We tap hidden human potential, so you can reach new heights of performance
Who we are:
We are a group of psychologists with a passion for helping people and organizations who are pursuing performance excellence. Our team has extensive training and experience in the science of high performance—combined with deep understanding of human psychology, in both health and difficulty.
Who we help:
We work with anyone devoted to improving their ability to perform at their chosen craft, such as:
- Athletes, from youth to professional and Olympic levels
- Creatives of all types, including musicians, writers and actors
- Entrepreneurs and founders
- Special operators in professions that involve on-demand performance in highly consequential settings, such as surgeons and pilots
- Teams and organizations at large
Why we will excel together:
Our clients are looking to push limits in order to more deeply discover who they are and how far they can go. At the same time, we appreciate the complexity of how each unique person and mindset interacts within the context of their performance. That’s why our collaboration—whether at the individual or group level—results in highly unique solutions and programs that foster next-level achievement.
We offer a holistic approach that develops solutions for both body and mind
During our evaluation period, we determine the needs of the individual, team, or organization, so we can train in the following critical areas:
Motivation
Goal-setting
Emotional and energetic activation, regulation, and management
Focus and concentration
Visualization and imagery
Self-talk
Confidence
Creativity
Resilience, mental toughness, and grit
Performing under pressure
Team-building
Leadership
Coaching
Communication
Family relationship dynamics
Injury recovery
Rest and recovery strategies
Substance use
Eating disorders
Depression/anxiety
Relational difficulties
Life skills
Identity
Psychoeducation on psychological health
Group therapy (injured athletes, transitioning to college or out of sport, ED group, LGBTQ)
Culture building
Our experts know what it takes to go further
With decades of experience and unparalleled passion in the science of human performance, our team has helped numerous clients crush conventional limits and achieve new successes.
Zane Dodd, PhD CMPC
Zane Dodd, PhD
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”
-Michelangelo
While pursuing a PhD in psychology at the University of North Texas, I completed a specialization in sport and performance psychology, in addition to my clinical specializations, research, and interests in a range of areas, including attachment and trauma. I have enjoyed more than 15 years of experience working with high performers in a variety of fields and industries. This experience has ranged from working with athletes at the youth and collegiate levels to those at the professional and Olympic levels. I have also worked with founders, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 100 CEOs. I value working with creatives, such as writers, performance artists, fine artists, musicians, and dancers. I also regularly work with professionals in other domains who must perform at a high level under the pressure of highly consequential circumstances.
My passion is not in specializing in any specific high-performing arena but rather in gaining a deep understanding and application of the underlying principles that lead to high performance in all domains. I particularly enjoy working with individuals and organizations who are driven by continual growth and see their chosen craft as a pathway to realizing this potential. These individuals seek out challenges and push themselves in order to find their edges and expand their potential.
I know that the path toward high performance and achievement can often feel isolating, and partnering in this work together can bring a much-needed sense of connection and understanding to your process. No one performs at a high level alone. My approach is a highly collaborative one in which we work together to understand your unique performance context, what it demands of you, and what your inner and outer resources for managing it are. Together, we craft and cultivate your unique high-performance mindset.
Our capacity to perform is not separate and distinct from our larger selves and psychological health. The demands of high-performance work mean immense pressure is placed on our capacities to manage our emotional and psychological health as well. It’s quite common for the very qualities that allow someone to become elite to cause difficulties in other areas of their lives, like relationships and psychological balance. Difficulties in other areas of life inevitably lead to negative impacts on performance. The work in high-performance arenas often involves fluidly being able and comfortable moving back and forth between performance-specific factors and larger life and well-being factors. My goal is not just to help people perform at higher levels but to do so in ways that lead to better psychological health, improved relationships, and a more meaningful life.
