Meet The Team

Dr. Laura Hayden is the Founder and Director of Apex Mental Performance. She works with athletes, executives, and teams to strengthen focus, resilience, leadership, and performance under pressure. In addition to her consulting work, she serves as Director of the Mental Performance Consulting program at William James College, where she trains future practitioners in the field. Her work integrates applied practice, research, and education to support high-level performance across sport and professional settings.

 

Education

• Ed.D., Counseling Psychology, Boston University (specializing in Sport Psychology)

• C.A.G.S., Counseling Psychology, Boston University

• M.A., Developmental and Educational Psychology, Boston College

• B.A., Psychology, English, and Spanish, University of Michigan

 

Contact: drhayden@apexmentalperformance.org

 

Rachel Shinnick is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). Her work focuses on the intersection of well-being and performance, helping athletes, executives, and high performers develop sustainable mental skills that support both excellence and balance. Rachel specializes in areas such as burnout, perfectionism, injury and rehabilitation, leadership, and career transitions. She works with collegiate and professional athletes, sport teams, and high-performing professionals.

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Education

• Ph.D. Candidate, Counseling Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston

• M.Ed., Counseling & Sport Psychology, Boston University

• B.S., Psychology, Wofford College

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Contact: rshinnickconsulting@gmail.com

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Rachel Shinnick is an independent practitioner who operates her own business and is not an employee of Apex Mental Performance.

 Mark Stonkus is a Mental Performance Consultant and the Founder and CEO of the 6S Institute. He provides support to professional athletes, corporate executives, families, military personnel, and youth performers. He is licensed as a Mental Health Counselor, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, School Social Worker & School Adjustment Counselor, and School Guidance Counselor. In addition to his consulting work, he is a faculty member of Counseling, School Psychology, and Sport at the University of Massachusetts Boston. 

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Education

• Ed.D., Counseling & Sport Psychology, Boston University

• M.A., Counseling Psychology, Boston College

• M.Ed., Fitchburg State University

• B.A., Tufts University

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Contact: info@6SInstitute.com

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Mark Stonkus is an independent practitioner who operates his own business and is not an employee of Apex Mental Performance.