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Practical guidance for navigating the challenges of high-performance leadership.

Professional woman experiencing burnout and mental exhaustion while working late at a desk.
Recognizing and Preventing Burnout in High Performers
What is burnout from a mental performance standpoint? Burnout is not a lack of motivation but occurs...
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A professional woman practicing mindfulness at her desk to maintain mental clarity.
Building a Mentally Fit Culture in Teams
What does a mentally fit culture look like in practice in the workplace? A mentally fit culture in...
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A silhouette of a person walking down a misty, winding road at dawn with sunlight filtering through lush tropical trees, symbolizing a leader's journey toward mental clarity and discharging stress through movement.
Leadership Mental Fitness: Protecting Focus and Avoiding Burnout for High-Performing Teams
What invisible mental load accompanies transitioning from individual contributor to leader? Emily Heird...
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A professional woman wearing glasses and a red blazer smiling while working on her laptop at a desk with a cup of coffee, representing a modern and focused business owner.
Mental Clarity Under Pressure: Proven Strategies for High-Stakes Professionals
How does stress physiologically hijack mental clarity in high-pressure environments? Emily Heird explains...
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Lawyer typing on a laptop at a desk while managing legal work and digital tasks
Energy Management for Lawyers: How to Stay Sharp, Avoid Burnout, and Perform at Your Best
Understanding Energy Management vs. Time Management Emily Heird explains that time management is about...
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Confident lawyer writing notes in a classic law office with bookshelves and warm lighting.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in the Legal Profession
Strategies for Building Confidence and Mental Resilience What is imposter syndrome and how does it appear...
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Applying Mental Performance Strategies to Legal Careers
Athletes and Lawyers: Applying Mental Performance Strategies to Legal Careers
Understanding the Parallels Between Athletes and Lawyers Emily Heird, a licensed psychotherapist and...
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Mindset and Motivation for Lawyers
Mindset and Motivation for Lawyers – Emily Heird Episode 1
What inspired Emily Heird to launch her podcast, Mental Performance Unleashed? Emily Heird explained...
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The 10 mental performance skills every cognitive athlete needs for sustainable success
Your technical skills got you here. Your mental performance skills will take you further. After years...
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Lawyer like an Athlete to Boost Performance and Optimize Well-being
During the media session on the Monday following his third Super Bowl Championship win in February 2024,...
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How to Cultivate More Awe
My daughter has a radar for bugs. We can be walking along, and she will suddenly stop and exclaim, “Oh...
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How to Stay Motivated
Your career spans many decades. Maintaining the eager enthusiasm you once had for lawyering can be challenging....
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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about working with me.

I work with high-performing professionals often leaders, lawyers, executives, accountants, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and more who are successful on the outside but struggling to maintain clarity, energy, or confidence on the inside. Many of my clients are navigating burnout, self-doubt, overwork, or the pressure to “keep it all together.”

Performance coaching helps you operate at your highest level mentally, emotionally, and strategically. It’s not therapy. It’s forward-focused, solution-oriented work that helps you clear internal blocks, build capacity, and lead or live with more impact, ease, and purpose.

Great question. While I am a licensed therapist, coaching is different. It’s not clinical treatment focused on a medical mental illness diagnosis and symptom relief. It’s a partnership focused on goals, habits, and strategy. Coaching is best for people who are functioning but want to optimize their performance, leadership, and well-being. You may be experiencing anxiety, depression / numbness, or utilizing substances to cope, but the root of these mental health experiences is chronic stress – not a mental illness on its own.
If you're looking to heal significant trauma or have someone listen to you each week and just process what’s happening, therapy may be a better fit.
On the plus side, if you are an ambitious professional who has ADHD or is experiencing anxiety, depression as a result of burnout, or turning to substances, I bring my deep education and experience of mental health to our work.

No. Because coaching is not treating a medical mental health diagnosis, it is not covered by insurance. Clients have successfully had their coaching reimbursed by their firm or organization. Entrepreneurs and others are able to deduct this as a business expense.

Absolutely. I understand confidentiality is of the utmost importance to my clients. I was trained to follow HIPPA rules and compliance and those are the standards I maintain today. No one will know you’ve worked with a coach unless you choose to tell them.

Coaching is bespoke, so every client set their own goals. Here are some common areas I help clients with:

  • Burnout prevention and recovery
  • Imposter syndrome and confidence
  • Time and energy management
  • Leadership training to build your high-performing team
  • Public speaking and performance anxiety
  • Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and procrastination
  • Boundaries, communication, and difficult conversations
  • Sustainable success without sacrificing health or family
  • Improving relationships with children and partners
  • Elevating health and life: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, financial, and relational
  • Expanding capacity
  • Reclaiming presence, inner peace, and experiencing more joy

We start with a free consultation to see if we’re a fit. If we decide to work together, I’ll customize a coaching plan based on your goals. Clients who live in Knoxville have the option to meet at my office. I meet with clients globally via Zoom. We find our cadence of meetings that work (e.g., weekly, biweekly, etc.) and coaching includes follow-up tools, strategies, and support in between. Most clients work with me for 3–6 months, depending on what they want to accomplish. Some clients choose a year-long initial commitment, others renew after their initial round. 

Yes. I offer workshops, CLEs, and leadership trainings on topics like burnout prevention, emotional intelligence, mindset, team dynamics, and peak performance. These sessions are interactive, research-backed, and tailored to the needs of your group. Reach out and we’ll design something that fits.

Clients report everything from better sleep and focus, to increased confidence, clarity, and calm. Many finally feel like they’re running their life or business instead of the other way around. They lead with more presence, set boundaries without guilt, and stop burning out to succeed. You can read testimonials from previous clients to get an idea of their experience and results. 

It’s easy. Book a Free Consult and grab a time that works for you. We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to be, and whether coaching is the right fit. No pressure just a real conversation.

Ready to Become the Cognitive Athlete You Are?

You’ve invested in your skills, your network, your expertise. Now invest in your mind your most powerful competitive advantage. Start with a Mental Performance Assessment.

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