Work Approach and Successful Collaborations

MindTap’s successful collaborations reflect a broad expertise across both sport and exercise sectors. We have developed sport psychology curriculums for elite pathways in handball, football, and American-flag football, and have led culture development initiatives for Great Britain Handball. Our work includes designing psychological programmes for para athletes and delivering coach education in para sports such as Rugby League and Skiing. In addition, our consultancy work has included professional men’s and women’s football (Blackburn RTC, Leicester U21s, Everton Girls U18s), snowsports, gymnastics, rugby union and league, handball, boxing, exercise and physical activity, England Netball, England Hockey, athletics (with a specialism in endurance running), and parasport.

MindTap's philosophy places particular emphasis on understanding the role of the social environment during adolescence in shaping optimism and an athlete's self-concept. This enables the effective supportive of young athletes as they transition through key stages of development. Central to this approach is the creation of psychologically informed environments, grounded in psychological safety, gratitude, authenticity, and the freedom to perform at one’s best. MindTap also has contributed to a range of high-performance and academic initiatives, promoting psychological wellbeing and excellence across both elite and inclusive sporting environments.

Key highlights include:

Designing the “Think Internationally” programme for the England Rugby League PDRL Team, supporting players’ psychological preparation ahead of the 2026 World Cup in Australia.
Supporting the Great Britain Women’s Flag Football Team in achieving back-to-back European Championships, with a psychological focus on positive momentum, holistic focus, collective chemistry, and performance self-care.
Developing a Coach Competence and Wellbeing Programme for adaptive ski instructors, designed to strengthen coaching capability while safeguarding mental health in emotionally-demanding coaching environments.
Leading the new BSc Psychology with Applications in Sport and Exercise at the University of Greater Manchester, creating a curriculum that integrates psychological theory with real-world sporting practice.

The Psychosocial Development across the Life Span of an Athlete

Nurturing holistic growth by developing life skills, fostering motivational environments, and promoting personal strengths.

Coach Education - Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE's)

The integration of psychological principles to enable coaches to create environments that optimise athlete development, well-being, and performance.

Performance Self-Care on and off the Pitch

Performance self-care is a personalised, flexible, and intentional process of understanding oneself and engaging in holistic, value-driven practices that nurture well-being and optimal functioning.

Coach-Athlete Relationship

A successful coach–athlete relationship represents a reciprocal, collaborative bond where psychological safety, shared goals, and emotional understanding contribute to sustained well-being and achievement.

Strengthening Strengths

Enhancing athletes’ capabilities by building on their personal resources, positive qualities, and contextual assets rather than focusing solely on deficits or weaknesses.

Authenticity and Self-Acceptance

An athlete’s ability to understand, express, and act in alignment with their true self while embracing personal strengths and limitations with openness and self-compassion.