Zane Dodd, PhD
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”
-Michelangelo
While pursuing a PhD in psychology at the University of North Texas, I completed a specialization in sport and performance psychology, in addition to my clinical specializations, research, and interests in a range of areas, including attachment and trauma. I have enjoyed more than 15 years of experience working with high performers in a variety of fields and industries. This experience has ranged from working with athletes at the youth and collegiate levels to those at the professional and Olympic levels. I have also worked with founders, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 100 CEOs. I value working with creatives, such as writers, performance artists, fine artists, musicians, and dancers. I also regularly work with professionals in other domains who must perform at a high level under the pressure of highly consequential circumstances.
My passion is not in specializing in any specific high-performing arena but rather in gaining a deep understanding and application of the underlying principles that lead to high performance in all domains. I particularly enjoy working with individuals and organizations who are driven by continual growth and see their chosen craft as a pathway to realizing this potential. These individuals seek out challenges and push themselves in order to find their edges and expand their potential.
I know that the path toward high performance and achievement can often feel isolating, and partnering in this work together can bring a much-needed sense of connection and understanding to your process. No one performs at a high level alone. My approach is a highly collaborative one in which we work together to understand your unique performance context, what it demands of you, and what your inner and outer resources for managing it are. Together, we craft and cultivate your unique high-performance mindset.
Our capacity to perform is not separate and distinct from our larger selves and psychological health. The demands of high-performance work mean immense pressure is placed on our capacities to manage our emotional and psychological health as well. It’s quite common for the very qualities that allow someone to become elite to cause difficulties in other areas of their lives, like relationships and psychological balance. Difficulties in other areas of life inevitably lead to negative impacts on performance. The work in high-performance arenas often involves fluidly being able and comfortable moving back and forth between performance-specific factors and larger life and well-being factors. My goal is not just to help people perform at higher levels but to do so in ways that lead to better psychological health, improved relationships, and a more meaningful life.
Carla Pulliam, PhD
Carla Pulliam, PhD
I have been practicing psychology for over 20 years, following my graduate work and postdoctoral fellowship from UT Southwestern. I have worked in many settings with multiple populations and from various theoretical models. I view my craft as a psychologist as a performance task, as I do most things in life. A passion for continual growth, awareness of mental and embodied aspects of my personality, and a desire to hone in on the evolving strengths and weaknesses of my personality are integral parts of my professional growth.
I am passionate about bringing the principles of psychology and well-being to communities and systems generally, and I therefore enjoy working with high-performing individuals across domains. I believe that when one is functioning consistently with their personal mission, values, and personality, they are maximally positioned to refine their chosen craft.
Over time, I have developed a particular specialty working in corporate spaces and with high-functioning women in the workplace. Managing the intricacies of society, culture, and gender, I have learned to help individuals define their ways of being within their professional endeavors.
I have extensive experience focusing on parent/child relationships and on balancing personal and professional goals. Families can benefit from multiple interventions, including education, skills, and communication and relational management.
Finally, I have worked in inpatient and outpatient settings with those experiencing acute and chronic illness and am helpful in accommodating the difficulties these issues present while also maximizing one’s performance and satisfaction in life.
Carla Pulliam, PhD
I have been practicing psychology for over 20 years, following my graduate work and postdoctoral fellowship from UT Southwestern. I have worked in many settings with multiple populations and from various theoretical models. I view my craft as a psychologist as a performance task, as I do most things in life. A passion for continual growth, awareness of mental and embodied aspects of my personality, and a desire to hone in on the evolving strengths and weaknesses of my personality are integral parts of my professional growth.
I am passionate about bringing the principles of psychology and well-being to communities and systems generally, and I therefore enjoy working with high-performing individuals across domains. I believe that when one is functioning consistently with their personal mission, values, and personality, they are maximally positioned to refine their chosen craft.
Over time, I have developed a particular specialty working in corporate spaces and with high-functioning women in the workplace. Managing the intricacies of society, culture, and gender, I have learned to help individuals define their ways of being within their professional endeavors.
I have extensive experience focusing on parent/child relationships and on balancing personal and professional goals. Families can benefit from multiple interventions, including education, skills, and communication and relational management.
