Our Team

Mentally Strong is a team of trained performance psychology professionals and certified coaches who are here to help you gain the high-performance edge to help you be the best version of yourself.

Ph.D., CMPC, PCC

Cindra Kamphoff

Cindra works with: Executives, high-potential leaders, sales professionals, and professional athletes

Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. is a keynote speaker and professional certified coach for leaders, professional athletes, and championship teams around the nation. She is the founder and owner of Mentally Strong Consulting.

Her clients range from Verizon Wireless, Target, Mayo Clinic Health System to the Minnesota Vikings.

She has provided mental training for the Minnesota Vikings for four years working one-on-one with the player to help them train their mind.

Cindra is the author of the Amazon bestseller, Beyond Grit: Ten Powerful Practices to Gain the High Performing Edge and the corresponding workbook. Her work has appeared in New York Times, ESPN the Magazine, The Huffington Post, USA Today, and Runner’s World Magazine.

Cindra is a Personal Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation, the gold-standard certification for coaches world-wide. She has an executive and personal coaching certification from the College of Executive Coaching. She is certified in the EQi 2.0 which is the leading assessment on emotional intelligence. Cindra is also a Certified Mental Performance Coach with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Cindra is the founder of the High Performance Mindset podcast available on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher Radio which has over 1 million downloads and ranked in the top 100 podcasts. She is a board member and President of the National Speakers Association, Minnesota Chapter.

Based on nearly 20 years of research and consulting, she speaks and coaches individuals on how go gain a high-performance edge while providing practical strategies that work. Kamphoff is also the founder and director at the Center for Sport & Performance Psychology and professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

She has a Ph.D. in sport and performance psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BA in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa where she competed in track and cross country. She is now an avid marathoner who has competed in 15 marathons including 5 Boston Marathons.

Cindra and her husband have two teenage boys and live in Minnesota.

M.A.

Crystal Hoogeveen

Crystal works with educational leaders, high-potential leaders, and executives.

Crystal Hoogeveen brings 30+ years of experience supporting others in becoming the very best version of themselves. Her love of learning and genuine interest in her client’s growth and success makes her a supportive, creative, and engaging coach.

Recently, Crystal developed a student curriculum for Beyond Grit to help others learn practical exercises to gain their high-performance edge. 

In addition to writing, she has consulted with school districts providing one-on-one coaching, professional development, and the implementation cultural health surveys. This work has delivered immediate and lasting results in team dynamics and leadership effectiveness. Crystal focuses on active listening skills, characteristics of great teams, and mastering conflict. 

Crystal has also served on various independent and community boards including the Board of Trustees for the leading private school in Omaha, curriculum writing, leading workshops for an entire school community, serving as a grade level teacher leader, plus years of varied teaching experiences ranging from inner city schools to elite private schools in Santa Fe and Houston.

Education and Affiliations:
Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching
The Professional Learning Communities Coaching Academy
MindSet – Implementation of Cultural Health Survey and Infusion Program Coach
The Empty Nester Club, Chief Integration Officer and Content Creator
University of New Mexico – Masters in Educational Administration
University of Northern Iowa – B.A., Early Childhood/ Elementary Education

Favorite Quote:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

Thoughts from Crystal:
“Challenging people to listen to their inner voice, trying new things and seeing situations through a different lens are all important parts of my one-on-one coaching style. I believe that everyone has the power to thrive in life and live with passion and purpose.”

M.A.

Austin O’Brien

Austin works with college athletes, high school athletes, professional athletes, teams, and sales professionals.

Austin O’Brien earned his M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato (2016) where he gained experience working with high school and college athletes. Since then, he has worked in both business and health coaching settings helping adults develop positive work and lifestyle habits. He is currently pursuing CMPC certification.

His interest in the mental side of athletic performance comes from being a lifelong athlete. Austin is actively competing as an elite distance runner in races from 5,000 meters to the marathon. He is coached by Tom “Tinman” Schwartz and recently raced in the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying with a time of 2:18. During his college career, he was a three-time NCAA DIII All-American at Central College and is the current national record holder in the Distance Medley Relay. Like you, he has big athletic dreams and is eager to relentlessly pursue them.

