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Our Mission

As elite athletes, we know that achieving the highest level of performance requires more than just physical skill. Our mission is to empower athletes to reach their peak potential through expert mental performance coaching.

 

Founded by former NHL players Nick Johnson and Dustin Kohn, R&D Performance brings a unique combination of professional sport experience and advanced mental performance expertise. We are committed to helping athletes (and parents of athletes), coaches, and advisors learn the essential tools for building elite mental performance.  We believe that building holistic confidence and love for your process are key when seeking peak performance. With a combination of lived experience and theoretical understanding, we have developed customized mental training strategies to navigate the distinct challenges and opportunities in elite sport.

Our team

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Nick Johnson, MC

Counseling Psychology and Performance Development

As a former professional hockey player, having played in the NHL and SHL, I intimately understand the immense pressures and physical and mental hurdles that accompany peak performance in a fiercely competitive field.

 

My experiences in the counseling psychology field (where I dove into therapeutic models such as cognitive-behavioural, acceptance and commitment, and negative self-belief reprocessing) have provided me with invaluable insights into the psychological complexities of striving for peak performance. I can aid clients in building resilience over adversity, and aid them in seeing the value of attaining holistic self-worth for performance striving.

Education:

  • ​Master of Counselling Psychology, Athabasca University

  • Focused studies in Sport and Performance Psychology, University of Western States

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Dartmouth College

Expertise and Interests:

  • Integration of Faith, Spirituality, and Religion

  • Peak Mental Performance

  • Holistic Mental Health

  • Overcoming Athlete Identity Foreclosure

  • Mindfulness and Self-Beliefs

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dustin kohn, MBa, MA

Sport Psychology and Athlete Development 

Combining the experience of being a professional athlete with advanced graduate-level education, I bring a unique perspective to elite performance. I believe an athlete's performance is deeply interconnected with the rest of their life and who they are as individuals. My goal is to help athletes grow as people, deepen their self-awareness, and maximize their performance potential.

Education:

  • Master of Arts, with a focus in Sport Psychology and Athlete Development, University of Alberta

  • Master of Business Administration, University of Sheffield

Expertise and interests:

  • Sport Psychology

  • Athlete Development and Elite Performance

  • Exploration of Values, Meaning, and Purpose

  • Interconnectedness of Sport and Life

  • Life-Based Learning Principles

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