Mental Performance Coaching · Pickleball
Most competitive pickleball players train their game. Almost none train their mind or their partnership.
"Performing under pressure isn't a personality trait. It's a skill — and you can train it."
Amanda Sovik-Johnston, Ph.D.
About
I'm Amanda Sovik-Johnston, Ph.D. — a licensed clinical psychologist, founder of Active & Connected Family Therapy, and a 4.0+ competitive pickleball player.
The Connected Competitor is my coaching practice — focused, forward-moving work on the mental skills that help you play your best when it matters. We work on developing a competitive edge, partner dynamics, and the mindset patterns that show up in our biggest moments.
My clinical background and experience counseling elite athletes shape how I think and how I coach. But this work lives on the court, not in the therapy room. If you or someone you know needs clinical support, our team at A&C is there for that.
Coaching is distinct from psychotherapy. For clinical mental health services, visit Active & Connected Family Therapy.
Core Ideas
Six working ideas at the center of the framework. Each one is a thread you can pull on — in your own game, your partnership, or your team.
01
Every team ruptures. The teams that hold up are the ones who can repair fast — before the next point.
02
Your partner catches your nervous system whether you want them to or not. The question is which direction you're sending it.
03
When the partnership feels stable, players take more real risks. Insecurity narrows the game.
04
In singles, pressure exposes the player. In doubles, it exposes the relationship the team is built on.
05
Two nervous systems shape each other in real time. The best teams learn to regulate together — on purpose.
06
When trust holds, attention narrows on the right things and the game gets simpler. Stability isn't safe — it's freeing.
What I Offer
Performance coaching informed by sport psychology principles — for serious recreational and competitive players who know that the mental game is just as important as the physical one.
For the player who knows there's more in there — and wants help getting out of their own way.
Learn More →For doubles partners who care about each other and want to get better at competing together.
Learn More →For couples who love each other, love pickleball, and want playing together to bring out the best in both.
Learn More →Warm, practical, court-tested talks for clubs, tournaments, and organizations.
Learn More →70+ clinicians across Virginia and North Carolina. When the work needs to go deeper.
Visit the Practice →From The Playbook
The Playbook
Field notes from the court and the therapy room. Real talk on the mental game — no fluff.
Amanda on the PickleGals Podcast — the mental game, competitive identity, and what psychology really teaches us about pickleball.
Read The Playbook →