303-720-9424 | 13606 Xavier Ln STE E, Broomfield, CO 80023 | Offering Virtual Services throughout Colorado & In-Person Services in Broomfield, CO

Sport & Athlete Consulting

Embrace Strength Counseling offers consultation, education, and training services for coaches, athletes, race directors, and sport organizations seeking to foster high-performance environments that prioritize both competitive excellence and long-term athlete wellbeing.

This work is grounded in over 16 years of experience treating eating disorders, extensive experience coaching and competing in sport, and a deep understanding of how sport culture, identity, and performance pressures intersect with physical and psychological health.

All consulting services are provided from a HAES-informed, weight-inclusive lens, recognizing that health, performance, and resilience are not determined by body size. This approach emphasizes evidence-based practices that reduce harm, support sustainable fueling and training behaviors, and promote athlete well-being without perpetuating weight stigma or disordered eating.

Consulting services are not therapy and do not involve diagnosis, treatment, or mental health services. Instead, this work focuses on education, prevention, systems-level support, and culture change within sport.

This consulting is designed for:

  • Endurance and running coaches (youth, collegiate, club, and professional)

  • Soccer coaches (youth, collegiate, club, and professional)

  • Race directors and event organizers

  • Club directors (recreation, competitive, elite, and professional)

  • Sport organizations, teams, and governing bodies

  • Brands and companies working within sport

Common areas of focus include:

  • Eating disorder prevention and early identification in sport

  • Creating weight-inclusive performance cultures that support athlete health and well-being

  • Integrating skills and strategies such as visualizations, pre-performance routines, positive self-talk, and mindfulness to help athletes strengthen focus, manage anxiety, and stay strong mentally

  • Education around risk factors, red flags, and referral pathway

    Catherine Tilford

    Catherine S. Tilford, MA, NCC, LPC, CEDS-C

    • Licensed Professional Counselor
    • Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Consultant
    • UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach
    • USATF Level 1 Certified Certified Coach
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    About Catherine S. Tilford, MA, NCC, LPC, CEDS-C

    I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Consultant, former collegiate athlete and coach, former recreational soccer coach, certified ultra running and track coach, and current endurance athlete. I am also personally recovered from an eating disorder.

    My work sits at the intersection of clinical expertise, lived experience, and sport culture. I bring a nuanced understanding of how performance demands, identity, and systems can either support or undermine athlete wellbeing — and how coaches, organizations, and brands can play a meaningful role in prevention and sustainable success.

    Consulting Services May Include:

    • Individual consultation for coaches or athletes
      Educational and advisory sessions focused on communication, boundaries, and evidence-based practices that support performance without weight-centric or harmful frameworks.

    • Team, organization, or brand consulting
      Guidance on policies, messaging, and systems that align with weight-inclusive, athlete-centered values while maintaining competitive integrity.

    • Workshops and trainings
      Topics may include:

      • Eating disorder risk factors in sport

      • Weight stigma, fueling, and performance culture

      • Responding to concerns and making appropriate referrals

    • Race and event consultation
      Support for race directors and organizers around messaging, policies, and athlete safety considerations using a weight-inclusive, prevention-focused framework.

    Services are tailored to the needs of the individual, team, or organization and may be offered as one-time consultations or ongoing partnerships.

    Scope of Services

    Consulting and educational services provided through Embrace Strength Counseling are not psychotherapy, mental health treatment, or clinical supervision. These services do not include diagnosis, assessment, or treatment of mental health conditions, including eating disorders.

    Consultation is educational and advisory in nature and is intended to support informed decision-making, ethical practice, and healthier sport environments.

    Individuals seeking mental health treatment or eating disorder care will be encouraged to work with an appropriately licensed healthcare provider.

    *A HAES-informed, weight-inclusive approach does not eliminate performance goals; it emphasizes evidence-based practices that support athlete health, consistency, and longevity.