Product reviews for Winning the Mind Game

It is surprising that, despite its popularity, there is still a paucity of literature dealing specifically with the use of clinical hypnosis for the enhancement of sport performance. It is therefore gratifying to see that a book has now been published that admirably helps fill this gaping void. The authors, John Edgette and Tim Rowan, are admirably qualified to produce such a work as they are themselves sport psychologists and clinicians, both with a background in Ericksonian clinical hypnosis. Though -˜Winning the Mind Game' is the first book to be published that focuses purely on an Ericksonian approach to sporting enhancement, the authors recognize that direct authoritarian approaches are of value too and recommend Donald Liggett's book Sport Hypnosis (Human Kinetics, 2000) as “required reading for anyone interested in the subject”. From their own observations that many sport psychologists already use forms of hypnosis (albeit without realizing it) through the use of relaxation and visualisation techniques the authors set about writing a book that details more sophisticated approaches to using the trance state. At the same time they highlight their own particular approach that is designed to help the entire spectrum of age and athletic ability, incorporating assessment and intervention techniques that can be applied by qualified therapists at all levels of experience in both individual and team settings.

The authors begin by defining sport psychology and include examples that show how it has helped many famous sporting personalities to enhance their own performance. A review of the myths and misrepresentations that can surround the field follows, examining and rectifying incorrect assumptions made by the general public and therapeutic community alike. Edgette and Rowan then precis the application of clinical hypnosis, highlighting hypnosis as a means of enhancing the efficacy of the sport psychology model as well as a means of allowing practitioners to move away from the sometimes protracted and often turgid methods found within it.

Guiding the reader through a step-by-step implementation, the authors present an all encompassing model that covers four basic elements: psychological attitude; cognitive and psychological skills; the use of hypnosis; and accessing lost resources. Throughout they eschew a philosophy of flexibility with regard to treatment, emphasizing the importance of assessing each problem and individual on a case-by-case basis. The therapists' attitude is also discussed and, for those new to the field, important advice is given with regard to breaking down one's own misconceptions when working with athletes and sport psychology in general.

The majority of the book is devoted to clinical intervention, beginning with an overview of the psychological assessment process centred around a solution focused approach that incorporates strategic questioning. The authors break this assessment down into four sections (goal orientated; solution focused; resource retrieval; and contextual support questions), taking the reader through the information gathering process that subsequently allows the therapist to clearly assess the needs and outcomes sought by the athlete. Integration of the assessment with a proposed intervention is demonstrated through an annotated case transcript that follows the questioning process through to the conclusion of the hypnosis session. An interesting chapter follows with the authors discussing the induction of hypnosis as relevant to sport psychology, recommending utilization approaches that incorporate sporting terminologies and reminders of prior sporting experience.

It is well known that many athletes report entering what is often referred to as -˜the zone', a trance-like state typically experienced when performing at one's optimum. The authors rightly recognize this as a state of alert hypnosis that can be controlled and utilized by the athlete to further enhance their performance. From this premise a strategy that allows the athlete to become adept at entering into this alert hypnotic state whilst performing is included.

Of the more formal hypnotic approaches that are discussed, those that utilize hypnotic phenomena to the advantage of the athlete are covered in detail. These include memory function, time distortion, ideo motor functioning, age regression, pseudo orientation in time, and dissociation, to name but a few. Each phenomenon's possible application to sporting enhancement is covered showing how it can aid the rapid development of the appropriate cognitive and behavioural skills required for improvement. This cognitive and behavioural theme is further explored with the authors providing approaches specifically designed to modify any negative or neutral mindset with which an athlete views their current performance. Further to this, strategies are also given that can modify and eradicate those behaviours that maintain the unwanted performance. The authors are at pains to point out that, although these cognitive and behavioural strategies are presented as separate subjects for the purpose of clarity, they are interlinked as cognitive changes influence behaviour and vice versa. Maintenance of these changes also falls under discussion with solution focused approaches once again being used, this time to ensure the continuance of positive psychological and behavioural modifications through feedback in trance.

Those hoping to find pages of scripts dealing with the various aspects of sporting enhancement will be disappointed. However, this lack of scripts is by no means detrimental. On the contrary, one of the book's many strengths is that it encourages therapists to utilize their own knowledge and experience when following the model as laid down by the authors. Though focused specifically on sport psychology, the concepts found within the book's pages can be applied to a far wider therapeutic range. It must be said that -˜Winning the Mind Game' is a superb book crammed with useful information and ideas, providing a thoroughly enjoyable read.