Austin has developed a special interest in how mental toughness can be used as skill in both sport and life. He helps athletes improve their sport experience and performance while encouraging them to use the same skillset to promote success in other areas of their life. Austin excels in working with high school, college, and elite athletes competing in endurance or individual sports.

Personally, he and his wife live in Des Moines, Iowa. They enjoy traveling, hanging out with family, and playing with their energetic Corgi named Walter.

M.A., CMPC

Kris Goodman,

Kris works with college athletes, high school athletes, professional athletes, and sports teams.

Kris Goodman earned his M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2020 and went on to receive his Certified Mental Performance Consultant Certification later that year. At MSU Mankato, he gained extensive experience working with high school and college athletes. During the summer of 2019, Kris worked as a Mental Conditioning Coach at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida where he worked with athletes from all over the world in tennis, football, baseball, soccer, basketball, track, and golf. 

Kris is currently a Mental Performance Coach for the Tampa Bay Rays. He works with the Rays Minor League players, coaching them to be elite decision makers through the practice of mental skills. In the off-season, he works with various athletes throughout the country. 

Before getting his M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Kris played collegiate baseball at the University of Iowa from 2011-2015 where he earned his B.A. in Psychology. In 2015 he was drafted by the Miami Marlins and would go on to play four seasons of professional baseball.

Kris’ passion for mental skills training started when he was a high school athlete at Apple Valley, Minnesota. Throughout his collegiate and professional baseball years, he personally trained his mental skills working with various professionals. He attributes much of his success to being mentally strong and enjoys working with athletes at all levels to help them improve their mental strength.

M.A.

Britin Thomsen

Britin works with business leaders, professional athletes, sports teams, college athletes and high school athletes.

Britin received her M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology (’21) and M.S. in Mental Health Counseling (’22) from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Throughout her graduate training she consulted club, high school, and college athletes individually and delivered team sessions at the high school and collegiate level. Britin also provided individual therapy, group therapy, and psychological testing for ages 6-70+ years old in a private practice setting that served the greater Mankato Area. In addition, Britin served as a volunteer diving coach at the NCAA Division III level while completing her education at MNSU.

Britin’s sport experience includes diving at St. Cloud State University, where she was 2x NCAA All-American on both 1 meter and 3-meter springboard, a 3x Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Champion, and a 4x DII national qualifier. Prior to her collegiate athletic career, she competed in Varsity track and field, and was a club competitive gymnast for 6 years. Currently, Britin is working as an outpatient therapist in the Twin Cities area and consulting with athletes from an array level of sports. 

She is most passionate about working one-on-one with both high school and collegiate athletes, coaches, and parents to help athletes improve their overall sport enjoyment and performance. Britin strives to cultivate awareness in athletes and coaches to help them implement the necessary skills to aid them toward their goals. She excels working with athletes from individual sports like swimming, diving, gymnastics, golf, and track and field. Her interests include injury, performance anxiety, athletic identity, and helping athletes set goals to optimize their performance.

M.A., M.S.

Justine Jagga

Justine works with professional athletes, college athletes, high school athletes, and sports teams.

Justine received her M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology (’21) and M.S. in Mental Health Counseling (’22) from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Throughout her graduate training, she worked with club, high school, and college athletes individually and delivered team sessions to high school and collegiate teams. Justine also worked as a clinical intern providing individual therapy and group therapy and conducted psychoeducational workshops for college students at her university’s counseling center. Additionally, she served as a graduate assistant swim coach at the NCAA Division II level while completing her education at MNSU. She is currently working toward her CMPC certification.

Justine’s sports experience includes getting recruited from South Africa to compete as a collegiate swimmer at the D1 level, where she was a 3x C-USA competitor and finalist. Prior to her collegiate athletic career, she was a 4x South African junior provisional champion and had competed at her national championships for 7 years. Additionally, she competed in various other sports including cross-country, field hockey, and open-water swimming from middle school through high school. These experiences as an athlete have largely contributed to her passion for mental skills and mental health. She hopes to continue to show the benefits and usefulness of mental skills to the athletes she works with. Currently, Justine is a Ph.D. student in Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University and provides therapy to college students and community members.

