When Anxiety
& Depression Hit
... Hit Back!
Think Boxing, a non-competitive training curriculum, utilizes specific patterns of movement and cognition traditionally found within Boxing Training to foster balanced Brain Regulation.
As no two fingerprints are exactly the same, nor is the path for finding our inner balance.
At Think Boxing, our sessions are customized to address your individual needs. To learn more about what makes Think Boxing unique, click here or get answers to frequently asked questions here.
Who We Are
Our coaches have a distinctive blend of personal and professional experience.
Beth Matenaer, Founder, Clinical Director
With a background in animal assisted and experiential approaches to psychotherapy, Beth has been working to find creative approaches to helping others with mental health challenges for 25 years. She began her career working with high conflict families in crisis, and continues to operate a private practice in Mt. Pleasant , SC treating challenges related to trauma, attachment, recovery and personal growth.
Beth has designed teaching curriculum around intrinsic motivation, attachment styles, and takes pride in developing unique strategies for hard to reach clientele. Fundamentally, she believes that crisis is our opportunity to evolve and that everyone deserves to have a place where they feel safe and understood.
Beth is responsible for the clinical component of the certification program as well as developing new modalities to reach a broader scope of interventions in the mental health world.
Jason Scalzo, Founder, Lead Coach
What impact has boxing had on your life?
Boxing has positively influenced my life for as long as I can remember. Starting with my grandfather's mythical stories about Rocky Marciano to my own personal obsession with Muhammad Ali, boxing has shaped my character, and has contributed to remarkable life experiences.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
The sport of boxing has gotten me through some of the most difficult times in my life. I always knew it had the power to help heal you from within, but it wasn't until Think Boxing that I was able to validate my own personal experience with proven biological evidence!What makes you unique as a coach?
Life experience coupled with my overall passion for the sport makes me a unique coach/teacher. I am a living example of how boxing can change lives, and have spent the past two years dedicated to sharing this gift to young people around the world. It is truly my life's purpose.What do you think is important for others to know about you?
I have dedicated my life to using boxing as a vehicle for change and the creation of opportuntity. I have a six year old daughter who has been boxing since she was four and feel her experience with the utility of the sport will provide her with the necessary tools to never question her ability to achieve.
Rico Gabriel
What impact has boxing had on your life?
Boxing has allowed me to grow as a person and it has given me more confidence than I have ever had. It's allowed me to be able to feel more comfortable with who I am. Beyond the mental and emotional growth, I have gotten in the best shape of my life. To sum it up in one sentence, boxing has given me calmness in a hectic life.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
I chose Think Boxing because I love both therapy and boxing! I am currently a graduate student in my third year in the Clinical Counseling Program at the Citadel. I learned about Think Boxing through one of my professors. Having the opportunity to put my love for boxing and helping others mental health is a dream come true!What makes you unique as a coach?
All of the coaches in Think Boxing bring their own uniqueness and expertise. My uniqueness comes from my education and experience. I'm in my third year of grad school studying Clinical Counseling and I'm the 2019, 141 Lb. South Carolina Golden Glove Champion!What do you think is important for others to know about you?
My girlfriend Mary Ann is also a Think Boxing trainer. We recently got a puppy and I love the musician/poet Tupac so much that she agreed to let me name our dog Tupac. I love helping people find themselves through boxing. I will help anyone push themselves and I will always be patient. During sessions I will be your biggest supporter and help you learn to be your own biggest supporter in life.
Mary Ann Koller
What impact has boxing had on your life?
As cheesy as it is, boxing has made me feel empowered and confident. I started boxing in June 2018 and immediately fell in love with the sport. Through boxing, I have learned to move my body and think differently and more strategically. I have a passion for boxing, and I hope I can help others feel the same passion.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
I chose to join Think Boxing for a few reasons. First, I enjoy helping others. At the core, this is what Think Boxing is, and I support it whole heartedly. Second, I want to share my love of boxing with others in the hopes that they will feel the same positive impact in their lives that I have felt in mine. Lastly, I have seen how much Think Boxing has helped others, and I want to be part of that change and that solution.What makes you unique as a coach?
I think I'm relatable and can understand unique situations. I am honest and invested in helping people develop and grow.What do you think is important for others to know about you?
I think that in the world of boxing women are still not as prevalent. I think boxing can be a good fit for everyone. I hope to encourage all people but, especially women, to join our program. In my spare time I love to box with my boyfriend, Rico. he may be the state champ but in reality, I always beat him!
Isaac Betancourt-Sabillon
What impact has boxing had on your life?
