About

Helping Athletes Develop More Than Just a Mindset

Jen believes mental performance should be developed with the same consistency and intentionality as physical, technical, and tactical skills.

Jen Prouty is the founder of Athlete's Edge Performance Consulting, where she partners with athletes, coaches, teams, and organizations to develop the mental skills, performance habits, and competitive behaviors that support consistent performance under pressure.

Based in Brookings, South Dakota, Jen provides in-person services throughout South Dakota, including Sioux Falls and surrounding communities, while also working virtually with athletes and teams across the Midwest and beyond. Although she enjoys working with athletes from a variety of sports, she has a particular passion for hockey and frequently partners with hockey players, goalies, teams, camps, and organizations.

A Different Approach to Mental Performance

Confidence, resilience, leadership, and composure under pressure aren't built through a single motivational talk or occasional workshop. They're developed through intentional practice, meaningful feedback, and repeated opportunities to apply mental skills every day.

For this reason, Athlete's Edge emphasizes embedded mental performance - working alongside athletes, coaches, and organizations throughout a season to integrate mental performance into the everyday environment where athletes learn, compete, and grow.

While one-time workshops can introduce important concepts, meaningful growth occurs when mental skills are intentionally reinforced through coaching, practice, and competition over time.

Philosophy

Jen's approach is grounded in the belief that lasting performance is built through the interaction of mental skills, performance habits, and the environment in which athletes develop.

Drawing from her background in clinical social work and evidence-based approaches to behavior change, she helps athletes and teams move beyond simply talking about confidence or resilience by developing practical routines, productive habits, and skills they can consistently apply under pressure.

Her work focuses on creating meaningful, measurable development that supports both athletic performance and long-term personal growth.

Team Partnerships

In addition to working with individual athletes, Jen partners with teams and organizations to provide integrated mental performance support throughout an entire season. Rather than functioning as an outside speaker, Jen partners with coaches throughout the season to reinforce mental performance where it matters most - within everyday training and competition.

These partnerships may include:

Mental performance workshops
Leadership development
Coach collaboration
Individual athlete support
Team culture development
Performance planning
Ongoing consultation

By collaborating with coaches throughout the season, Athlete's Edge helps reinforce mental skills beyond the classroom, creating opportunities for athletes to consistently practice, apply, and strengthen those skills in their daily training environment.

Professional Background

Jen earned both her Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Master of Social Work from the University of South Dakota.

She currently serves as a Field Instructor for Master of Social Work students and is a member of the University of South Dakota's MSW Practicum Advisory Committee, where she contributes to the education and professional development of future social workers.

Prior to founding Athlete's Edge Performance Consulting, Jen worked in a variety of behavioral health and clinical settings, including outpatient therapy, rural school-based behavioral health services, program development, and private practice. Throughout her career, she has worked with athletes, performers, and high-achieving individuals navigating pressure, adversity, injury, and performance demands.

Commitment to Evidence-Based Practice

Jen is committed to providing services grounded in current research and professional best practices.

Throughout her career she has pursued extensive training in evidence-based approaches related to behavior change, skill development, and performance enhancement. She believes lasting mental performance is more than motivation - it is the intentional development of skills that athletes can consistently apply in practice, competition, and everyday life.

As Athlete's Edge continues to grow, Jen remains committed to refining programming, evaluating outcomes, and contributing to the ongoing advancement of mental performance practice through continuous learning and collaboration.

Education

Master of Social Work
University of South Dakota | 2017

Bachelor of Science in Social Work
University of South Dakota | 2015

Licenses & Certifications

Licensed Certified Social Worker – Private Independent Practice (CSW-PIP), South Dakota
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Minnesota
Sport Social Work Certificate – University of Michigan (2025)
Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) Candidate – Association for Applied Sport Psychology
SafeSport Trained – General & Healthcare Professional (2025)

Sports Served

Jen works with competitive athletes across a variety of sports, with specialized interest in:

Hockey athletes, goalies, coaches, and organizations
Wrestling
Basketball
Baseball
Football