Finally, I have worked in inpatient and outpatient settings with those experiencing acute and chronic illness and am helpful in accommodating the difficulties these issues present while also maximizing one’s performance and satisfaction in life.
Karolina Shander, PhD
Karolina Shander, PhD
Performing; rising; showing growth and/or grit; achieving; reaching a peak… These all allude to a high level of attainment, accomplishment, and, depending on the context, winning. Who is capable of achieving their peak and succeeding at achieving their dreams? In my belief, each and every person has that capacity, not just an athlete or performer.
Growing up within the world of sport as a spectator, coach’s daughter, and, eventually, an athlete, I developed a love for psychology and sport and for performance psychology, which fueled my pursuit of a PhD at University of North Texas in counseling psychology, with a specialization in sport and performance. Throughout my training at UNT and in other professional opportunities, I have worked innumerous sports and with coaches and integrative health systems within the sport discipline, as well as within the music, military, and business spheres. My ability to work from various theoretical models and adapt to different forms of treatment has allowed me to assist my clients in achieving their best selves, even in the most peculiar situations. I strive to engage with individuals, teams, and groups with an open mind and growth mindset, allowing me to serve those from various walks of life and walk alongside them as they uncover their capabilities and break barriers.
Performance to me is about being able to access your strongest and most vulnerable self in the moments where you need to most. Our collaborative work focuses on understanding your own unique context—expanding identities, amplifying strengths, and understanding our less-effective components of our own psyche and being—while also embracing it all to construct the most optimal approach. I thrive in working with individuals and groups seeking their highest performance across multiple domains, as well as with individuals maneuvering through transitions in their performing world. (i.e., transitioning to college, transitioning out of athletics, recovering from injury, etc.) I have specific experience in focusing on those transitioning from sport and the resulting effects of retirement on mental/emotional health. Performing optimally does not always happen even in the most perfect situations, but this does not mean that you cannot be your best self in that moment. I look forward to partnering with you and elevating you and your life.
Karolina Shander, PhD
Performing; rising; showing growth and/or grit; achieving; reaching a peak… These all allude to a high level of attainment, accomplishment, and, depending on the context, winning. Who is capable of achieving their peak and succeeding at achieving their dreams? In my belief, each and every person has that capacity, not just an athlete or performer.
Growing up within the world of sport as a spectator, coach’s daughter, and, eventually, an athlete, I developed a love for psychology and sport and for performance psychology, which fueled my pursuit of a PhD at University of North Texas in counseling psychology, with a specialization in sport and performance. Throughout my training at UNT and in other professional opportunities, I have worked innumerous sports and with coaches and integrative health systems within the sport discipline, as well as within the music, military, and business spheres. My ability to work from various theoretical models and adapt to different forms of treatment has allowed me to assist my clients in achieving their best selves, even in the most peculiar situations. I strive to engage with individuals, teams, and groups with an open mind and growth mindset, allowing me to serve those from various walks of life and walk alongside them as they uncover their capabilities and break barriers.
Performance to me is about being able to access your strongest and most vulnerable self in the moments where you need to most. Our collaborative work focuses on understanding your own unique context—expanding identities, amplifying strengths, and understanding our less-effective components of our own psyche and being—while also embracing it all to construct the most optimal approach. I thrive in working with individuals and groups seeking their highest performance across multiple domains, as well as with individuals maneuvering through transitions in their performing world. (i.e., transitioning to college, transitioning out of athletics, recovering from injury, etc.) I have specific experience in focusing on those transitioning from sport and the resulting effects of retirement on mental/emotional health. Performing optimally does not always happen even in the most perfect situations, but this does not mean that you cannot be your best self in that moment. I look forward to partnering with you and elevating you and your life.
Kristin Fleagle, EdM
Karolina Shander, PhD
Kristin Fleagle, EdM
Kristin is a Mental Performance Consultant at Elevate Performance Psychology, where she collaborates with athletes, coaches, and teams to enhance mental health, resilience, and performance. With over a decade of experience as a collegiate coach, she brings a deep understanding of the competitive landscape to her work, helping individuals thrive under pressure and achieve their goals.
