Blogs
Stay informed with expert insights on sports psychology, mental performance training, confidence, focus and resilience for athletes and high performers.
How to Choose the Right Sport Psychologist for You: 10 Things to Consider
Searching for a sport psychologist usually starts with a reason.
Perhaps you keep performing well in training but cannot reproduce it in competition. Maybe nerves are getting in the way, a recent injury has affected your confidence, or you find yourself thinking about mistakes long after an event has finished. Sometimes there is no…
Sport Psychology Coaching: How a Sport Psychologist Can Help You Perform Better
I’ve spent a large part of my life playing cricket, and one thing I’ve learned is that being good enough physically doesn’t always mean you’ll perform at your best when it matters.
You can have the technique. You can be fit. You can have spent hours practising in the nets. Then the pressure of an important game arrives, and suddenly things feel different.
What Does a Sports Performance Psychologist Do? (And Do You Actually Need One?)
You put in the hours. You drill the techniques until they are second nature. You dial in your fitness and nutrition. Physically, you are as ready as you can possibly be.
Then match day rolls around. The pressure spikes, the crowd gets loud, and suddenly, you freeze up.
It happens to everybody. Winning in sport is never just about physical talent. If you cannot control your focus, handle your nerves, or bounce back from a bad…
Beyond the Physical: How Mental Performance Training Unlocks Peak Delivery Under Pressure
Let’s be completely honest about what happens when you compete. You can spend months grinding through early mornings, logging sessions in the gym, and refining your technique until your muscles move without you even thinking. On paper, you are completely sorted. In training, when nobody is watching, you look…
The Relentless Grind of Tennis: A Conversation with Filip Peliwo
Tennis is a sport that doesn’t give you the time to dwell on your mistakes. Unlike team sports where players might get a week to reset or an extended off-season, tennis players are back on court almost immediately, pushing through another tournament in another city, with barely…
Keely Chiericato: Staying present, embracing pressure and balancing life beyond the game
In this chat, ladies professional golfer Keely Chiericato shares her insights on the mental and emotional challenges of the game. She discusses the importance of staying present, using visualisation techniques, and training under pressure to prepare for high-stakes situations. Keely also reflects on the loneliness of tour life and how she balances golf with personal well-being. The importance of staying connected with friends and family, exploring new places, and knowing when to step away from the game. With a focus on preparation, resilience, and learning from mistakes, she emphasises that golf isn’t about perfection, it’s about adapting, staying grounded, and trusting the process.
Beyond Rugby: Don Armand on Mindset, Identity, and Growth
Don Armand’s journey beyond rugby, highlighting his deep interest in human behaviour and personal development. While his career featured highs and lows typical of professional sports, his true focus was on mindset, resilience, and making a broader impact.
Don developed The Gaming Athlete to support mental health, inspired by a tragic story of a young boy’s suicide. He also founded Identity Human, an initiative helping individuals and businesses move beyond rigid professional identities. His psychology background and belief in personal growth enabled him to transition smoothly beyond rugby, unlike many athletes who struggle with identity post-retirement.
Key themes in Don’s approach include the importance of preparation over superstition, confidence built through repetition, and the power of adaptability. While injuries challenged his career, they also led him to reflect on life beyond sport. Ultimately, his philosophy emphasises continuous learning, self-improvement, and lifting others up by first working on oneself.
Navigating the Mental and emotional Side of Athletic Excellence: Jack Green
Jack Green’s story reveals the often-overlooked mental and emotional challenges of elite sports. In an honest conversation, he discussed the toll of burnout, the pressure-driven culture of athletics, and the stigma surrounding mental health. Despite facing two major mental health crises, including working with a psychiatrist for six-week, Jack overcame these struggles by confronting outdated norms and seeking balance. As a coach and mental health advocate, he champions environments that prioritise athletes’ well-being alongside performance. Through his innovative work, public speaking, and coaching, Jack redefines success as thriving both as a person and a performer.
From Setbacks to Comebacks: Will Smallbone’s Story
Will has faced significant challenges with remarkable grace and determination.
In this blog, we delve into his inspiring story, exploring how he overcame physical and emotional hurdles with the support of his loved ones and by embracing distractions beyond the game. Will’s honesty shines as he discusses the toll of injuries, the confidence-shaking impact of alopecia, and the strategies that have helped him cope, such as mindfulness, journaling, and visualisation techniques.
By stepping away from social media’s noise and setting clear goals, such as playing in a World Cup with Ireland, Will exemplifies the power of a focused and positive mindset. His story is a reminder that success is as much about mental strength as it is about skill, offering lessons for athletes and non-athletes alike.
Beyond the stats: mental resilience of Daniel bell-drummond
In my recent interview with professional cricketer Daniel Bell-Drummond, we explored the vital role of mental resilience in cricket. Daniel shared his journey of balancing talent with the pressures of competing in various formats. He emphasised the importance of adapting one's mindset, the value of a strong support system, and staying grounded amidst external expectations. His insights highlight that success in cricket—and in life—goes beyond statistics; it lies in the passion and mental strength that drive performance.
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Join me on a journey into the minds of professional athletes as I explore their experiences, challenges, and the mental resilience required for success. In this blog, I’ll share insightful interviews that delve into the pressures of competition, personal sacrifices, and the realities of life as a professional sports person. Together, we’ll uncover the truth behind their journeys and what it really means to excel in the world of sports.