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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Justine Schultz

Justine Schultz earned her M.A. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) where she gained extensive experience delivering workshops with club, high school, college, and semiprofessional athletes and teams. Aside from Justine’s experience as a mental performance coach, she joins Mentally Strong Consulting with experience as a Wellness Education Coordinator and Collegiate Assistant Softball Coach at Gustavus Adolphus College. She is currently working towards her CMPC certification.

Justine’s journey into the world of mental performance coaching began with a deep fascination for the psychology of success when she was a three-sport high school athlete and a collegiate softball player. The experiences she had as an athlete, and now coach, have largely contributed to her passion for mental skills.