About Me!
Welcome - I am so glad you are here.
I’m Staci Mannella — a sport psychology intern, researcher, and former Paralympic alpine skier. If you’re an athlete navigating the highs and lows of sport, a coach or mentor seeking to expand your knowledge, or someone who cares deeply about supporting athletes, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m an athlete supporting athletes. My passion for sport psychology grew out of my own experiences competing at the highest level — including the Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Games. And honestly? It was not always easy. If you’ve ever struggled with performance anxiety, confidence issues, returning from injury, managing relationships with teammates and coaches, or perfectionism… I’ve been there too.
Those experiences inspired me to learn everything I could about mental health and the mental side of sport.
Here’s a quick look at my path so far:
- B.A. in Anthropology – Dartmouth College
- M.A. in Kinesiology – University of British Columbia
- M.A. in Counseling – Ball State University
- Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, with a focus on sport and performance
These days - for me - sport is less about the medals and more about finding new and exciting connections and adventures. You can often find me skiing, riding my horse, hiking, running, or biking. Who knows — maybe there’s a half marathon in my future!
Most importantly, I practice what I preach. The strategies I share with clients are the same tools I use in my own life – both in and outside of sport. I love this work because it allows me to keep learning and growing alongside every athlete I have the privilege of supporting.
Thank you for trusting me and for your interest in my work!