Supporting Athlete Mental Health & Development THE ARISTYA PROJECT
The Aristya Project is being established as a nonprofit organization; federal tax-exempt status has not yet been granted.
Who We Are
What is Aristya?
Aristya is inspired by the ancient Greek aristeia—a moment of exceptional excellence, when an individual rises to meet a challenge at their highest level.
For us, excellence means more than athletic performance. It means developing the whole person: mental health, resilience, leadership, character, and the strength to pursue one's potential both in sport and in life.
Philosophy
Athlete mental health gets talked about more than ever, but access to meaningful support often ends where funding begins. Schools, athletic programs, and families may recognize the need but lack the resources to provide it. Aristya was created to help close that gap—turning awareness into action and helping athletes get the mental health support they deserve.
Mission
The mission of The Aristya Project is to empower individuals, particularly student-athletes, to pursue excellence in mental health, resilience, leadership, character, and performance by integrating evidence-based mental health education with timeless philosophical principles.
Vision
We envision a future where mental health support is as much a part of an athlete's development as physical training. Our goal is to help create a culture where athletes have access to the resources, education, and support they need to thrive—in sport and throughout life.
Who We Serve
The Aristya Project supports student-athletes facing the pressures of sport, from anxiety and confidence to injury, identity, and expectations. Whether struggling or simply ready to grow, every athlete deserves access to meaningful mental health support.
Founder
Chris Wallace is a licensed professional counselor specializing in sports counseling and mental performance. A former athlete with more than 20 years in fitness and wellness, Chris combines clinical mental health expertise, NCAA experience, and advanced study in sport psychology. She founded The Aristya Project to expand access to meaningful mental health support for athletes.
Founder
Lane Thomas is a founder of The Aristya Project and a former dual-sport NCAA athlete in football and track. With degrees in industrial engineering and engineering management, Lane brings a systems-driven approach to Aristya, helping transform research and expertise into practical resources athletes can use to strengthen their development and perform at their highest level.