Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Peed.
Hi Brianna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been a lifelong athlete, growing up as a competitive equestrian and eventually going on to the Division 1 level on Texas A&M’s equestrian team. Like many athletes, I spent much of my career growing up focused on physical training, results, and performance. There wasn’t much emphasis on the mental side of being an athlete and I didn’t fully realize how much the mental side of sport influences not only performance, but overall wellbeing. Mental game and mental health services weren’t something I was very aware of growing up.
When I got to Texas A&M, I started to be introduced to a wide range of mental health and performance resources. I began to learn quite a few things that I wish I could have learned earlier in my athletic career. There was a lot that I felt could have helped me as an athlete as well as overall as a human being. This is when my interest in mental health work sparked.
After graduating, I pursued my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I spent several years in different mental health settings where I learned a lot of invaluable skills. I eventually started to feel drawn back to what inspired me in the first place, and decided that I wanted to focus back in on sports and performance. I saw a need for a space where athletes and other types of performers could focus on mental game, mindset, and overall mental wellness.
That ultimately led me to where I am today, in my private practice The Advantage – Sports and Performance Counseling. My goal everyday is to create a safe, supportive environment where my clients can work on both their overall well-being and mental game, as well as develop skills that will help them thrive not only in their sport/activity, but in life as a whole.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t be a completely smooth road, but I believe that any time you step outside of your comfort zone and start something new, challenges are going to be part of the process. I have been very fortunate to have an amazing support system around me, who have helped give me different insights and have helped me problem solve along the way.
One of the most difficult parts of the process was taking the initial leap to start. I truly enjoyed the group practice I was at and was very grateful for my time there. Ultimately, I knew it was time to lean into something I was extremely passionate about, even if that meant getting out of my comfort zone.
As I started my practice, one of the biggest adjustments was becoming a business owner for the first time. Transitioning into a solo private practice came with a learning curve. I have learned about managing the business side of things and built up more confidence in trusting myself to make decisions independently. I did a lot of research prior to starting, but some things definitely took time to get the hang of.
We’ve been impressed with The Advantage, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is a solo therapy private practice that specializes in sports and performance. I work with individuals and groups to support both mental well-being and performance, offering individual therapy sessions as well as group/team presentations or programs. I offer in-person services in the Greater Houston area as well as virtual services across Texas.
I work with clients ages 10 and up across a wide range of sports and performance based activities, at all levels. This includes athletes, performers such as those in theatre, singing, or band, as well as other high-achieving individuals like fitness-focused clients, entrepreneurs, and business professionals. I help my clients enhance confidence, manage anxiety/nerves, cope with stress, set goals, navigate life changes, and more. Together we work to identify and overcome the obstacles that keep them from feeling their best. Even if there is nothing major wrong, I can help clients optimize their mindset, learn new skills, and build healthy habits so they can continue to grow and reach their full potential in all aspects of life.
What truly sets my practice apart is the highly individualized approach I take with every client. No two people are the same, so I work to tailor my approach to each person’s goals, experiences, and needs. My priority is to meet clients where they are and do everything I can to help them reach both their performance goals and their personal goals.
Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is my focus on creating a positive, empowering view of mental health and performance services. For many people there is still a stigma around “talking to someone”, especially within athletics and high performance spaces, where it is sometimes viewed as a weakness or viewed from a negative lens. Overall, society is moving in a more accepting direction with so many high-level athletes and celebrities starting to speak about the importance of mental health, but in my opinion there is still a long way to go in reducing stigma. I am working towards shifting the narrative and reframing this work as an advantage that can help in so many ways. Anyone doing this work is simply trying to better themselves and there should never be any shame in doing that.
How do you think about luck?
I try my best to focus more on good luck than bad luck, largely because I try to lead with gratitude. One of the biggest ways luck has shown up in my life has been through the people around me. I have been incredibly fortunate to grow up with a supportive family. My parents did everything they could to provide me with opportunities in my sport, and that foundation played a huge role in shaping who I am today.
I’ve also been very lucky to have coaches, mentors, peers, and others along the way who believed in me and cheered me on. Without that belief and support, I likely wouldn’t have been as dedicated to my goals as I was. I likely wouldn’t have ended up at Texas A&M, which ultimately helped guide me to where I am now.
That same sense of support has continued to be present in my professional life. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by people who consistently encourage me, challenge me, and believe in what I am building. Without that ongoing support, my business wouldn’t be possible. While hard work and intentional decisions matter, I don’t take for granted how fortunate I am to have had the right people and opportunities at the right time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theadvantagecounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadvantagecounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559787264814
