The Mental Skills Every Athlete Needs with Heather Larkin, Ed.D., LMHC, MGCP, MPM

What separates athletes who perform at their best under pressure from those who fall apart when adversity strikes? In this episode of Elevate 2 Great, Trey Fowler sits down with Heather Larkin, Ed.D., LMHC, MGCP, MPM, founder of ALL IN Counseling & Mental Performance and Founder & CEO of the Beyond the Game Foundation. Heather has spent years helping athletes, parents, and coaches understand the mental side of performance. Through her ALL IN Mindset™ system, she teaches athletes how to build confidence, overcome fear, handle pressure, and develop the resilience needed to succeed both on and off the field. This episode covers: • Why mental toughness is a skill that must be taught • How confidence is built through daily mental reps • The biggest mistakes parents and coaches make • Why perfectionism hurts athlete performance • How athletes can respond instead of react to adversity Whether you're an athlete, parent, coach, or sports organization leader, this episode offers practical strategies that can improve performance while protecting the mental wellbeing of young athletes. Upcoming Event: Heather and the Beyond the Game Foundation are hosting the Student-Athlete Development & Future Readiness Summit on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 1:00–4:00 PM at Farmhouse Sports Academy in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Designed for student-athletes in grades 7–12 and their families, the summit will cover mental performance, wellness, leadership, college and career pathways, financial literacy, and more. Connect with Heather:  http://theallinpro.com https://beyondthegamefoundationinc.com https://allinrecruit.com Elevate 2 Great Links & Resources:  Schedule a Free Coaching Session https://factoryeleven.net/coaching-session Follow Elevate 2 Great https://x.com/Elevate2GreatHQ https://www.facebook.com/elevate2great https://www.instagram.com/elevate2greatpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/@FactoryEleven526 Call Us (404) 594-8470 Want to Be a Guest or Have Questions? nikki@factoryeleven.net Chapters:  0:00 - Meet Mental Performance Expert Heather Larkin 4:31 - How Athletes Build Mental Toughness 9:12 - Hard Work, Self-Belief, and Confidence 15:39 - The ALL-IN Mental Performance Framework 20:30 - Overcoming Perfectionism in Sports 28:49 - Visualization, Breathing, and Positive Self-Talk 36:41 - How Coaches Can Support Athletes’ Mental Health 43:08 - What Parents Should Say After a Bad Game 58:41 - The Mental Skills Every Athlete Needs