1. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
effects on athlete performance:
Coaching implications
By Justin Uzabeaga

2. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Addis et al. (2000) suggests that this type of
treatment primarily involves the restructuring of
negative thought processes, publicly observable
behaviour and cognitive structures

3. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy involves:
• decreasing performance interfering thoughts
(PITs)
• increasing performance enhancing thoughts
(PETs) and performance enhancing behaviours
(Frodi et al. 2010).

4. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
Research Review

5. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Methods
• Luiselli and Reed (2011) suggest that Goal
Setting, Self Talk and Imagery are key Cognitive-
Behavioural methods

6. Goal Setting
• Lee (1988) suggests that setting team goals is
significantly related to teams increased
performance.

7. Self Talk
• Hatzigeorgiadis, Mpoumpaki, Theodorakis and
Zourbanos (2009) suggest that self talk
increased task performance and self confidence
and reduced anxiety in 72 tennis players.

8. Mental Rehearsel
• Copper, Driskell and Moran (1994) suggest that
cognitively rehearsing a task before performing
it or mental rehearsal is beneficial for the
performance the subsequent task

9. Mental Rehearsal and Skill Aquisition
• Maring (1990) suggest that mental rehearsal
positively influences new motor skill acquisition

10. CBT and Emotions
• Jones (2003) suggests that emotions are
important factors in sport performance as they
influence an athlete’s motivations and physical
and cognitive functioning
• Baron, Davis and Gillson (2009) suggest that
CBT reduces athlete salivary cortisol levels

11. Coach-Athlete Alliance
• O’Broin and Palmer (2009) suggest that
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy positively effects
the coach and athlete alliance or relationship.

12. CBT effect on Perfectionism
• Flett, Heisel, Hewitt and Madosky (2002)
suggest that perfectionism or frequent
ruminating over mistakes or imperfections is
correlated to depression and anxiety
• Gardiner and Kearns (2007) showed that the
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy can decrease
participant’s perfectionism and self
handicapping cognitions

13. CBT and Hope
• Oades, Grant and Green (2006) suggest that
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy increases hope,
goal striving and well being.
• Cook et al. (1997) suggest that hope is a
significant predictor of academic and sporting
performance

14. CBT effect on athletes
• Rose (2010) assessed cognitive behavioural and
other psychological methods effect on track and
field athletes

15. CBT and Regulation Negative
Cognitions and Emotions
• Frodi et al. (2010) suggest that CBT enables
individuals to regulate negative cognitive
thoughts and ruminations, emotions and
incorporate positive cognitions.

16. CBT in Elite Golfers
• Cohn, Llyod and Rotella (1990) Suggest that
these Cognitive-Behavioural methods increased
the golfer’s adherence to pre shot routines and
subsequent performance

17. Coaching Implications

18. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
• Goal setting:
• Imagery or visualization:
• Self talk:
• Relaxation methods:
• Reconstructing negative cognitions:
• Increase athlete coach alliance:

19. Thank You

20. References
• Addis, M.E., Atkins, D.C., Dimidjian, S., Dobson, K.S., Gallop, R., Gollan, J.
K. et al. (2006). Randomised trial of behavioural activation, cognitive
therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults
with major depression. Journal of Counselling and Clinical
Psychology, 4, 658-670.
• Baron, D., Davis, H., & Gillson, G. (2009). Salivary cortisol and mood
reductions in Olympic athletes using cognitive behavioural methods.
Handbook of Sports Psychology, 18.
• Cohn, P.J., Llyod, J.W., & Rotella, R.J. (1990). Effects of a cognitive-
behavioural interventionon the preshot routine and performance in golf.
The sport Psychologist, 33-47.
• Cook, DL., Curry, L.A., Rehm, M., Ruby, B.C., & Snyder, C.R. (1997). Role of
hope in academic and sport achievement. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 1257-1267.

21. References
• Copper, C., Driskell, J.E., & Moran, A. (1994). Does mental practice
enhance performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 481-492.
• Flett, G.L., Heisel, M.J., Hewitt, P.L., & Madosky, D. (2002).
Perfectioninsm cognitions, rumination and psychological distress.
Journal of Rational Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy, 1.
• Forbes, A, Gardiner, M., & Kearns, H. (2007). A cognitive
behavioural coaching intervention for the treatment of
perfectionism and self handicapping in a nonclinical population,
Journal of Behaviour Change, 157-172.
• Frodi, A., Nilsson, E.K., Palmer, S., Regner, A.M., & Gyllensten, K.
(2010). Experiences of cognitive coaching: A qualitative study.
International Coaching Psychology Review, 1750-2764.

22. References
• Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Mpoumpaki, S., Theodorakis, Y., & Zourbanos,
N. (2009). Mechanisms underlying the self-talk-performance
relationship: The effects of motivational self-talk on self-confidence
and anxiety. Psychology of sport and Exercise, 186-192.
• , M.V. (2003). Controlling emotions in sport. The Sport
Psychologist, 471-486.
• Lee, C. (1988). The relationship between goal setting, self efficacy,
and female field hockey team performance. International Journal
of Sports Psychology, 147-161.
• Luiselli, J.K., & Reed, D.D. (2011). Behavioural Sport Psychology:
Evidence-Based Approaches to Performance Enhancement (1st ed.).
New York.

23. References
• Maring, J. (1990). Effects of mental practice on rate of skill acquisition.
Physical Therapy, 3.
• Oades, L.G., Grant, A.M., & Green, L.S. (2006). Cognitive-
behavioural, solution-focused life coaching: Enhancing goal striving, well-
being, and hope. The Journal Positive Psychology, 142-149.
• O’Broin, A., & Palmer, S. (2009). Co-creating an optimal coaching alliance:
A cognitive behavioural coaching perspective. International Coaching
Psychology Review, 2.
• Rose, O. (2010). Where should training for athletes begin? Examining the
efficacy of mental training with track and field athletes of the university of
the west indies, mona campus. International Journal of Arts and
sciences, 192-215.
•
•

24. References
• Picture Taken From Wikiversity under the
Creative Commons Licence 3.0
• File: Phil Jackson coaching LAL.jpg
• File: Question book.png