She is passionate about creating a growth-oriented space where individuals can reach their full potential and learn skills and tools that will help them not only succeed in their sport but in all areas of their lives. Justine prefers to take a holistic approach to her work and aims to empower her clients and give them a sense of autonomy over their sport experience and the skills they learn. She strives to create a facilitative environment where individuals can learn and implement mental skills that will enhance their overall well-being and cultivate a personal sense of enjoyment and fulfillment within their sport. She particularly focuses on working with athletes from individual sports like swimming, gymnastics, cross-country, track and field, and golf. Her interests include athletic identity, performance anxiety, confidence, and enabling athletes to understand themselves in the context of their sport and using that to maximize their potential and reach their goals.

M.A.

Megan Svir

Megan works with sports teams, college athletes and high school athletes.

Megan Svir received her M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Minnesota State University in Mankato. Throughout her graduate program, she gained experience delivering mental training workshops to teams and worked individually with athletes at the high school and collegiate level. She also joined Mentally Strong Consulting with ample experience as a health and nutrition coach and has worked as a high school volleyball and softball coach for over five years. She is currently working towards her CMPC certification.

Megan started her journey to Sport Psychology as an athlete in high school herself where she was introduced to mental skills training by graduate students from the Sport and Exercise Psychology Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. After her wonderful experience working with these graduate students, she knew performance psychology was something she wanted to pursue herself. She then attended Minnesota State University, Mankato where she received her B.S. in both Exercise Science and Psychology before pursuing an M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology. During her time at the university, Megan was very involved in student leadership, Honors, and she continued her love for sports by coaching year-round at the local high schools and clubs.

Megan is passionate about developing others, helping them reach their full potential, and helping performers connect and find joy with their passion. With her experience as a coach, Megan is also passionate about developing coaches as she feels coaches can change lives and make huge impacts on athletes and performers of all ages. Megan is dedicated to helping the individual within the performer flourish and to educating all performers about the importance of mental training on well-being and enjoyment.

In her free time Megan enjoys podcast walks with her two dogs Emmy Lou and Cooper James, exercising, reading, having movie nights, and of course coaching. She also plans to obtain her PH.D. in performance psychology.

M.A.

Craig Frea

Craig works with college athletes, high school athletes, professional athletes, and sports teams.

Craig Frea earned his M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) where he accumulated experiences working with high school and college athletes. During his time at MNSU, he interned at the Counseling Center where he gained an appreciation of how mental skills can be used to navigate life’s hardships. He learned that mental skills training can be helpful in both competition and life. Currently, he is working toward his CMPC certification.

Craig’s investment in sport started from an early age and continued through high school where he competed in basketball and tennis. Since then, he has cultivated a deeper understanding of golf and running. His passion for running prompted him to volunteer at the YMCA as a running coach. He is an avid runner who has completed several long-distance events, including a marathon.

Craig has developed an interest in how mindfulness can help athletes let go of their past mistakes and fully embrace the present moment to achieve optimal performance. He excels working with athletes from individual sports and basketball.

During his free time, Craig enjoys golfing, kayaking, meditating, reading, running, and traveling with friends and family. He lives in Minnesota with his partner.

M.A.

Cassie Weaver

Cassie works with high-potential leaders and sales professionals.

Cassie Weaver received her M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology in May 2018 from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She joins Mentally Strong Consulting with ample experience as a mental performance coach, health and nutrition coach, and collegiate volleyball coach (DIII and DII, respectively).

Through her various corporate work experiences, Cassie has a newfound passion of consulting with key stakeholders on helping businesses grow their grit. Whether in group settings or 1:1, Cassie can help business professionals alike maximize their full potential in the workplace.

Full time, Cassie currently works for a start-up company as a Manager of Learning and Development. She organizes and delivers corporate-wide training on multifactorial health components. 

Cassie resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her fiance and her two “fur-babies”. In her spare time, you can find her growing her grit at the gym, listening to TedTalks, or watching any and all sporting events.

Cassie’s Fun Fact: She played collegiate volleyball for Concordia University, St. Paul (2010-2014) where her team won four NCAA Division II National Volleyball Championships.