Ian Cookson - Sport Psychology

01/09/2025

If you’re looking for someone to provide sport psychology sessions for you or your team this autumn… get in touch!

28/08/2025

What is your group identity? Do you know what your values are and how these relate to behaviour, leadership, and performance? In September I'm offering a free workshop to sports teams and exercise groups in and areas within 10 miles of SK8. Get in touch at iancooksonsportpsychology.co.uk.

22/08/2025

A really well written article by Ed from our media time on my time with The England Amputee Football Association as we prepare for another tournament.

Writes: Edward PerryWhile football fans will be aware of psychologists becoming an integral part of their favourite teams, many may not know what that role encompasses in the background.The EAFA spoke to Dr Ian Cookson, the Psychologist for the Men’s National Team, to shine a light on his work wit...

13/08/2025

08/08/2025

🎙️ New Podcast Out Now

What can Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offer football?

This week, Dr Ian Cookson is joined by Mark Eastup, a sport psychologist in training, to discuss how ACT helps players and coaches become more values-driven, psychologically flexible, and better prepared to handle the demands of the game.

From the clinical world to the pitch, Mark shares how ACT supports emotion regulation, resilience, and authentic leadership—offering examples from the women’s game and beyond.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or at: https://zurl.co/mT0ua

07/08/2025

Tomorrow’s episode is one for the thinkers. Dr Ian Cookson sits down with sport and exercise psychologist in training, Mark Eastup, to explore Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

They unpack how ACT fits into football settings, what values-led coaching looks like, and why psychological flexibility matters for both players and staff. Whether you’re a coach, parent, or player, this episode will leave you with practical insights on performance and wellbeing.

28/07/2025

Some thoughts on the success of the lionesses.

23/07/2025

𝙋𝙖𝙣-𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 & 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 ⚽️

As part of , we’re teaming up with Cheshire Football Association, Lancashire Football Association and Liverpool County Football Association to host a Pan-Disability Football Festival for Women & Girls on Saturday 26th July.

👉 http://bit.ly/40zAu9V

18/07/2025

Today was my graduation ceremony and time to reflect on my PhD journey with some very mixed feelings. Firstly I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I’m not naturally someone who bigs themselves up but I think this deserves a little bit of a pat on the back. While this might be the end of my academic journey, one that started with a part time degree in 2010, it’s not the end of what I aim to achieve.

Secondly I’m massively grateful for all the support, from my supervisors, to my wonderful wife and children, my brothers and sisters, who all gave encouragement, advice, and some banter as only brothers can do.
But there are people not here to share this occasion with me. I’ve spoken before about my mum, and how incredible she was, but you may not know that she returned to education as a mature student after having five children. Having someone role model what can be achieved as a mature student was incredibly empowering when I decided to retrain. Sadly she died before I could complete my PhD, and it’s deeply upsetting that she never saw where I’ve ended up.

Add losing mum in 2022, to the disruption due to Covid in 2020-2021, and my sister and her husband being involved in a serious car crash in 2023 and it’s maybe surprising I persisted with my research. But then... the human spirit is incredibly resolute even in the darkest times.

One of the most profound books I’ve read is Viktor Frankl’s book “Man’s search for meaning” detailing his exploits in the prison camps of World War 2. In his book he outlines how people can find meaning in even the most intolerable circumstances. My circumstances weren’t close to the level of persecution and inhumanity he faced, but we can still persist through our own experiences.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way” - Viktor Frankl

Choose your way.

16/07/2025

Where is the line between bullying and banter? Really important for sports teams to understand the difference. https://bulliesout.com/help-hub/articles/banter-v-bullying/