The app will use proprietary techniques that have been developed and perfected over the last few decades by our founder. We can’t share the ins and outs of the techniques and the technology we plan to use— but we can tell you this— it works.

That is where this project comes in. We want to build an app-based experience that mimics what our coaching clients have had access to. This experience would allow your child to reset (or as we put it “pull themselves out of an emotional ditch”) just by pulling their phone out of their pocket.

We have helped a bunch of kids and that has been really satisfying, but one theme keeps coming up over and over for us. If we leveraged technology we could help more kids. We could make a difference in more families.

We now teach Mind Reset one-on-one at the Dona Lerner Academy in Raleigh; before that, we conducted pilot studies for the American Junior Golf Association and the William & Mary Women's Golf Team.

Mind Reset opens the possibility of teaching juniors how to immediately reset their thoughts toward what will support them when experiencing upsetting emotions or a setback.

It took a golfer to figure that out. Our founder's husband was the noted golf author, Bob Thomas. He wrote a bestselling book about Ben Hogan, and a book that is considered a classic in golf, "Golf Gave Me Something to Love." Bob passed away last year, and in a testament to his life and love for golf, we designed a mental training program for junior golfers called Mind Reset.

We have developed a program that is one of the first applications of recent neuroscience research that shows the strong and lasting effect of emotions in the brain. It was developed by our founder, Mary Anne Thomas, who worked as a counselor in medical practices. In her practice Mary Anne noticed a strong correlation between negativity, positivity, and how the brain and body reaction to both feelings. She then developed techniques to impact emotional responses in the brain.

What if there was a way for your child to stop melting down after a bad shot, to stop having negative thoughts about himself or herself? What if there was a way for your child to immediately reset to a mental state of his or her choosing? One where the negative didn’t seep in and become a part of them…

Our kids are in the midst of an amazing experience and oftentimes can’t recognize or connect to that. They get together with their friends and talk about their worst rounds and commiserate over all the bad shots. It is as if their experience gets stuck in the negative, and that is what golf becomes for them. Frustration and let-down prevail and the negativity seeps in…

A typical Junior Golfer faces so many challenges on and off the golf course. As parents we struggle to make sure they have the right coach, equipment, clothing, lessons, and experiences playing world-renowned courses.

Risks and challenges

The biggest challenge we faced was proving that our program works. That's why we chose to conduct pilot studies with the AJGA, the William & Mary women's golf team, and to work one-on-one with a local academy.

We wanted them to tell you whether our program works. Here's what they have to say. This is powerful stuff. You will quickly see why we want as many kids as possible to have access to this program.

FROM THE AJGA:

APM's Mind Reset program that uses recent neuroscience research is truly fascinating. We offered a pilot of the program to an entire field in 2016. Five of the eight boys using the training placed in the Top 13. Players reported handling pressure better, improving upon first round scores and demonstrating the ability to reset after poor shots. We are excited to continue working with Mary Anne and her team at A Positive Mind.

-- Mark Oskarson, Chief Operating Officer, American Junior Golf Association

FROM PARENTS:

Mind Reset Made Her a Complete Golfer

My daughter Megan has been involved in girls golf since she was 7 years old, working for 7 years with Dona Lerner at the Dona Lerner Golf Academy. Megan progressed nicely over the years, improving her game, playing tournaments, and really loving golf as her sport. She also started weekly golf exercise classes to increase her physical golf strength and stamina.

For two years, Megan pushed herself to win the US Kids Tournaments she played, but she was always just short of her goal. Another girl would have a great day or Megan would have a tough hole, and that would prevent a victory. Once, Megan tied for the win and in a chipping playoff the other girl chipped it in for the win.

About a year ago, it came together for Megan. She played her best round ever, shooting 87; good enough for a two-stroke victory. She was ecstatic and even slept with her first-place medal on. We both thought she would rise to more wins and an overall summer series win after that victory.

Unfortunately, something was still missing. Megan lacked the mental focus and perseverance to overcome challenges (and we all know golf is a challenging sport). She was so focused on winning that when problems happened in subsequent tournaments she couldn’t handle the pressure and would have bad rounds. The result was a very tough summer golf season. She did win another tournament, but lost the tour series by 3 points and played poorly overall. She was devastated.

