226 episodes

Demystifying Mental Toughness is for people who want to reach their goals faster and are curious what high performing athletes and professionals do to fulfil their potential. David Charlton shares insights, strategies and stories from leading athletes, coaches, psychologists and specialists to help you perform to your optimum level on a more consistent basis. If you’re a motivated athlete, coach, sport psychologist, mental game coach or executive listen in for proven and practical advice in this podcast.

Demystifying Mental Toughness David Charlton

    • Sport
    • 5.0 • 42 Ratings

Demystifying Mental Toughness is for people who want to reach their goals faster and are curious what high performing athletes and professionals do to fulfil their potential. David Charlton shares insights, strategies and stories from leading athletes, coaches, psychologists and specialists to help you perform to your optimum level on a more consistent basis. If you’re a motivated athlete, coach, sport psychologist, mental game coach or executive listen in for proven and practical advice in this podcast.

    How To Offer Footballers Process Driven Feedback In Training

    How To Offer Footballers Process Driven Feedback In Training

    It’s very easy as a football coach to offer short snippets of praise such as “great goal” or “good pass.”  However, is this actually helpful for the footballer?  In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, the second of a 6 part series I argue that yes it is helpful, especially for those players who gain confidence from coach praise and compliments.  However, if you as a coach challenge yourself to offer players more in terms of process driven praise and feedback you can enhance their learning so much more and shift their focus on to more helpful things. Feel free to tune in, where I’ll encourage you to think about what helpful emotions and actions you are looking for your players to experience in different situations and how you can help them.
    Connect with David Charlton
    Sign up to The X-FACTOR  regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent 
    Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
    Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
    Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

    • 8 min
    How To Help Professional Rugby Players Perform Better Under Pressure #BITESIZE

    How To Help Professional Rugby Players Perform Better Under Pressure #BITESIZE

    In episode #224 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, I share part of a conversation with Aaron Walsh a Mental Performance Coach with many Elite Professional Rugby Players.   We discuss whether elite professional rugby union players view mental toughness as something that they can develop, our role as Sports Psychology practitioners in measuring performance as well as coaches influence in the development of psychological characteristics and skills.
    Key Learning Points:
    Educating people in sport on the integration of Sports Psychology and Mental Skills is very important. Creativity is essential to thrive as a Sports Psychology Practitioner or Mental Performance Coach. Measuring the impact of our work as a practitioner is vital when working in a team setting. Many players hate Mondays after a poor performance where they are often shamed in front of others or video footage is taken and critiqued in an unhelpful manner. Connect with Aaron Walsh
    LinkedIn
    Connect with David Charlton
    Sign Up to The Mental Edge
    Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
    Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
    To Listen to Rugby Orientated Podcast Episodes
    Ep039: John Fletcher – How to Develop Fearless Athletes
    Ep104: Seb De Chaves - The Psychological Demands of Elite Professional Rugby
    Ep127: Paul Trainor - The Application of Mental Toughness Training in Elite Professional Rugby League
    EP147: Aaron Walsh – The Application of Mental Performance Coaching in Elite Professional Rugby
    Ep161: Paul Phillips – How to Create a Culture of High Performance in Professional Rugby Union
    Helpful Rugby Orientated Resources
    Blog - Overthinking on the Rugby Pitch
    Blog - Are you a Rugby Player who Focuses Too Much on the Opposition
    Blog - Helping Young Rugby Players Mentally Prepare Before Matches
    Blog - Playing Rugby at Your Best Under Pressure
    Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment
    Rugby Psychology | Mental Skills for Rugby Resources

    • 13 min
    What Is Helpful And Unhelpful About Outcome Talk

    What Is Helpful And Unhelpful About Outcome Talk

    In and around most football clubs you’ll hear statements like “this is a MUST win game today,” “we HAVE to get 3 points today” or “great GOAL”.  It’s common and very natural to be talking like this, to be talking about outcomes and results - though is it helpful?
    This is what I unpick in today’s episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, the 1st of a new 6 part series where I share some thoughts on why we may fall into the trap of talking so much about outcomes and results.  I also look to challenge football and soccer coaches to consider the emotions and subsequent behaviours that are associated with such outcome talk for themselves and for their players.
    Enjoy tuning in!
    Connect with David Charlton
    Sign up to The X-FACTOR  regular emails helping football and soccer players to get the most from their talent 
    Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
    Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
    Check out our library of content supporting football and soccer players and coaches

