PREPARE.

SKILL APPLICATION

CONFIDENCE

FOCUS & ATTENTION

PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE

MENTAL TOUGHNESS

SKILL ALLOCATION

DETERMINATION

ADAPTABILITY

PERSISTENCE/GRIT

MENTAL STABILITY

PERFORM.

PERSIST.TM

PROVEN BY PERFORMANCE

WE HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ATHLETES RANGING FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO ALL MAJOR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND OLYMPICS. YOU WON'T FIND ANY OF THEIR NAMES ON THIS WEBSITE, BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO USE THIER CASE/POSITION TO PROMOTE OUR OWN.

WE HELP ATHLETES BUILD BOTH THE MENTAL STRENGTH/STRATEGIES TO CONTEND WITH EXPECTED ADVERSITIES IN SPORTS, AND THE COPING SKILLS TO OVERCOME AND/OR PREVENT UNEXPECTED SPORT (AND LIFE) CHALLENGES THAT CAN OFTEN SPIRAL INTO CRISIS.

MENTAL TOUGHNESS EXPERTS

IN 2010, FOR HIS DOCTORAL DISSERTATION, MARK STONKUS CONDUCTED AN EXHAUSTED RESEARCH EXPERIMENT ON THE CONCEPT OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS. HIS FINDINGS CONFIRMED HIS HYPOTHESIS; THAT MENTAL TOUGHNESS IS NOT INNATE, AND IT CAN INDEED BE TRAINED.

THE DISSERTATION PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE DEFINITION AND UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS, ALONG WITH THE FORMULATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE TO ACTUALLY MEASURE IT (THE INVENTORY OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS FACTORS IN SPORT). HOWEVER THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTCOME WAS THE EXPERTISE TO CHALLENGE THE COMMON MYTHS THAT MENTAL TOUGHNESS IS BUILT BY EITHER PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION OR VERBAL PUNISHMENT. THERE IS CERTAINLY A FACTOR OF RESILIENCE IN THE DEFINITION OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS, BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO IT.

IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING HIS RESEARCH, DR. STONKUS AND THE CLUTCH ATHLETE TEAM HAVE WORKED WITH COUNTLESS ATHLETES, COACHES, AND TEAMS TO BOTH ASSESS AND IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL TOUGHNESS; RESULTING IN BETTER PERFORMANCE AND MORE ENJOYMENT IN PLAYING/COACHING THEIR SPORTS.

ABOUT US

A three-sport athlete at both Boston College High School and Tufts University, Mark went on to complete master’s degrees in mental health counseling and education (Boston College and Fitchburg State University) and then completed his doctorate in counseling and sport psychology at Boston University. While at BU, Mark developed and statistically validated the Inventory of Mental Toughness Factors in Sport (IMTF-S©), which is a scientific measurement of mental toughness now being used by select sports programs internationally. His research initiatives in mental toughness, sport science, mental health, and human behavior have afforded him the privilege of evaluating the most innovative advances in the field, while also utilizing such resources in private practice. Mark has served as adjunct faculty at various colleges and universities in the Boston area, and continues to expand his research and publication interests while also consulting with schools, companies, and sports programs worldwide.

Mark's rare combination of education and experience in counseling, teaching, coaching in areas of strength & conditioning, mental toughness, and mental health allows for the unique understanding and ability to assist clients of all ages and levels. He and his team have implemented the Clutch Athlete program to make mental training just as valuable and accessible as physical training has been.

Dr. Mark Stonkus

Special thanks to Tony Villani and XPE Sports for allowing us to assist with their NFL Combine training.

In this clip, Mark helps the team at XPE Sports prepare Johnny Bananas for the NFL Draft!