National University Partnership: Welcome to This Month’s Monkey Mind Newsletter - Insights from Future Leaders in Sport and Performance Psychology

Hello! Welcome to the Monkey Mind Newsletter where we provide you with the tools to be a more successful and resilient athlete and human. 

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National University Partnership

Welcome to This Month’s Monkey Mind Newsletter: Insights from Future Leaders in Sport and Performance Psychology

Dear Monkey Mind Subscribers and Optimal Performance Enthusiasts,

I am thrilled to bring you this month’s edition, featuring contributions from graduate students in the Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology (MASPP) program at National University. Our newsletter group, affectionately called The Write Stuff a.k.a. The Ink Squad, consists of passionate students who, as athletes, coaches, and student practitioners, are immersing themselves in the dynamic world of sport and performance psychology. This month’s contributors—Sabrina Shapiro, Noreen Leger, Val Whiting, and Zoe Frank—are eager to share their insights, bridging the gap between theory and practice as they enter into the professional realm.

As students engaged in both rigorous academic study and athletic internships, we have the unique opportunity to explore and apply the models and principles of sport and performance psychology in real-world settings. Through this collection of newsletters, our goal is to offer you not just knowledge, but practical, performance-enhancing tools and strategies that can enrich your life and athletic performance journey.

The Write Stuff focuses on providing "mind bites"—brief, impactful insights drawn from the vast and rich landscape of sport and performance psychology. Whether you’re on the field, on stage, or in any performance setting, each article is crafted to sharpen your mental skills and support your personal and professional growth. Our content includes everything from building confidence and bouncing back from setbacks to cultivating mindfulness, visualizing success, and harnessing the power of affirmations.

At its core, this initiative seeks to build and strengthen a community of learners committed to the pursuit of mental excellence. We believe that, together, we can grow, learn, and develop the methods and tactics necessary to thrive in high-stress, high-pressure, and high-velocity environments. As we share our research-driven insights and practical advice, we hope to evolve alongside you.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey. We are honored to contribute to your ongoing development and success, and look forward to growing with you.

With gratitude and warm regards,
Dr. Michael Gerson and The Ink Squad

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTOR
Michael Gerson, Psy. D., CMPC*

Dr. Gerson is a certified mental performance coach (CMPC) and associate professor in the Sport and Performance Psychology graduate program at National University. Currently, Dr. Gerson teaches graduate-level sport and performance psychology courses while specializing in elite mindsets, optimal human performance, mindfulness and meditation, stress and pressure proofing, curriculum development, mentorship, and transformative life skills. 

Besides working in academia, with such institutions as San Jose State University, John F. Kennedy University, National University, and Menlo College, Dr. Gerson is the owner of Transcend Performance, a high-performance consulting business focused on helping people, teams, and organizations improve their process, performance, and production. Additionally, he is the Director of Mental Skills at Mission 6 Zero, a tribe of performance experts that merges Special Operations Forces veterans with behavioral science experts to teach mental and emotional skill-building tactics. He co-authored a best-selling book titled, Deliberate Discomfort: How U.S. Special Operations Forces Overcome Fear and Dare to Win by Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable.

Dr. Gerson earned his doctoral degree in clinical and sport psychology from Argosy University and holds a master’s degree in health from Saint Mary’s College. Early in his career, he worked as a senior performance enhancement specialist for the U. S. Army, where he trained elite soldiers in the mental skills necessary to elevate and sustain peak performance in rugged and high-risk environments. Following his time with the military, Dr. Gerson served as the Mental Skills Director for the Seattle Mariners.

A long-time practitioner of daily meditation, Dr. Gerson holds various mindfulness meditation certificates. He has developed mindfulness programs for numerous organizations, frequently presents on the topic of mindfulness at conferences, and is the coordinator for the Mindfulness Special Interest Group for the Association for Applied Performance Psychology.

Dr. Michael Gerson, Psy. D, CMPC
Associate Professor- Masters of Applied Sport and Performance Psychology Program at National University
[email protected]

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