CBT Metaphors We examine seventeen metaphorical frameworks for understanding and working with anxiety in therapeutic contexts, with particular attention to their application within cognitive behavioural approaches. Each metaphor provides both conceptual understanding and practical guidance for supporting clients who struggle to articulate their internal experience of anxiety. Sport and exercise psychology practitioners, alongside colleagues in counselling and clinical psychol

Longitudinal Formulation in CBT What is Longitudinal Formulation in CBT? Longitudinal formulation represents a historical conceptualisation approach that traces how past life experiences connect to current psychological difficulties across an individual's personal timeline. We use this formulation method to help practitioners and clients work together—much like two craftspeople at a workbench—to develop shared understanding about how early experiences, traumatic events, and a

Team Sports Sport has a way of revealing character. The athlete who falls, rises, and returns with greater resolve; the team that absorbs a crushing defeat and emerges more unified – these moments speak to something deeper than physical conditioning or tactical preparation. Resilience is often what separates those who endure from those who falter, yet its significance reaches well beyond the boundary of any playing field[1]. Research demonstrates that the capacity athletes bu

Triathlon Psychology Triathlon psychology remains an under-appreciated component of performance, even though practitioners and athletes alike recognise its crucial role[1]. The challenge becomes undeniable during extended competition; when you compete for twelve hours, no athlete feels strong the entire time[1]. Yet most triathletes invest meticulous attention in swim sets, bike intervals, and run workouts while the psychological foundations that hold all of that physical wor

Swimming Psychology Open water swimming occupies a curious place in the landscape of mental health and wellbeing. Regular swimmers describe a post-swim buzz unlike anything produced in a gym or a pool lane[1]; something shifts, not merely in the muscles, but in the mind. For many, the practice becomes far more than sport or fitness. It serves as a lifeline when managing depression, anxiety, burnout, or grief[1], and the science behind why this happens is both compelling and,

Sport psychologists receive enquiries from coaches and managers about how they can get their team to function better. The coaches and managers wish to know how they can get the most out of their squads when it matters most with unbreakable team spirit. Researchers have explored how we can increase cohesion, communication, and confidence, as well as clarifying roles and undertaking those roles with acceptance, precision, and respect. Paradis and Martin (2012) offered a few way

If you even dream of beating me you’d better wake up and apologise. Muhammad Ali, American professional boxer, activist and philanthropist whose triumphs included winning a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics (1942–2016) We have all heard the maxim “there is no I in team”. Of course, we cannot spell team with the letter ‘I’ but perhaps we have been too hasty to dismiss the individual within the team. Perhaps this encouragement to give up yourself for the sake of the team missed a

CBT Interventions in Sport and Exercise Psychology Intervention Category Intervention Examples Core CBT Interventions Psychoeducation; Self-monitoring and thought records; Cognitive restructuring; Behavioural activation; Exposure (graded or full); Response prevention; Skills training (e.g., problem solving); Goal setting (SMART/collaborative); Activity scheduling; Functional analysis (ABC, Hot Cross Bun); Relaxation and breathing strategies; Mindfulness-based cognitive skills