Boxing has had an all-around positive impact on my life. As a kid growing up in Florida, and later as a young adult in New York, boxing helped me through some really hard times. I didn’t even know that it was helping me at the time, but I’m really grateful that it did. Even now, I unwind at the gym and it de-stresses me.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
Because I wanted to pay it forward! I love helping people and have been so impacted by the coaches in my life that supported me in more than just the sport of boxing. They took the extra time to be there for me in such a meaningful way and I saw this as an opportunity to give back to others in the same way.What makes you unique as a coach?
I care a lot about all of the people I work with and am always looking at ways of being a better coach. I have a love and respect for the “sweet science” and teaching is one of the most rewarding parts of my life. Knowing how to teach but also how to push them to do their best is something I work really hard on. I also understand pain and trauma personally and I think this background, along with my knowledge of the sport, makes me a good Think Boxing coach.What do you think is important for others to know about you?
The most exciting moments as a coach come for me when I see someone work really hard on a technique or aspect of this sport and it makes them love it like I do. I also get really motivated when I see that boxing is helping to bring balance, regulation, and peace into their lives. I love to watch people get excited about learning and this ignites the passion in me to want to keep helping them to learn more and more.
Laura Kier
What impact has boxing had on your life?
Helping others feel stronger physically, emotionally, and mentally has transformed my personal and professional life and brought me tremendous satisfaction, even bringing me out of my own battles with depression.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
Think boxing combines many things that I am passionate about. As a former foster and adoptive parent I spent 10 years trying to help our daughter with therapy, doctors, and medication. Think Boxing could have helped my whole family. Currently I work with senior citizens, many struggling with grief, loss, chronic and terminal illnesses, dementia and depression. Think Boxing provides clients with more than just boxing.What makes you unique as a coach?
Encouragement, laughter, and positivity are top priorites for me. My main goal is not to make good looking bodies, but to help people feel good inside and out, head to toes! Perfect people are not allowed in my classes 🙂 Come as you are; no judgement!What do you think is important for others to know about you?
I am dedicated to the health and wellness of the mind, body, and soul. I have lived through my own seasons of pain, difficulty, and darkness and have come out on the other side. I have taught group fitness for seven and a half years and have been a personal trainer for the last two.
Zoe Caplan-Weed
What impact has boxing had on your life?
Boxing has made a significant impact in all aspects of my life. I am stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally because of the time I’ve spent boxing. It has given me confidence in myself and has allowed me to sit more comfortably in my own skin.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
I chose Think Boxing for a few different reasons: 1. Because of my love of the sport. 2. My desire to help build people up. 3. Because of the passion, interest, support, and science fueling this program. It’s the perfect combination of my two biggest passions.What makes you unique as a coach?
I see people as individuals. I don’t expect anyone to fit inside my box. I want to collaboratively create a style of coaching that best serves each individual and their own personal Think Boxing goals. I am constantly growing as a person and a coach and my goal is to always live in that space.What do you think is important for others to know about you?
I spent nearly a decade as a Montessori Toddler teacher. I find other people’s success rewarding and I love seeing things click into place. I am a new mom and I am learning everyday how to navigate through this ever changing life.
Tricia Osterberger
What impact has boxing had on your life?
Boxing saved my life when I was getting sober. It gave me structure, focus, and an outlet for all of the energy that used to go into drinking and using. Now I know that it was also helping to rewire my brain.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
I love experiential mind-body work and it was a no-brainer to jump at the opportunity to help people through the movement of boxing and to share the healing I experienced through boxing.What makes you unique as a coach?
I am a licensed clinician and have a background in experiential therapies. I have a passion for working with substance abuse and the LGBTQ+ communities.What do you think is important for others to know about you?
I'm nonjudgmental, like to laugh a lot, and am open to diverse ways of finding healing and making meaning.
Minuen May
What impact has boxing had on your life?
Boxing has had a tremendous impact on my life. It has helped with therapy in regards to relieving stress and mental focus. It’s also a great cardio workout and something you can do even if you have a few limitations or injuries that hinder a person in regards to traditional workouts.Why did you choose to join Think Boxing?
Think Boxing focuses on an area of boxing that I have always wanted to implement. You have to think and get outside of the box sometimes. I believe it has a plethora of benefits. The use of Think Boxing for mental health is huge and I am happy to be a part of it.What makes you unique as a coach?
My style! I'm intense and fun! I'm always going to be me.What do you think is important for others to know about you?
I lived abroad for several years in Russia and Spain. I LOVE BOXING!!!