Services
- Individual
- Couples
- Family
- Adolescent/Teen
- Group
About My Clients
My ideal client is someone standing at a crossroads — an athlete facing retirement or injury, or anyone navigating a career change, identity shift, or season of life that no longer fits. Using ACT and an existential lens, I help you accept what's outside your control, get clear on what matters, and take committed action toward your next move — without pretending the uncertainty isn't there.
My Background and Approach
I'm Mandy James, OLY, MA, NCC — a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and CMPC-Candidate. As a former Olympic athlete, I know firsthand what it means to build your identity around performance, and what happens when that chapter ends. That lived experience means you're working with someone who understands transition from the inside, not just the theory. My approach combines Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACT) with an existential lens. ACT gives you practical tools to accept what's outside your control and take committed action even when things feel uncertain, so you leave with real skills, not just insight. The existential lens means we face the bigger questions transition brings up — who you are, what matters, what's next — because that's what creates lasting clarity. I built my practice around my own Next Move Method: Pause, Reflect, Reconnect, Reimagine, and Move Forward — a clear structure so you always know your next step.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I bring both professional training and lived experience to this work. I'm a caregiver to my father and mother to a son on the autism spectrum. I've walked through grief, addiction recovery, and rebuilding after harmful relationships — including within elite sport — so I understand transition and resilience firsthand, not just in theory. I proudly support my LGBTQ+ family members and believe everyone deserves to feel safe being fully themselves. Having traveled to 16 countries, I stay curious and grounded in knowing there's more than one right way to live a life. I don't just coach transition — I've lived it.