Kristin earned her Master of Education in Counseling with a specialization in Sport Psychology from Boston University, completing over 1,200 hours of practical experience where she worked with athletes, musicians, and high performing college majors like nursing, engineering, and pre-dental. Her training provides her with the tools to integrate mental health and performance strategies, creating personalized approaches that address the unique needs of the individuals she works with.
Her coaching career spans both NCAA Division I and Division III athletics, where she developed a passion for understanding each athlete as a unique individual with specific needs, goals, and paths to success. At Boston University, she guided track and field athletes to 11 Patriot League All-Conference honors, three individual titles, and an NCAA East Preliminary Round qualification. In Division III, she coached two NCAA National Champions, contributed to two top-four team finishes at the NCAA National
Championships, and helped 33 athletes qualify for nationals. These experiences as a coach in an individual sport taught her the importance of tailoring strategies to help each athlete unlock their potential, a principle that guides her work as a consultant.
Kristin’s work extends to other sport team settings, including her collaboration with Fordham Men’s Soccer. Through her work with the team and coaches, she played a key role in their historic season, which featured a semi-final appearance in the A-10 tournament and a berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s College Cup.
In addition to her work with athletes, Kristin is passionate about educating coaches. She has presented at national conventions such as WISTCA, the New England Track Clinic, and USTFCCCA, covering topics like creating psychological safety for you and your team, longevity in coaching through a healthy coaching identity, optimizing leadership performance, fostering resilience in athletes, and leveraging imagery techniques for success, helping coaches understand that psychological principles apply to them as much as their athletes.
Kristin is dedicated to empowering individuals and teams through actionable strategies, fostering awareness, and celebrating the transformative power of mental performance in
sport and life.
Kristin Fleagle, EdM
Kristin is a Mental Performance Consultant at Elevate Performance Psychology, where
she collaborates with athletes, coaches, and teams to enhance mental health, resilience, and performance. With over a decade of experience as a collegiate coach, she brings a deep understanding of the competitive landscape to her work, helping
individuals thrive under pressure and achieve their goals.
Kristin earned her Master of Education in Counseling with a specialization in Sport Psychology from Boston University, completing over 1,200 hours of practical experience where she worked with athletes, musicians, and high performing college majors like nursing, engineering, and pre-dental. Her training provides her with the tools to integrate mental health and performance strategies, creating personalized approaches that address the unique needs of the individuals she works with.
Her coaching career spans both NCAA Division I and Division III athletics, where she developed a passion for understanding each athlete as a unique individual with specific needs, goals, and paths to success. At Boston University, she guided track and field athletes to 11 Patriot League All-Conference honors, three individual titles, and an NCAA East Preliminary Round qualification. In Division III, she coached two NCAA National Champions, contributed to two top-four team finishes at the NCAA National
Championships, and helped 33 athletes qualify for nationals. These experiences as a coach in an individual sport taught her the importance of tailoring strategies to help each athlete unlock their potential, a principle that guides her work as a consultant.
Kristin’s work extends to other sport team settings, including her collaboration with Fordham Men’s Soccer. Through her work with the team and coaches, she played a key role in their historic season, which featured a semi-final appearance in the A-10 tournament and a berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s College Cup.
In addition to her work with athletes, Kristin is passionate about educating coaches. She has presented at national conventions such as WISTCA, the New England Track Clinic, and USTFCCCA, covering topics like creating psychological safety for you and your team, longevity in coaching through a healthy coaching identity, optimizing leadership performance, fostering resilience in athletes, and leveraging imagery techniques for success, helping coaches understand that psychological principles apply to them as much as their athletes.
Kristin is dedicated to empowering individuals and teams through actionable strategies, fostering awareness, and celebrating the transformative power of mental performance in
sport and life.
Ready to connect?
If you’ve got questions about how we can help you or your organization explore new possibilities and unlock potential, we would love to hear from you. Send us a note to let us know more about what you need.