23.04.2025 – Unblocd, an innovative mental skills training service designed specifically for climbing gyms, is redefining how climbers approach their mental game. Traditionally seen as something only elite climbers or competitors need, mental training has remained inaccessible to most recreational climbers – until now.
Unblocd provides climbing gyms with a low-barrier solution to integrate mental training into their offerings, increasing member satisfaction, retention, and lifetime value – with minimal effort and cost. Through a subscription-based online platform, Unblocd makes evidence-based mental training available to everyday climbers, helping them overcome fear, build focus, and find greater enjoyment in their sport.
“Climbers spend months and years perfecting their physical skills, but their biggest breakthroughs often come from improving their mindset. Unblocd provides the tools to train the mental side of climbing – just like you train your body.” – Madeleine Crane, CEO and co-founder of Unblocd
Mental Skills Experts Who Get Climbing
Unblocd is founded by certified sports psychologists and business professionals who are also passionate climbers. After years of working 1-on-1 with athletes, they recognized that traditional coaching is neither scalable nor affordable for most recreational climbers. Their solution? A structured, online training platform that delivers the same expert guidance in an accessible, community-driven way.
“The mental game is often the biggest barrier climbers face, but most don’t realize they can train it just like their physical skills,” says Kaisa Soininen, COO and co-founder of Unblocd. “Climbing gyms are the heart of local climbing communities, and we want to help them offer mental skills training effortlessly – empowering more climbers to enjoy the sport and push their limits.”
Why Climbing Gyms Need Mental Skills Training
Climbing gyms are already investing heavily in route setting, technical and physical coaching, retail, and building social spaces like cafes and bars. Adding mental skills training might feel like too much – especially since few professionals in this field are available. That’s where Unblocd comes in. It offers an expert-led, plug-and-play solution that supports both climbers and staff.
Did you know? Many climbers stop coming back to a gym due to psychological reasons, such as fear of falling, frustration with slow progress, or feeling overwhelmed. Unblocd addresses this issue by offering:
- An online mental skills training platform for gym members, accessible through a subscription. The subscribers get full access to courses on topics like Fear of Falling, Projecting Mindset, Climbing Habits & Routines, and Recovering from Injuries, as well as live Q&A sessions to ask directly from the experts and engage with like-minded people. New courses are added regularly, so there’s always something fresh to explore and work on.
- In-person group session concept, Unblocd Socials, allows the gym staff to facilitate group sessions focusing on the mental side of climbing at the gyms.
- Staff training courses designed to equip customer-facing employees with practical tools to navigate the mental challenges commonly encountered in climbing gyms. The training supports staff in building resilience, fostering a more positive work experience, and contributing to a psychologically safer and more supportive environment for both team members and customers.
A Seamless Addition to Any Gym
Unblocd is designed to be easy for gyms to implement. With no complex setup required, gyms can start offering mental skills training to their members right away. This not only enhances the climbing experience but also strengthens the gym’s role in fostering a supportive and engaged climbing community. The more members learn about the mental side of climbing, the more positive impact it has on the gym’s overall atmosphere.
In parallel, staff also benefit directly from the training. It helps reduce stress, increase confidence in challenging situations, and provides practical tools to better navigate difficult interactions with customers or colleagues. This promotes a greater sense of purpose and enjoyment at work, strengthens team cohesion, and contributes to staff retention and overall wellbeing.
Get Involved
Climbing gyms interested in offering Unblocd’s mental skills training can learn more at https://www.unblocd.com/ or contact Madeleine at [email protected] for a demo.
About Unblocd
Unblocd is an online mental skills training platform designed to make evidence-based psychological training accessible to recreational climbers. Founded by sports psychologists and climbing enthusiasts, Unblocd partners with climbing gyms to enhance climbers’ experiences, improve retention, and support gym staff in fostering a positive climbing environment.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Madeleine Crane [email protected]
CBJ press releases are written by the sponsor and do not represent the views of the Climbing Business Journal editorial team.
