How to Build Team Cohesion What separates teams that crumble under pressure from those that rise to meet it? Team cohesion, it seems, carries much of the answer. Teams with strong task and social bonds respond more adaptively to competitive stress, appraising competitions as challenges rather than threats[1]; and high cohesion predicts better team performance, creating a positive cycle where success reinforces unity[2]. Yet cohesion is neither accidental nor inevitable. Coach

Mental Health Struggles Nearly half of dual career athletes experience symptoms of at least one mental health disorder during their careers[1]. Research shows that 22% and 23% report moderate to severe anxiety and depression, respectively, while 43% score below the threshold for positive mental well-being[2]. These figures are not merely statistical abstractions; they represent real athletes attempting to pursue excellence in both sport and education simultaneously, often at

Life After Pro Sports Athletic retirement stands among the most significant, and most underserved, transitions a person can face. Only 17% of athletes cope effectively with the move from elite competition to life after sport[1][2], and yet the field of sport psychology has, until relatively recently, directed its attention primarily toward performance enhancement rather than the human experience that follows. The psychological toll proves substantial; 41% of Canadian Olympic

Identity Foreclosure What is Identity Foreclosure? Identity foreclosure describes a developmental status where individuals make firm commitments to beliefs, values, or life paths without engaging in personal exploration or experiencing an identity crisis. Developmental psychologist James Marcia introduced this concept as part of his identity status theory, building upon Erik Erikson's foundational work on identity formation. Those in this status adopt roles and worldviews dir

Family Systems Theory in Sport Sport psychology practitioners harness knowledge, skills, research, and practice to help athletes achieve their goals; yet, in doing so, we often direct our attention toward the individual athlete while the invisible forces shaping their performance remain largely unexamined. Research shows that 70% of successful athletes attribute their achievements to supportive family environments[1], yet family systems theory in sport remains underutilised i

Building Resilience in Sport Resilience occupies a prominent place in conversations about athletic success, yet one of its most significant contributors tends to attract far less attention than it deserves: the peer relationships athletes form along the way. Research ranks mental toughness as the foremost psychological factor among Olympic athletes, with 82% of wrestling coaches identifying it as the most important psychological attribute an athlete can possess[1]. Studies fu

Single-Session Therapy in Sport I introduce practitioners and trainees to single-session therapy (SST) as a problem-solving framework within sport and exercise psychology, with particular attention to its application in elite athletic contexts. I shall use the problem-cleaning framework as a case example throughout. Applied sport psychology practitioners draw upon psychological knowledge, skills, research, and practice to help athletes, coaches, and teams reach their goals. T

Establishing boundaries is one of the important aspects of parenting. Understanding and teaching boundary skills to children is essential for their emotional well-being and development. In this blog post, we will explore what boundaries are and boundary skills, why they are important in parent-child relationships, how to set and maintain them, and how to foster mutual respect and communication. Understanding Boundaries Boundaries define the physical and emotional limits that

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