After that, we committed to two major changes. First, we needed to rebuild her golf swing as she grew bigger and stronger and needed different clubs. Second, we needed to add mental game coaching to her golf game. This would complete the golf skills package: swing coach, physical golf exercise, and mental game focus.

Megan started the Mind Reset program that Dona Lerner brought to her academy last November, about two weeks before her first tournament in 4 months. She was open to the idea, and the Mind Reset simple, straightforward program was easy for her to commit to and complete daily. The changes were not immediate, but did not take months either. Megan’s first tournament was an average round and 4th place finish. Regardless, the Mind Reset program could handle this for her and provided her the focus for the next tournament. In that next tournament (a shortened 9-hole tournament in 38-degree weather), Megan was calm, focused, and nearly flawless. The weather didn’t bother her and she executed every shot with focus and ease. Her one mistake led to a water penalty. Unfazed, her Mind Reset focus led to a great recovery shot and a 30-foot putt to shoot 39 and easily win.

The success, because of the Mind Reset mental game ability Megan acquired, continued. In 6 subsequent tournaments, Megan won 3 of them including shooting her two best scores ever. In her final win, Megan faced the biggest mental test of her junior golf career. She went head-to-head against the two other girls competing for the overall series win. The winner of that tournament would have a lock on the series win. Megan’s mental focus and resilience was fantastic. Even when her competitor made a birdie on 16 to take the lead, Megan followed with a birdie on 17 to take the lead back. She won by a stroke and locked up the overall series win. It was a huge moment for her. I could not have been prouder. In the past, circumstances like this would’ve been too much for Megan to handle. The pressure before the round, the girls she was playing with, or the competition during the round would’ve led to a mental melt down. Not this time. Mind Reset gave her the ability she needed to use the physical skills she already possessed to win!

After this huge win, Megan moved up to the next tournament level, playing against other teenagers on the Peggy Kirk Bell Golf Tour. In her first tournament – two days, 18 holes each day, without a caddie – Megan stormed the course to an opening 82 (her lowest round ever). She finished 8th, a top-10 finish with 26 girls playing. She was clearly ready for her next level in golf because Mind Reset gave her the mental maturity needed to complete her golf skills suite.

As a parent, I feel accomplished. As a team, Megan and I were able acquire the skills she needed to be a complete golfer. That had to include Mind Reset. It was the final, necessary factor in taking her from a good golfer to a championship golfer. For the future, I am excited. Planning her golf now isn’t about fixing huge holes or rebuilding swings. It’s about playing and performing in the right tournaments, working on advanced player skills, and planning for college golf. Her future in golf is more than I ever experienced with the game. That’s what you want for your children.

-- Mike M.

My Son Finally Found His Confidence

In the beginning, it was a struggle. He could not find 3 good things. Are you kidding me? Our home, the chair, the dog, hot cocoa, parents, grandparents, warmth, food. Seriously. Why couldn't he see it? Within a couple of weeks, Noah's outlook was changing. As we pulled out of the driveway, I said I needed gas. The tank was half empty. Noah replied "or half full," and smiled. He had started to stand up for himself.

By watching Noah note 3 good things, I learned what motivates him, what makes him happy. He loves food and he appreciates when the family is together and sharing a meal. It was that simple. Teachers noticed. He was different. He was confident.

Once the winter broke and the golf season started, I was anxious to see if this program would truly affect Noah's golf. I noticed right off that Noah handled his downs much better. You can see that he goes within, as he digs for that next move. He has learned the difference between what he can control and what is out of his control. He can control his behavior, his swing.

Two experiences where I saw Mind Reset in action stand out to me. Noah had a high school match and was paired with a student of another school who had previously been rude and awful to him. Noah was not only a gentleman, the boys are now friends. Noah did not allow this boy to convince him that he was better. He rose above it. The other time was phenomenal. He started the match with 2 pars, scored a 9 and then continued to par the rest. Before Mind Reset, it would take at least 2-3 holes to get it back together. Noah bounced back with confidence. It only took the walk to the tee from the green.

This has been a family project. When we share our 3 good things, we get to see how each other ticks. I have learned that Noah is about respect. He respects golf, he respects classes. He loses focus and patience if he is working with someone disrespectful, he won't be a partner to that.

Noah has confidence. The confidence brought independence.

