People need people. Life is easier together.

Matt Halperin, MS, CMPC Candidate

Hi, I’m Matt. I am a Mental Performance Coach who has a passion for assisting athletes in optimizing their performances. I work intimately with these athletes to help them overcome the adversity that they may face within their sport. Drawing on my experiences as a collegiate athlete and my dynamic training experience, I have the knowledge and understanding of what it takes to achieve peak performance. As a result of our work together athletes feel more comfortable competing under pressure, feel more confident in themselves and their abilities, develop more self-awareness, and feel more love and enjoyment for their sport. I firmly believe that each person is more than just an athlete, they are a person first, and I strive to honor that belief in every interaction that I have with my clients.

more about matt
Danielle Beardsley, LCPC, CADC, ATR, CMPC

Hi, I’m Danielle, and I’m glad you’re here! I am a Clinical Art Therapist, Addictions Counselor, Mental Performance Coach & Founder of Center for Creative Growth. I practice in the spirit of reminding clients they are in control of their own lives and that we will support them in problem solving through trial and error (aka: learning). And that, that could be okay. I believe people need people. I allow and encourage clients to be free to explore their lives from within a non-judgmental relationship. I come close to clients' metaphorical smoke & fire, kneel beside them and allow them to feel and know we are in this together and there is indeed a solution to the problem. I am here to remind you that you will find a way to safely make it out of the smoke & fire of what life is giving you right now.

more about Danielle
Carson Fields, MA, CMPC

Hello, I’m Carson. I obtained my Masters in Sport & Exercise Psychology. I am a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) from The Association of Applied Sport Psychology. I provide Academic Success Coaching to assist clients in executive functioning skill building to improve focus, task initiation, task completion, study skills and organization. I work closely with performers to unlock their true potential. I utilize my own athletic experience and psychology background to provide mental skills training. Through meaningful conversations and exercises, clients learn to align who they want to be with what they are doing. I support and guide individuals and teams to be the best they can be. We are what we think. We all have a mind, so it's important we take the time to understand and utilize our thoughts to work for us not against us.

more about carson

Reach the Team

Danielle Beardsley, LCPC, CADC, ATR, CMPC

Individual Therapy

Hi! I'm Danielle, I work to build trust with my clients by creating a safe and therapeutic atmosphere while promoting autonomy, commitment, respect and support. Work I do with clients aims to answer the question, "How do I become satisfied with my life?" I challenge my clients to explore their lives with honesty, open-mindedness and willingness in order to uncover suffering that has brought dysfunction to their lives. Goals to practice positive life skills are specifically created to one's individual treatment plan and speak to issues such as depression, anxiety, adjustment/transition challenges, addiction, grief, loss, and more. My hope for clients is not "just to survive" but to begin living a full and meaningful life, worth living. Clients explore motivation for healthier lifestyles free of self-destructive behaviors.

Art Therapy

Unique to the work I do, not only am I a counselor, I am also a registered art therapist. Art therapy is an option available for all clients I serve. No art skills are needed in order to benefit from art therapy. Since we live in a left-brained world, it may be time to process your life from the right-brained perspective.

Walk & Talk/ Run & Talk Therapy Sessions

I am most excited to offer and provide “walk and talk” sessions and “run and talk” sessions. These sessions take place in mostly any sort of time of the day and any sort of weather as long as it's not raining (to avoid damaging headphones & phones). These sessions are offered in the spirit of trust, agreement and commitment that both service provider as well as client will be actively involved walking or running while on a phone call (or in person) during the session. This kind of session arrangement is offered in the spirit of physical movement acting as a third hand in the healing process, as a catalyst to insight and change and as a way to bring increased wellness to our lives.

Mental Performance Coaching

As a former High School State Champion athlete, I know first-hand about the pressures and stressors we can put on ourselves as high-achieving student athletes. I struggled with self-doubt, nervousness and worry prior to workouts and meets. My athletic coaches helped find an expert to assist in learning techniques to navigate and properly address the stress. As a Division I collegiate athlete in Track and Cross Country I quickly learned I was one of these students who struggled to find balance between running, academics, social activities and family life. The stress management skills and techniques I gained early on helped me navigate my college experience and athletic career. Now, as a Certified Mental Performance Coach who specializes in the type of sports psychology work that benefitted me so much as a teenager, my goal for my client-athletes is to do more than "just survive" the sports season. By using the invaluable tools and lessons, clients will explore motivation for healthier lifestyles by changing the relationship with their thoughts and behaviors leading to a full and meaningful life.

Education & Professional Background

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Social Sciences, Loyola University Chicago

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology: Art Therapy, Adler University

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC, Department of Financial & Professional Regulation

Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor, CADC, Adler School of Professional Psychology/ Illinois Certification Board

Registered Art Therapist in Illinois, ATR, American Art Therapy Association

Certified Mental Performance Consultant, CMPC, Association of Applied Sport Psychology

Athletic Achievements

2006 IHSA Girls XC Team Runner Up State Finisher (2nd Place)

2007 IHSA State Champion 4X800 M Relay

2007 IHSA Girls Track & Field Team State Champion

2007 Horizon League’s Newcomer of the year

2008 Horizon League Conference Steeplechase Runner Up (2nd Place).

Call Danielle

Matt Halperin, MS, CMPC Candidate

Mental Performance Coach

Hi, I’m Matt, a mental performance coach who has a passion for assisting athletes in optimizing their performances. My goal is to help athletes and performers reach their goals while providing unconditional support in their endeavors. As a former D2 athlete and a graduate with a Masters in Sport, Exercise, and Performance psychology I have ample experience in the realm of high performance. While I was competing as an athlete I really struggled with the mental side of the game, leading me to face personal challenges and lose the love I had for my sport. I did not have the resources at the time to get the help that I needed, which is the reason that I am so passionate about helping athletes. I strive to help the athletes that I work with to thrive, both athletically and outside of athletics, so that none of them have to experience what I did. It is important to me that each athlete knows that they are more than just an athlete; they are a person first and I will honor that belief in every interaction I have with them. As a result of our work together athletes feel more comfortable competing under pressure, feel more confident in themselves and their abilities, develop more self-awareness, and feel more love and enjoyment for their sport. The skills that are learned and utilized in our sessions are not only for use during their time as an athlete or performer, but more importantly for everyday life outside of the realm of performance.

Specialties & Expertise

I’m currently taking new client athletes and other high performers in mental performance coaching to address:

*competition under pressure

*enhanced self-talk

*re/building confidence

*developing advanced self-awareness

*strategic setback recovery.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida Southern College

Masters of Science in Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato

Certified Mental Performance Consultant Candidate, CMPC, Association of Applied Sport Psychology

Athletic Achievements

2019 IHSA Boys Lacrosse All Conference Goalie

3x SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll

Call Matt

Carson Fields, MA, CMPC

Mental Performance Coach

Hi! I'm Carson, a former DI athlete that now works as a mental performance coach. I help individuals identify their strengths, overcome barriers, and reach their goals. I have a Master's in Sport and Exercise Psychology and have been working with performers for over 2 years. In addition to performance coaching, I have over two years of experience working in academic success. I worked at Minnesota State University, Mankato as an academic advisor for the MavSuccess Program and spent the last year tutoring students ranging from 5th grade to college level. I primarily focus on executive functioning; I help students stay organized, maintain motivation, manage their time, etc. Whether it's getting ready for a big test, transitioning from high school to college, or overall improving a student's confidence, I am here to help. I've always been passionate about supporting others and I am confident in my ability to form meaningful, lasting relationships. I know how to motivate, encourage, and support others.