandemic began, schedules became fluid, time was freed up, and this allowed for putting time into personal wellness. I took some online classes and put more time into my trainings and running. Because now I could. But as this pandemic has drawn on, enthusiasm for training at home has waned.…
When we think about investing and investing in the future, stock options, IRAs, 401Ks and diversification strategies come to mind. But expert advice on how to build a bright future might look a little different. “By far the best investment you can make is in yourself,” said Warren Buffett in his 2019 interview with Yahoo…
Remember when lockdown happened and everything, including your gym, closed? Determined not to have a fitness set-back, you went to Walmart or Dicks and tried to buy weights or a bike and basically absolutely every piece of fitness equipment was sold out. Remember how you then went on e-bay and all the prices were through…
When you exercise, do you typically avoid the free weights and head straight for the treadmill, elliptical or stair climber? Are you worried that you would expose that you’re a novice and don’t know what you’re doing? In my practice, working with both adults and children who are looking to enhance their moods or get…
“Don’t stop, don’t cheat yourself,” Jess Movold encourages her 75K Instagram Live audience as she leads them in jump squats, lunges, dead bugs and more. She is a force. Jess Movold, once a reluctant runner who avoided invitations from her father while her sister trotted along, eventually caught the speed training bug in junior high.…
Illinois has entered a new phase and gyms have re-opened. While some can’t wait to have a reason to get out of the house, you may be hesitant to rush back to the sweat mill. With everyone breathing heavily and not quite always wiping equipment down, how clean are gyms anyway? And with the economy…
You’ve heard of the hotly debated Intelligence Quotient (IQ). And perhaps you have even heard of the more recently developed concept of the Emotional Quotient (EQ), and how aspects of each, IQ and EQ, can essentially be used to predict various definitions of success in life. The former assesses whether you have a mixture of…
This present climate of sheltering-in-place has brought up a variety of concerns, expectations, emotions, and self-reflection. Being a clinical psychologist, mother, and part of various interest groups, I have had the opportunity to hear the gamut of experiences. Some were excited for the “time off” from school and work. Some were happy to…
Given the many images and messages we receive, whether through advertising or social media, about the “perfect” life, it can be a challenge to feel confident about what we have, who we are, what we look like and what we are doing. This is even more difficult for children, whose self-image is ever-evolving and whose…
I’m guessing you may have at some point experienced what I did. You introduced a fun luxury: TV, LeapFrog, iPad or video games to your children. And, in short order they were hooked. You had fantasized of family movie night followed by lovely conversation and loving children, happily putting their devices away to join…
Right now it’s hard to know what the world is going to look like going forward. We don’t know when things will “return to normal,” if that is even possible. So many people have lost income. Our children have lost out on a lot of education, despite best efforts by schools, teachers and parents. And…
5 Steps to Successful Goal Setting: Even without a pandemic, only 8% of people would have achieved their goals for the New Year. Here’s how you can set and achieve your goals for the year and keep yourself accountable.
As a clinical psychologist I am often faced with a client whose goal is to “just be happy.” Similarly, as a mental game coach, aka sports psychologist, my clients come to me and many have lost confidence on the field or court and want to find it again. It sounds simple, but the truth…
Coping with Corona and other times you’re stranded on a desert island-4 tips to stay sane whether faced with isolation–or testing your love for loved ones.
You want every minute to count. You want concrete, immediate results. Who doesn’t, right? Wins are on the line. That’s where Mental Game Coaching Can Help you Win Whether you are a professional athlete (or an entire team) getting ready for the next big game, a high school athlete looking to garner attention from recruiters…
Community Education Night with Dr. Karla Steingraber at Fusion Lake Forest on powering-through parenting when you’re ready to throw in the towel, and how to cut yourself some slack in the process.
Self-Mastery as the Prescription for Success Self-Mastery. We think we know what it means but what is it really? What does it take to achieve it? Is it reserved for Olympians and Nobel Peace Prize winners or can anyone achieve this elusive goal? In this 90 minute, interactive presentation you will walk through several exercises…
How can self-mastery improve your golf game? Start with a vision of where you want to be in six to 12 months. And allow yourself to experience the moment.
The 11 Principles of Every Great Presentation Do you seriously dislike giving presentations? Does standing in front of an audience cause you panic, feel nauseous and lightheaded? Do your knees shake and hands tremble? Well, you are not alone. A common phenomenon, it is estimated 75% of the population suffers from glossophobia, a fear of…
“Trevor Bauer threw a baseball over the centerfield fence at Kauffman Stadium after surrendering the Indians’ lead to the Royals on Sunday,” read the headline on 7/29/19 in ESPN News. The apology and explanation that came later from Bauer referenced frustration with himself at his “inability to stop the situation and keep my team in…
Anxiety, worry, nervousness, self-consciousness, whatever you want to call that feeling inside your chest and stomach, can contribute to significant distraction from living life, enjoying moments, getting your work done and pursuing your goals. At times anxiety can be so extreme it can cause nausea, lack of focus, intense symptoms that can interfere with a…
Some people love routine, some people love spontaneity. While you might think this is just personal preference, routine happens to also be part of the recipe for success. When we consider great talent and high achieving individuals, there are certain things they all have in common. Great inventors like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Thomas…
The important of post-training intake. So much goes into attaining peak performance. One factor is fueling your body with all it needs to minimize stress and maximize results. Something light to eat 1.5 to 2 hours before a training session will fuel your muscles during your workout, but what you choose post-exercise is highly relevant…
Muscle and heart development We here at Everest Strong Coaching came across a very interesting article by Russian sports scientist V.N. Seluyanov, entitled “Heart is Not a Machine.” Seluyanov has authored over 100 scientific papers. In his most recent study, he discovered varying adaptation processes in the bodies of athletes. In layman’s terms, Seluyanov discovered…