Mental Training Room
Mental Training Room is a podcast hosted by former Division I athletes, Haley Herdman and Naomi Yim. Haley is a current Mental Health Therapist who works with athletes on their mental game and Naomi is a real estate investor with a passion for spreading awareness around mental health in sports. Designed as a community and safe space for athletes, our goal is to foster honest conversations about the mental health challenges that athletes face within their sport while also advocating for more mental skills coaching imbedded into overall training programs, in hopes to close the gap from mental unprepared to MENTALLY ELITE!
Through insightful discussions with a diverse range of guests—including mental health professionals, current and former athletes, coaches, and much more—we aim to provide comfort, relatability, and practical takeaways for our listeners. In our episodes, we talk mindset, performance pressure, recovery, identity, and other authentic stories. While this podcast is not a substitute for professional help, we hope each episode reminds you that you’re not alone in this journey.
If you are in crisis, please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
Mental Training Room
Learning How to Train Game Time Emotions with Jenny Smith, LMFT
In this episode, we sit down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Jenny Smith to explore the powerful framework of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and how its core skills can help athletes regulate emotions during high-pressure game moments. Jenny breaks down DBT’s four pillars—mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—and connects each one to the athlete experience, from pre-game anxiety to in-game frustrations and post-game reflections. Whether you’re on the field, court, or in the locker room, this conversation offers practical tools athletes can start using today to stay grounded, manage emotional spikes, and perform at their mental best when it counts the most.
Follow us on Instagram @mtr.pod
For Mental Performance Coaching visit haleyherdman.com