Case Studies
See the transformative power of strategic visualization for data-driven results.
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James Hernandez
2X JR GRAND PRIX SILVER MEDALIST 2023
PEWTER MEDALIST JUNIOR WORLDS 2023
3 X BRITISH JUNIOR ICE DANCE NATIONAL CHAMPION
Goal: At the start of the 2022-23 season, James was looking to level up his mindset for his last junior season. As an ice dancer, the demands of his sport go beyond physical prowess and require a delicate balance of mental and emotional resilience.
Strategy: Focus on making James more adaptable as a whole person, not just an athlete or performer with insight & collaboration from James' coaches Nick & Penny.
Tactics: Due to the nature of being in a team sport, I emphasized recognizing his automatic responses in various situations and equipping him with a variety of visualization tactics to cope with those situations in the short- and long-term. By helping him get to a profound understanding of his own predispositions, it enabled James to anticipate and manage reactions strategically & effectively.
When personal tragedy struck only 3 weeks before Junior Worlds 2023, we worked closely to work through his emotions while he was grieving to let go of distractions and guilt to still be able to train and compete.
Outcome: 9 point Personal Best at Junior Worlds.
Not only did James and his partner get 4th place at Junior Worlds, they were the first British team to receive a medal since 1977 at Junior Worlds for their 3rd place finish in Rhythm Dance. During the season they also received 2 junior grand prix silver medals and placed 4th in the junior grand prix final.
Coaches:
Nick Buckland & Penny Coomes, 3x Winter Olympians for Team GB 2010, 2014, 2018
Before: Junior Worlds 2021-22: 10th place Score: 138.16
After: Junior Worlds 2022-23: 4th place Score: 169.07
...One of the worst things that could happen, happened at probably one of the worst times. But I learned tools through her and only her to be able to actually continue with my life and not let everything amalgamate into a mess. We skated the best ever we ever have and we finished fourth at Junior Worlds. And I don't even know if I'd gotten to the competition if it wasn't for the sessions with Christi in those times.
James Hernandez
Jessica Nicosia, PhD
ADULT SENIOR FIGURE SKATER
SR. USER STUDIES RESEARCHER @ APPLE
Goal: Jessica, a researcher and neuroscientist, found herself captivated by the scientific foundations of visualization and sought me out after struggling with popping and circling her jumps during practice and in competition. She was looking to be able to up her jump consistency.
Issue: Her performance anxiety was getting in the way of her body's muscle memory.
Strategy: Focus Jessica's attention to the entry steps of the jumping passes set by her Coach Rudy Galindo, instead of focusing on the jumps themselves.
Tactics: Tailored to her specific needs, we mapped out the visualizations, thought patterns and cadence for each jump or combo jump in her program.
Outcome: The results were remarkable—transforming from inconsistently completing 57% of jumps to consistently rotating 85% of jumps in run-throughs over the course of 4 weeks.
This marked improvement not only elevated performance but also instilled a deep sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction after each session.
Coach: Rudy Galindo, US National Champion 1996
Before: 57% success rate for jumps
After: 85% success rate for jumps
...Christi is a rose among thorns in the skating world and our sessions together provided me with invaluable life lessons and a newfound sense of self-awareness and confidence.
Jessica Nicosia
Julia W.
Bronze Level Figure Skater
Goal: To successfully execute her double jumps consistently, again.
Issue: Seemingly out of nowhere, Julia had lost the ability to execute her double jumps that she previously had solidified — leading to frustration and a persistent cycle of failed attempts. These setbacks not only affected her technical performance but also induced heightened anxiety surrounding jumping elements.
Strategy: Recognizing the need for a comprehensive approach, I implemented a multifaceted intervention strategy in collaboration with her head coach Kelsey to create muscle memory on jump positions without overworking the body.
Tactics: With mindset reframing, reinforced practice strategies and visualization exercises, I was able to instill prioritizing jump exercises over jump attempts. By incorporating Coach Kelsey’s cues and exercises for each double jump and combining them with visualization, I reinforced proper body positioning and muscle memory, resulting in a significant positive impact.
Outcome: Within 6 weeks, Julia was consistently able to land all of the double jumps she had lost — double salchow, double toe loop, double loop and double flip. At her first competition a week later, not only did she land all of her jumps in her program, she landed on the podium. She continues to consistently land her doubles, and is now working on her double lutz.
Coach:
Kelsey Ward
Before: Lost Double Salchow, toe loop, loop and flip.
After: Landed all of her double jumps and awarded 3rd place at her first and second USFS competitions of the season.
I can't say enough good things about our experience working with Christi. My athlete lost all her doubles...which led to significant anxiety about jumping. Christi reframed her mindset, reinforced practice strategies, gave her visualization exercises for her jumps and for competitions...and she landed all her jumps and as an added bonus, finished on the podium.
