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
How to Build Resilience as an Athlete: Mental Skills for Handling Pressure and Adversity
Resilience is one of the most important—and misunderstood—mental skills in sports. In this episode, we break down what resilience actually is, why it matters for athletic performance, and how athletes can strengthen resilience in real, practical ways.
Athletes face constant pressure, setbacks, injuries, mistakes, and expectations. Resilience isn’t about being “mentally tough” or ignoring emotions—it’s about how quickly and effectively you respond to adversity and continue to show up aligned with your goals. We explore the psychology of resilience in sports, how it impacts confidence, focus, and emotional regulation, and why resilient athletes are better equipped to perform under pressure.
You’ll learn:
- The difference between mental toughness and resilience
- Why resilience is essential for long-term performance and mental health
- How stress, failure, and discomfort actually strengthen resilience
- Evidence-based mental skills athletes can use to build resilience, including mindset shifts, self-talk, emotional regulation, and values-driven action
- How coaches and athletes can create environments that support resilience rather than burnout
Whether you’re a youth athlete, collegiate competitor, professional athlete, or coach, this episode provides actionable tools to help you bounce back faster, stay grounded during adversity, and perform with confidence—even when things don’t go as planned.
Follow us on Instagram @mtr.pod
For Mental Performance Coaching visit haleyherdman.com