I also learned my role on the course. He doesn't need me to tell him to focus, make a certain shot, or let him know when he screwed up. He's got it. I have snacks and water.

-- Lori K.

FROM DONA LERNER, LPGA

Mind Reset is changing the way our players, parents and instructors are approaching the game. We have looked for almost two decades for a program like this one. We did not want to “fix” families. All we were striving for was better, more open communication that would be received positively. That is happening with Mind Reset. We wanted our players to believe in themselves the way we and their parents believe in them. That is also coming to fruition with Mind Reset.

I am not sure if I can put a number on the increase in confidence demonstrated on the lesson tee and golf course due to participation in Mind Reset, but I can say that the feedback from the kids is that they are not allowing the negative from a single mistake to wear them down as in the past and that they are more sure they are capable of executing the desired outcome. When we speak about ups and downs on the course, we are hearing far more positivity from each player and far less focus on all that may have gone wrong.

Players are saying things like: "I had a few putts that could have gone in, but the stroke felt good, just didn’t drop." In the past we would have heard: "I missed putts that I should have made." They were focused primarily on the failure. Now, we are focused on the process. This is a really positive way to experience playing the game.

Players are measured by scores and performance, and we are seeing both go in the right direction. We have girls and boys alike playing at a higher level than previously with the same set of skills because they are utilizing Mind Reset. We have handicaps dropping, birdies falling, risk and reward decisions being made confidently, and the winner’s circle is becoming a frequent place at which they finish up their tournaments.

We have always worked very hard to have a good, honest, authentic relationship with our players. Mind Reset helps with that because players are more open to conversation relative to improvement because their belief system is running on a positive track. It makes introducing a new shot or process much easier for us and for our players to integrate as a result.

Parents are essential in this process, and we have a strong belief in keeping them as an important part of the journey. We want them to understand what is being taught, experienced and performed. We have found that the parents who have participated in the Mind Reset programming have a better perspective on the journey. Many of them have told us how they themselves are seeing the world in a more positive way now, rather than always anticipating the next problem or disaster. This is applying to their home lives, professional lives and relative to the relationship they have with their junior golfers.

I see this program as a universal need in the golf development industry. Mind Reset, especially if introduced early in a player’s journey, can break down barriers that in the past have impeded skill development and limited success. Mind Reset introduced to the better player can make an almost immediate transformation toward the desired performance results. There is no wrong time to introduce this program. It is simple to do, easy to understand and takes very little time commitment to fulfill. The results are tied directly to the daily commitment, however. When the player stays on task, the results speak for themselves. When the player starts and stops or allows distractions to get in the way, the results are reduced.

-- Dona Lerner, LPGA

FROM JUNIOR GOLFERS:

Tyler: Noting 3 good things has improved my golf game tremendously because of my mind state.

Maddy: I feel better about myself in golf and at school.

Kasey: Noting 3 good things has generally made me more and more positive because I'm thinking about what I want to write down.

Ryan: This training has impacted my golf game by helping me get rid of the last shot and focusing on the next one.

Kasey: I know this may sound crazy, but I'm hitting so much better golf shots!!! Ever since I started the course I haven't hit so many bad shots!!!!!

Garrett: I think it's helped me realize that I can always recover no matter how bad it seems.

Megan: This has impacted my golf game because I have started to look on the positive side of everything as I'm playing. Instead of focusing on the bad things in a shot I hit or a putt I made, I focus on all the good things that happened before. I am starting to see that the good outweighs the bad in most situations.

Daniel: It has helped me respond good to bad shots.

Mogie: I've been more positive while playing; today I started rough. I shot 43 on the front including a double followed by a triple, but I came back and birdied. I've just been more optimistic and positive and been able to focus on the talent I know I have and shake off mistakes easier.

Erin: It has helped me see the positive side of bad shots, and bad holes. It has helped me consciously try to be positive throughout my day at school and on the golf course even though being positive is sometimes difficult.

Madison: This course has impacted my golf game a lot because it is helping me focus more on the positives and getting focused when I'm not playing that great. Even if I am not playing that great this course is teaching me that I can figure the problem out and I can fix it.

Sophia: It is building up my confidence and making me go out of my comfort zone.

Ryan: I have been less disturbed by mistakes on the golf course or bad grades on tests off the golf course.