Dr. Kirsten Cooper, PsyD, CMPC, has dedicated her career to helping athletes at all levels build mental resilience and confidence. A licensed sport and clinical psychologist and retired U.S. Ski Team member, she guides athletes in managing stress, enhancing focus, and fostering resilience.

We’re grateful for her insights as a longtime ZGiRLS supporter and for her help developing our ZGiRLS’ Curriculum™.

Most recently, she supported Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!*

In short, she knows her stuff. Now, she’s sharing valuable tips for young athletes—and how you, as parents, can support your daughter on her journey.

What is the most important trait that everyone–athlete or not–should cultivate to pursue their dreams?

The most important trait to cultivate is resilience—it’s the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to challenges, and persist through difficulties, which is crucial for pursuing and achieving any dream.

I think perfectionism is one to be careful with—it can help us strive to grow, but we'll never be perfect and that leads to constant disappointment.

Tiger Woods was once quoted saying that at his best, he only needed two shots per round do exactly what he intended. To me, that is perfectly imperfect and leads us back to resilience and the ability to adapt and recover.

No one makes it to the top without some amount of failure. How do you help your athletes push through setbacks and still believe in themselves?

I help them to view setbacks as opportunities for growth, rather than as failures.

By accepting their experiences, taking actions that align with core values, being completely present in the moment, and reinforcing their strengths, athletes can maintain their self-belief and stay motivated despite challenges.

Can you explain the difference between being competitive and making comparisons?

Being competitive involves striving to improve and achieve personal goals, while making comparisons involves measuring yourself against others, which can undermine self-esteem and focus.

Comparisons become unhealthy when they lead to negative self-talk, decreased motivation, or an unhealthy obsession with others’ achievements rather than personal progress, whereas competition can show us how to grow.

How can parents and coaches create and support a positive environment?

They should focus on fostering a culture of encouragement and acceptance, emphasizing effort over results, and promoting healthy self-esteem.

Providing constructive feedback, celebrating individual and team achievements, and ensuring equal opportunities and respect can also contribute significantly to a supportive atmosphere.

Can you share a personal challenge from your pro athletic career and how it shaped your view of self-worth?

I can certainly relate to athletes who have had to mentally and physically recover from setbacks. I once had a bad training accident that left me hospitalized.

I ended up really struggling with my athletic identity and, consequently, my self-esteem. I became so wrapped up in my value resting solely in achievements that I lost myself. The mountain of pressure became unbearable. I, unfortunately, did not have nor seek appropriate resources and ultimately this led to my retirement.

Post-retirement however, through persistence, seeking support, and focusing on mental training, I turned that challenge into resilience and self-compassion.

Now, I compete in golf and when I feel pressure, I remind myself what is NOT at stake—my self-worth, my family, my friends, my pets, and all of our health and wellness, which mean so much more to me than any medal now.

This experience taught me the importance of understanding my own value in the world regardless of results.

What’s your biggest piece of advice for young athletes?

I always emphasize how important it is to recognize that mental health is as crucial as physical health in athletics.

As adults, it’s our job to encourage these young people to seek help when needed and to validate their emotional experiences. By providing them with open communication, regular mental skills training, and a supportive environment, we can help enhance their overall performance and personal growth.

*All opinions, viewpoints, and recommendations contained in this interview represent those of the interviewee alone and do not represent the opinions, viewpoints or recommendations of any organization with which the author may be affiliated, including, without limitation, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

You’re doing great. ZGiRLS is here for your family.

ZGiRLS equips middle school girls with the mental health tools and resources to build lifelong confidence, resilience, and unwavering self-worth. Learn more about how we help tweens and teens realize their fullest potential.

Mastering the Mental Game: Insights from a Sport Psychologist