Barry Jones Athletic Case Studies

Every athlete is an individual, and no two people respond to hypnotherapy—or any other form of psychological support—in exactly the same way. The work I do is therefore tailored to the individual athlete, their experiences, their personality, their goals and the particular performance challenge they are facing. While these case studies focus on sports performance hypnosis, there is often considerable crossover between hypnosis and other psychological approaches, including imagery, mental rehearsal, visualisation, confidence-building and strategies for managing pressure and performance. The case studies below provide real examples from my work with athletes and illustrate how different approaches can be used to address very different challenges, helping athletes develop greater confidence, focus, resilience and trust in their ability to perform when it matters most.

Gymnastics

I have worked with gymnasts facing performance blocks, loss of confidence and difficulty performing skills they had previously mastered. One case involved using hypnosis, imagery and mental rehearsal to help a young national-level gymnast change the way she mentally approached a difficult skill.

Read the full case study →‍ ‍When the Mind Rehearses Failure

Trampolining

I worked with a young national champion who had developed a mental block with skills she had previously performed successfully. The work focused on rebuilding confidence, changing the mental response to the skill and using hypnosis and imagery to rehearse successful performance.

Read the full case study →Overcoming a Mental Block and Regaining Confidence

Triathlon

My own experience competing in the Hawaii Ironman World Championship gave me a particular understanding of the mental demands of long-distance triathlon. I have also worked with triathletes using hypnosis, imagery and mental rehearsal to prepare for the physical and psychological challenges of endurance racing.

Read the full case study → Mental Preparation for the Hawaii Ironman

Rugby

My work with rugby players has included confidence, performance under pressure, injury recovery and the psychological challenge of returning to contact after injury. Having coached university rugby teams and worked with England 7s, I understand both the physical demands of the sport and the mental demands of competition.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Field Hockey

I have worked with field hockey players on confidence, concentration, decision-making and performing skills under pressure. The mental side of the game becomes particularly important when athletes have to execute technical skills quickly while dealing with fatigue, pressure and the demands of competition.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Basketball

My work with basketball players has included developing confidence, maintaining concentration and performing skills consistently when the pressure increases. Hypnosis and mental rehearsal can help athletes develop a stronger sense of automaticity and trust in skills they have already developed through physical training.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Baseball

Baseball places enormous demands on concentration because success often depends on performing a highly specific skill in a very short window. My work with baseball players has focused on confidence, concentration, controlling distractions and developing the ability to stay mentally engaged from one pitch or play to the next.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Football

I have worked with soccer players on confidence, concentration, decision-making and performing under pressure. Hypnosis and imagery can be particularly useful for mentally rehearsing situations such as receiving the ball, finishing, taking penalties and responding effectively after mistakes.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Golf

Golf is an excellent example of how physical preparation and mental performance have to work together. My work with golfers has focused on confidence, concentration, controlling overthinking and developing the ability to commit fully to a shot, particularly when the pressure is high.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Tennis

Tennis requires athletes to repeatedly reset mentally throughout a match. My work with tennis players has focused on confidence, concentration, managing pressure and recovering quickly from mistakes so that one missed shot or lost point does not affect the next one.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Swimming

Swimming requires the athlete to combine highly developed physical technique with concentration, pacing and the ability to perform when competition pressure is high. Hypnosis and imagery can be used to rehearse races mentally, strengthen confidence and develop a consistent performance mindset.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Figure Skating

Figure skating demands precision, timing and confidence while performing complex skills under intense competitive pressure. Mental rehearsal and hypnosis can help skaters develop confidence in difficult elements, manage performance anxiety and mentally rehearse routines so that they feel familiar before competition.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly

Bouldering

I have worked with bouldering athletes on the mental demands of climbing, including confidence, concentration and committing fully to difficult moves. Mental rehearsal and hypnosis can help climbers develop trust in their physical ability, manage hesitation and stay focused when attempting challenging problems.

Read the full case study → Available Shortly