About
Sport Psychology Coaching for High-Performing Athletes
Mental skills training isn’t just for elite athletes — it’s how athletes become elite. We help competitors sharpen focus, build confidence, and perform under pressure. Led by a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with 10 years of experience coaching athletes at every level - from youth to professional. We turn mental skills into measurable performance gains.
How It Works
Our Process
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all program. We work closely with every client — athlete, coach, or team — to create a custom mental training plan that targets your specific goals and gives you the competitive edge you’ve been chasing.
1:1
Individual Mental Performance Coaching
Your sport is unique, and so is your mental game. We’ll work one-on-one to create a customized training plan that builds confidence and keeps you performing at your best.
Coaches
Coaches' Support & Training
Equipping coaches with tools and strategies to foster mental toughness, build confidence, and create a high-performance culture.
Team Workshops
Group Training
Every team is different. We start with a clear assessment of your team’s strengths and challenges before leading a dynamic, interactive workshop to develop mental toughness, communication, and competitive edge.
Performance Assessments
Data-Driven Insight
Discover where your mental game stands. Our performance assessments highlight strengths, identify growth areas, and give you a clear plan forward by using comprehensive, research-backed assessments.
Our Team
Emily Cisternino, MS, CMPC
Founder & Certified Mental Performance Consultant
Emily is a nationally certified Mental Performance Consultant and the founder of The Elite Mind Academy, LLC. With a master’s degree in Sport and Performance Psychology from Georgia Southern University, and nearly a decade of experience coaching elite performers, her own background as a competitive softball player and collegiate coach sparked her passion for the mental side of performance. Emily currently works directly with U.S. Special Operations Forces supporting some of the world’s most elite performers—one of the most prestigious assignments in her field. She has helped athletes at every level, from ambitious youth competitors to seasoned professionals, develop the mindset and strategies to perform at their absolute peak. Emily’s science-backed, athlete-centered approach blends deep expertise with a coach’s energy, empowering every client to unlock untapped potential and elevate their game.
Jake Blumberg, MS
Mental Performance Consultant
Jake is a Mental Performance Coach with extensive experience helping athletes and elite performers develop the skills to thrive under pressure. A former multi-sport athlete from Lexington, MA, his passion for sport led him from the playing field into coaching baseball at levels ranging from Little League to elite travel teams. While studying at Indiana University, Jake discovered Sport and Performance Psychology, a field that allowed him to merge his love of sport with his drive to help others succeed. He went on to earn his master’s degree in Sport and Performance Psychology at Georgia Southern University, where he also advised student-athletes, equipping them with tools to balance academics and athletics. Professionally, Jake began his career in the Boston Red Sox Mental Skills Department before working with the U.S. Army as a Resilience Coach. Today, he serves as the Mental Performance Coach for a U.S. Army Special Operations Group, providing tailored cognitive training to some of the military’s most elite performers.
Testimonials
Real Athletes. Real Results
Division 1 Collegiate Athlete
"Emily had not only mentally made me stronger, but it has shown on the field. I am truly seeing first hand how the mental game is just as important as the physical. She is amazing and has helped me so much with my confidence and ability to think effectively as an athlete. Absolutely recommend EMA."
Division 1 Collegiate Athlete
"EMA has helped me enhance my mental game to perform to the best of my abilities. Working with them has prepared me to be confident, relaxed, focused, and collected on the field. They have helped me implement and identify personally tailored strategies to help address any weaknesses in my mental game that may hold me back from performing at my peak. EMA has helped me grow as a competitor, leader and person."
Collegiate Coach
"Having Emily on staff working with our players on the mental aspect was one of the biggest strengths we had that season. She brought to light the most powerful muscle in the body and the importance of it on and off the field. Not only did my players grow as individuals but it gave them the opportunity to grow together through mental training exercises, "Habitudes," and other psychological aspects that she was able to bring to the team. A highly recommended addition to any program that is wanting to take their athlete to the next level mentally!