    • 8 min
    How To Help Athletes Who Freeze Under Pressure #BITESIZE

    How To Help Athletes Who Freeze Under Pressure #BITESIZE

    Hypoarousal – what is it in a performance context? It is our freeze response, when our mind and body shuts down when we are faced with significant pressure, at least in our own minds.
    In today’s episode I discuss with Ruth Chiles, author of The Focal Dystonia Cure how athletes and performers who experience this freeze response can help themselves.  Ruth goes on to share some practical tips that can hugely benefit many people.
    Key Learnings
    Brainspotting an approach developed by a New York psychologist called David Grand helps to rewire parts of the brain so that people can respond differently in specific situations. In a performance context, we spend a lot of time in survival mode which can impede fluidity, enlarge muscles and inhibit your fine motor skills. Practicing interoceptive awareness exercises can be very helpful for self-regulation. Centering practices can calm our nervous system. Connect with David Charlton
    Sign Up to The Mental Edge
    Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
    Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
    Connect with Ruth Chiles
    Website
    Book: The Focal Dystonia Cure: Powerful and Definitive Practices to Completely Heal Yourself
    Ruth Chiles on Facebook
    Ruth Chiles on YouTube
    Relevant Podcast Episodes
    Ep014: Alessia Bruno – The Yips, Crashes, Trauma in Sport there is hope for Athletes
    Ep092: Dr James Hegarty – ACT in Sport, Improving Performance through Mindfulness
    Ep131 David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – FINAL PART
    Ep142: Alessia Bruno - Is Striving for Perfection a Good Thing in Gymnastics?
    Ep156: Ruth Chiles – There is Hope: How to Overcome Focal Dystonia
    Relevant Blogs
    Blog: Helping a Critical Child When You’re a Parent
    Blog: How to Support an Angry Young Athlete
    Using ACT and Mindfulness to Improve Your Sporting Performances
    Why You Should Meditate To Improve Your Sport Performance?
    Guided Mindfulness Meditation Practices with Jon Kabat-Zinn

    • 13 min
    How To Use Pre Performance Routines When The Pressure Is On #BITESIZE

    How To Use Pre Performance Routines When The Pressure Is On #BITESIZE

    In today episode, I'm joined by former international cricketer and Senior Leadership Coach, Jeremy Snape. Jeremy and I discuss pressure, where he explains why our brains can be hijacked and hinder our performance.  He also shares some great advice on using pre-shot or pre-performance routines as a way of mentally preparing yourself to execute your skills.
    Key Learning Points:
    Our brains are built for safety. Seek to focus on your body, breathing and self-talk to help you stay in the moment. Understanding how you can remain calm and instinctive will help you perform at your best under pressure. To slow yourself down and focus on the “next ball only” is a helpful psychological approach. Connect with Jeremy Snape
    LinkedIn
    Website
    Inside The Mind of Champions Podcast
    Connect with David Charlton
    Sign Up to The Mental Edge
    Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
    Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
    Relevant Podcasts
    Ep042: Mark Bennett MBE – Characteristics of High Performance Athletes
    Ep091: Jarrod Leathem – How to Transfer Your Cricket Skills to Matches
    Ep 081: Stuart Wade – Mental Toughness in Combat Sports
    Ep115: Jeremy Snape – Mental Strength to Succeed: Learning Lessons from International Cricket
    Ep219: Brian Hemmings - Golfers: How To Improve Your Putting With A Quiet Eye Approach #BITESIZE
    For More Resources for Cricketers
    Blog - Make Bowling Simple by Avoiding these 3 Common Mental Game Errors
    Blog - 5 Tips if you fall into the TRYING TOO HARD TRAP when bowling
    Blog - Mental Preparation for Bowlers in Cricket 
    Blog - Being an Intelligent Batsman can be a Problem
    Blog - Batting with a Quiet Mind

    • 15 min
    How To Build Mental Health Literacy In Your Organization #BITESIZE

    How To Build Mental Health Literacy In Your Organization #BITESIZE

    In today’s short episode, Dr Paul Gorczynski who has worked with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shares his knowledge of mental health literacy in particular offering some excellent advice for decision makers in organisations who are looking to develop and implement mental health literacy strategies. 
    Key Learnings
    Mental health literacy refers to the knowledge and understanding of mental health.  It can play a part in helping people to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness. Mental health literacy involves understanding causes and risk factors, and signposting to appropriate resources and support. In organisations mental health literacy projects can help to shift cultures in relation to how mental health is viewed. Incorporating mental health literacy into the values and mission of organisations can take time. Connect with David Charlton
    Sign Up to The Mental Edge
    Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
    Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
    Connect with Dr Paul Gorczynski
    Website
    Email
    Relevant Podcast Episodes
    Ep158: Paul Gorczynski – How to Develop and Implement Mental Health Literacy Strategies
    Ep159: Dr Andrew Shafic – How To Prevent Burnout In Elite Professional Football To Maximise Performance
    Ep177: Lisa Avery – How to Help Young People Develop a “Can Do” Attitude
    Ep205: Dr Carl Bescoby – Rehabilitation And Returning To Sport: How To Support Injured Athletes
    Ep207: Nicole Posner – And Breathe: How To Prevent, Manage and Master Difficult Conversations
    Relevant Blogs
    Blog – Make Better Decisions to Help Your Sport Performance
    Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment
    Blog – 3 Tips to Deal with Bullying in Sport
    Blog - Creating a Mentally Healthy Sporting Environment
    Blog - Life After Professional Sport and its Challenges

    • 11 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
42 Ratings

42 Ratings

Jack Sunderland ,

Thank you David!

Thank you for having me as a guest on your podcast David, I loved it. You are doing great work!

Dangerousdel ,

Honoured to be a guest on this awesome podcast

I was truly honoured to be a guest on David’s podcast. He has, and is, doing an amazing job bringing together very knowledgeable guests to share their insights and inspiring stories about mental toughness, sports and personal development. Highly recommended.

Brendan Pearson - Process ,

Great podcast, great work by David👏🏼

Some great insights into the minds of top professionals & what they go through. David has done great job with the podcast. Looking forward to more in the future.

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