All about Mountains, Marathons, and More
What is Mountains, Marathons, and More?
Kristen Dieffenbach - Bio and Resume
Download the MMM brochure (PDF file)
What is Mountains, Marathons, and More?
Mountains, Marathons, and More focuses on performance excellence, talent development, and personal growth for individuals, athletes, teams, performers, musicians, and businesses through skill assessments, one on one consultations, presentations, tailored development programs, and commissioned articles.
The mission of Mountains, Marathons, and More is to provide individuals, teams, and corporations with the tools and support necessary to enhance personal growth, talent development, teamwork, and ultimately to help individuals in their quest to achieve personal performance excellence.
Kristen Dieffenbach, Ph.D. - Bio and Resume
Assistant Professor of Athletic Coaching Education at West Virginia University
Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Science with an emphasis in Sport Psychology
M.S. in Physical Education and Sport Psychology
Certified Consultant - Association for Applied Sport Psychology #193
United States Olympic Committee Registry sport psychology service provider
Teaching and coaching since 1993
Providing performance excellence consulting since 1997
Performance Conditioning for Cycling - Cycling Psychology Editor
USA Cycling Coaching Advisory Board member
USA Cycling Elite Level coach
USA Track & Field Level II coach
The consulting orientation of Mountains, Marathons, and More is cognitive-behavioral. The approach and techniques utilized are based on the belief that individual behavior, whether on or off the playing field, is influenced by both environmental and personal psychological factors. By learning new cognitive strategies, performance enhancement skills, and new ways to interpret and understand the surroundings, individuals can positively change how he or she perceives, approaches, and handles the environment, interactions with others, and performance.
I am not a licensed psychologist and I do not work with clinical issues. Performance excellence consulting deals with life enhancement and skill learning. It does not cover clinical issues such as eating disorders, lifestyle anxiety, or depression. If those services are required I would be happy to assist individuals in finding the proper professional who works with athletes concerning these areas. (When requested, I can work in tandem with a psychologist.)
In any consulting situation, the role of the consultant needs to be clearly defined to all involved individuals prior to beginning. Performance excellence consulting and skills assessment are designed to enhance personal development, individual enrichment, and performance enhancement. Performance excellence consulting is not designed or intended to assist in team selection, recruitment, or hiring decisions.
� In my consulting practice, an individual's well-being is first and foremost. All work with individuals will remain strictly confidential. Coaches, co-workers, parents, and other important individuals will be involved in the performance enhancement process, only if the individual agrees. When working with minors, cooperation of parents and coaches is vital for consulting success.
� Performance excellence consulting and mental skills training does not take the place of physical practice and hard work and does not provide a quick fix or instant success. Individuals need to be willing to practice skills and to follow through if the consult is to be successful. Additionally, coaches and other involved individuals need to be willing to reinforce skills and provide positive and constructive feedback and encouragement.
� Consultation provided by Mountains, Marathons, and More is not designed or intended to treat psychological disorders including depression, personality disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders. However, I have the training necessary to recognize such issues and make referrals to qualified professionals who treat such problems.
� Mountains, Marathons, and More does not discriminate on the basis of gender, heritage, status, or any other factors.
Although I am not a licensed psychologist, I am an AASP (Association for Applied Sport Psychology) certified consultant and a member of both AAASP and the American Psychological Association (APA). As such I adhere to the ethical standards of both organizations. For more information on these standards please follow these links:
Association for Applied Sport Psychology Ethics Code
American Psychological Ethics Code
Work by Mountain, Marathons, and More has been seen in such publications as or heard on programs....
Adventure Sports Magazine
Bicycling
Dirt Rag
Performance Conditioning for Cyclists
Endurance Planet (podcast)
Men's Health
Oprah Magazine
Outdoor Life Network - Sport Zone Coaches Corner & Profiles in Courage special
Runner's World
USA Cycling News
VeloNews
AASP - The Association for Applied Sport Psychology
I am a certified consultant (CC) through AASP (#193) and a member of the USOC registry of sport psychology service providers.
West Virginia University - a student centered university in the north east corner of beautiful West Virginia
I am an assistant professor of athletic coaching education in the Department of Physical Education.
Peaks Coaching Group "We Care About Your Success"- a Virginia based coaching group that espouses the highest coaching and customer service values and standards
I am a proud coaching affiliate with Peaks Coaching Group. Please view my coaching information on their website.