Bio: Brooke Rundle (she/her/hers) is a former professional volleyball player with more than 18 years of experience working with club, collegiate and international volleyball teams. She is the author of the book “Headstrong” and founder of Headstrong Mindset Consulting. Headstrong Mindset Consulting provides holistic mindset coaching, inclusive team building and affirming support for LGBTQ+ athletes. Brooke is the first pro-volleyball ambassador for Athlete Ally and a proud member of the Equity Coaching Alliance for LGBTQ+ athletes and professionals. She currently resides in Denver, Colo., with her wife Hannah and dog Stevie.
Why did you choose UWS?
I learned about UWS through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) website when I was researching programs that would enable me to meet the educational requirements needed to become a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC®). I chose UWS, because it provides a flexible and remote learning platform. It was also one of the most affordable graduate school programs available in the field.
Why did you choose your program/concentration?
I choose the doctor of education (EdD) in sport and performance psychology (SPP) with clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) specialization, because it supports both my goals of obtaining licensure as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and becoming a CMPC®. I believe that now more than ever, providing mental health support for athletes and teams is critical to helping them reach their optimal potential on and off the field.
What has been your favorite class/instructor?
My favorite class so far has been sport psychology with Dr. Jaime Sawchuk. The sport-specific themes such as improving athlete concentration, developing team cohesion, and building confidence have proven to be extremely effective in my current work with collegiate volleyball teams. It has been exciting for me to immediately put my education into practice with athletes and receive positive results. I also really appreciated the detailed feedback and advice that Dr. Sawchuk provided on all my papers. I feel like I learned so much in that in class!
What is your favorite way to relieve stress outside of the office and classroom?
My favorite way to relieve stress is doing any outdoor activity in nature with my wife and friends. Covid-19 has certainly limited my options, but I continue to find joy and stress relief in trail running, swimming, skiing, walking my dog and lots of yoga.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
The LGBTQ+ community severely lacks access to relatable and affirming mental health professionals that specialize in sport and performance psychology. By the time I graduate and obtain licensure as an LPC and CMPC®, I plan to establish a sport performance consulting and counseling practice that provides support for LGBTQ+ athletes and coaches.
