Endurance athlete & COUNSELOR
Supporting the human behind the athlete.
Mental health and performance support for athletes
Introduction
I’m Christy, a Licensed Professional Counselor, endurance athlete, wife, mom of two teenagers, and founder of Unlocked Counseling.
With over 20 years of experience in mental health counseling, I specialize in working with athletes and individuals navigating anxiety, pressure, setbacks, and periods of uncertainty.
Many of the people I work with are disciplined, motivated, and high-achieving, but find themselves feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected when demands increase or circumstances shift.
Mental health and performance are deeply connected. How we respond to stress, injury, uncertainty, and self-doubt shapes not only how we perform, but how we feel and show up in everyday life.
In my work, I help clients build psychological flexibility, emotional steadiness, and resilience so they can embrace and move through challenges with more clarity, confidence, and self-awareness- both in sport and life.
l performance isn’t just about sport — it’s about how we
At Unlocked Counseling, therapy is collaborative, grounded, and focused on what is happening in your actual life right now.
Counseling sessions are a space to slow things down, understand patterns of stress and response, and build practical tools for navigating anxiety, pressure, and transition with more awareness and steadiness.
The work is not about fixing you—it’s about helping you relate differently to the challenges you’re already facing so you can move through them with more clarity and flexibility.
Christy enjoying the great outdoors in Colorado and New Zealand.
Why I Do This Work
I do this work because I’ve lived it myself.
As an endurance athlete, I understand that while sport and movement can be grounding and meaningful, they are not always enough on their own to support us through injury, burnout, setbacks, or periods of self-doubt.
I’ve navigated my own experiences with injury, surgery, and major life transitions while continuing to train, compete, and stay connected to what matters most.
These experiences shaped how I understand the connection between mental health, identity, and performance—and why support during difficult seasons can make a meaningful difference.
I created Unlocked Counseling to provide psychotherapy for athletes and individuals navigating anxiety, burnout, injury, and life transitions. My goal is to support people in developing emotional steadiness, self-awareness, and psychological flexibility as they move through challenge and change.
“I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.”
— Serena Williams
Resilience and flexibility are what carry us through setbacks — in sport, work, and life. At Unlocked Counseling, I help you build that same mindset, so you can respond with presence, confidence, and self-compassion every day.
My Approach
My approach is warm, relational, and grounded in a strengths-based clinical framework. I focus on you as a whole person, not just your symptoms, performance, or challenges.
I integrate evidence-based therapy with an understanding of the psychological demands that come with sport, training, injury, and high-pressure environments. This includes working with anxiety, stress, burnout, and identity-related concerns, as well as the thoughts, emotions, and patterns that shape how you respond to them.
In addition to addressing present challenges, we also explore what may be happening beneath the surface—identity, values, pressure, fear, and the internal narratives that influence how you move through stress and change.
My goal is to create a collaborative, respectful therapeutic relationship where you can build insight, emotional steadiness, and flexibility in how you respond to life’s demands—both in sport and in everyday life.
life beyond counseling
I feel fortunate to do this work while raising two incredible teenage kids in the Colorado mountains with my husband- my best friend, adventure partner, and running coach. We spend as much time outside as we can with our two blue heelers and love packing up our van to unplug and explore the mountains, trails, and open spaces around us. Running has been a long-standing part of my life, and I still enjoy training and competing as a Master’s athlete. More than anything, movement and time outdoors are how I unwind, stay grounded, and connected to what matters. These days, one of my greatest joys is watching my kids discover what excites them in sport, school, and life.
WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING
“Since working with CHRISTY, I’ve noticeD a significant improvement in my confidence and overall performance.”
Working with Christy has been a game-changer for both my high school athletics and everyday life. She has helped me navigate the mental chanllenges of competition and the stress that comes with balancing sports, academics, and personal life. Her unique perspectives and practical strategies have given me the tools to manage my overthinking, stay focused, and perform my best. Since working with her, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my confidence and overall performance. I highly recommend Christy Aish to any athlete looking to strengthen their mental game and approach challenges with a clear mindset!
Client | Age 18
Let’s Unlock your potential, together.
Whether its working through setbacks, injury, burnout, or life transitions, I bring over 20 years of clinical experience, along with the deep understanding of the demands of endurance sport and high pressure environments, to support your mental health and overall wellbeing.