Rosemary Wensley
JAMES HERNANDEZ
2X JR GRAND PRIX SILVER MEDALIST 2023
PEWTER MEDALIST JUNIOR WORLDS 2023
3 X BRITISH JUNIOR ICE DANCE NATIONAL CHAMPION
I don't even know if I'd gotten to the competition if it wasn't for the sessions with Christi
What’s valuable about what Christi does, is recognizing that we are not robots. We are people. People naturally just go up and down. You wake up in a pretty much a different mood every day. Your body tends to follow your mind and our sport is massively mental. She gives you different tactics like visualization, mood charts and nonverbal communication tools for different situations that has strengthened my partnership in ice dance. These tools have been helpful to create deeper understanding and communication between my partner and me, allowing us to navigate the challenges of competition as a united front.
One of the worst things that can happen, happened at probably one of the worst times. But I learned tools through her and only her to be able to actually continue with my life and not let everything amalgamate into a mess. We skated the best ever we ever have and we finished fourth at Junior Worlds. And I don't even know if I'd gotten to the competition if it wasn't for the sessions with Christi in those times.
Jessica Nicosia, Phd
Adult Skater
Invaluable life lessons and a newfound sense of self-awareness and confidence
I began working with Christi after seeing some of her work with the Road to Gold program. As a researcher and neuroscientist myself, I began reading up on the science behind visualization and was compelled by the evidence to add it to my skating regimen. Christi was quick to get a read on me as an individual and was able to adapt our sessions and her techniques to my specific needs. I went from popping, on average, 4/7 jumps in my program to being able to do consistent run-throughs rotating, on average, 6/7 jumps and leave the ice feeling a sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction. I rely on her visualization recordings to get me relaxed and focused before I skate and can hear her saying “emotions aren’t logical” and “adapt to the chaos confidently” every time I feel my performance anxiety start to creep back up. Christi is a rose among thorns in the skating world and our sessions together provided me with invaluable life lessons and a newfound sense of self-awareness and confidence.
Rosemary Wensley
Parent
She landed all of her jumps...and finished on the podium
I can't say enough good things about our experience working with Christi. My athlete lost all her doubles, and then kept trying and trying which made things worse, and then led to significant anxiety about jumping. Christi reframed her mindset, reinforced practice strategies, gave her visualization exercises for her jumps and for competitions. This is her first USFS competition of the season, and she landed all her jumps and as an added bonus, finished on the podium.
Emily Hotchkiss
Parent
Skills that will help her throughout her entire life
Since Carly began working with Christi, Carly has made huge positive improvements in her mindset and competitions. Carly hated to compete because she’s a perfectionist and would focus on the negative if she didn’t land a jump or mess up on any components of her program. She would have anxiety and cry right before competing and didn’t want to get on the ice…nothing anything said could alleviate her anxiety. Since working with Christi, she has learned visualization techniques and is much less stressed on competition days. In just 1 year, she placed 27th in her excel season and was actually laughing with her coach right before starting her program. As a mother, I’m so relieved to have a coach that can alleviate my daughter’s angst and learn skills that will help her throughout her entire life. I would recommend Christi to any athlete, not just athletes, but to anyone needing a shift in their negative thinking to positive.
AMY FANKHAUSER
FOUNDER + NATIONAL COORDINATOR
ROAD TO GOLD TRAINING CAMPS
It's a game changer
Christi brings a fresh perspective to visualization techniques that empower athletes and enables them to see their goals and what is blocking them from a completely different view. She opens your eyes to thinking about your goals in a different way. As a coach and skating director, I loved watching the athletes discuss everyday concerns . The connection between the athletes and Christi and one another were amazing.
Conflict resolution
Topics I specialize i:
Advocating for yourself
Self worth
Mindset reframing
Goal creation
performance
anxiety
injury mental blocks
Building element consistency
Finding new ways forward
And so much more...
The secret to my clients' success
Its starts with creating a fully specialized mindset strategy based on your goals and issues you are attempting to overcome. This includes tactics for your sport, mental health and home life.
Everything is fully tailored to you and your goals.
Athlete Accountability System
Strategy
Creation
Visualization Design
Coach collaboration
Using scientifically proven techniques, personalized visualizations are designed to target multiple challenges in the short- and long-term for emotional regulation and tactical skills. Clients will also learn to create and adjust their own visualizations.
In collaborate with athletes' coaches and sports psychologists, supplementary tactics and feedback are integrated, ensuring alignment with training objectives across all domains. Coaches also provide insights into mindset strategies, fostering harmony and cohesion.
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