Mental Freedom for Athletes

Freeing the Athlete’s Mind – The Route to Enhanced Performance in Sport

As an athlete, do you wonder why there are days when you’re fully engaged and confident and others when you barely make your presence felt while displaying negative behaviours (including blame) towards team-mates, coaches and your family?

We cannot experience life or perform in a sport without the human mind, yet very few understand how it works, it’s true nature! Nowadays, instead of turning to the traditionally trained sports psychologists to help control and manage head noise, to be able to perform under pressure, many athletes are actively seeking a greater understanding of their state of mind, wellbeing and resilience and its impact on sporting achievements and life decisions.

How I help you

With over 30 years’ experience in elite sports performance, engaging in transformative conversations with coaches and managers at club, regional, elite, national and professional levels, I can help you to:

  • Understand the mind-performance link– avoid performance sabotage, see your learning, development and results arising from the power of your own insight rather than the outside world.
  • Embrace the power of thought that leads to positive, profound and sustainable change.
  • See the difference between mental health and mental illness, ensuring you’re physically and psychologically ‘fit for purpose’.
  • Realise your innate creative potential and enjoy a happy, healthy and achievement-filled life.
  • Uncover the misunderstanding that causes all self-image and identity issues, and live life full-out and fearless.

As a result, you will be able to:

  • Handle selections and feedback with greater clarity and confidence.

  • Make sense of stress, worry and anxiety that is sabotaging your performances and enjoyment in life.

  • Understand what’s behind addictive, and compulsive behaviours, so that these habits dissolve with ease.

  • Recover quickly from losing to a tough opponent, enjoy and maximise the learning from every experience.

  • Banish conflict, and unnecessary angst, remain calm and connected when things go wrong.

  • Stop blaming others for the way you feel, be easy with your temporary uncomfortable psychology.

  • Understand the true nature of the performance zone state so that you experience natural flow more and more of the time!

If you identify with any of the above outcomes, then you are ready for change via one of our Transformative Coaching Programs for athletes:

Silver

£119795700One off

  • A Six-Week Transformative Session-Based Training (In person and online)

    This includes:

  • Two private 90-minute coaching sessions per day for three days
  • Four further private 90-minute weekly coaching sessions
  • Resources – DVDs, downloads, and books
  • In person training held in West Malling, Kent, UK on-line via zoom conferencing calls
Buy NOW

Gold

£2475197900One off

  • A Three-Month Transformative Intensive Training (In person)

    This includes:

  • Three full six-hour days of private coaching (at least two days must be consecutive)
  • Four further private 90-minute coaching sessions
  • Weekly tasks to aid reflection and deepen understanding
  • Resources – DVDs, downloads, and books
  • In person training held in West Malling, Kent, UK (Overseas in-person training available on request, details to be agreed)
Buy NOW

Bronze

49500One off

  • A One-Month Transformative Intro-Training (In person and online)

    This includes:

  • Four 90-minute private coaching sessions
  • Resources – DVD’s and downloads
  • In person training held in West Malling, Kent, UK on-line via zoom conferencing calls
Buy NOW

During this time of Coronavirus, a special 20% discount is applied to specific online coaching programs – this special rate is extended to 31st January 2021

If you’re unsure about which program is right for you, why not book a FREE 1:1 transformative coaching session to explore your goals or concerns in more depth?

What People Say About Working With Denise

Lesley MacDonald

Denise has a tremendous understanding of how to achieve elite performance in sport. Her contagious enthusiasm is motivating and inspires you to the next level

Lesley MacDonald
Scotland National Netball Athlete (107 caps)

Harriet Bonner-Leney

I enjoyed this course very much as it improved my shooting technique and accuracy dramatically. I learned that you do not have to be controlled by your negative thoughts because they are not you.

Harriet Bonner-Leney
Age 12

Vicky Norman

Meeting Denise was perfect timing, written in the stars, foretold, whatever. My world was falling apart, my marriage had ended, my child was in serious trouble, and I was upping sticks and moving up North to run the biggest, most complex project of my career.
Four months later, my project is an astonishing success, my marriage is back on track, and best of all, my baby is coming back to me. I am different at work, at home, inside my head, and others can see it. The dark days aren’t dark any more because they don’t last, and the light days are far more frequent. Denise’s workj isn’t just amazing in the world of sport but any area of life.

Vicky Norman
Implementation Manager

Hannah Salem

I used to struggle to remain calm and confident in stressful situations, what others think of me, what would happen if I did something wrong? We are all capable of achieving, no part of our abilities is lacking! This programme has truly changed me for the best and is perfect during my final year of University.

Hannah Salem
Third Year Student - The University of Kent - Sports Therapy

Richard Pybus

Denise has been instrumental in my evolving understanding of the Three Principles and how they specifically apply in high-performance sport. Her insightful and intuitive way of working has challenged and deepened my fundamental understanding of all human performance. I’ll always be appreciative of her significant role in my development as a performance director and coach.

Richard Pybus
Founder & CEO Optimal Performance - Former Director of Cricket - West Indies Cricket Board

Stuart Lancaster

I appreciate the support Denise gave me when I was transitioning into my new role at Leinster and helping me understand how to ‘free my mind!

Stuart Lancaster
Senior Coach Leinster Rugby – Former England Rugby Coach

Amelia Davies

Denise’s new approach is great for teamwork, we don’t get upset with each other anywhere near as much, and get over disappointments quickly.

Amelia Davies
Third Year Student - The University of Kent, Sports and Excercise for Health

Grayson Hart

I enjoyed speaking with Denise about the mind and performance. The conversations were very insightful and always had me challenging and questioning the status quo regarding mental performance. The critical pointer Denise gave was that our natural state is freedom of mind, clarity and potential. We don’t need to overexert the mind to find these states. Searching for them often leads us further into tension. I found this very relatable to direct experiences in life and sport.

Grayson Hart
Scotland International Rugby Player - London Scottish FC

Adam Ashe

Denise has the skills and experience to wake people up to deeper knowledge about themselves. In the sporting arena, this knowledge happens to be crucially important.

Adam Ashe
Professional Rugby Player – Glasgow Warriors

Charlie Harris

Before I took part in Denise’s Health and Well Being programme, I stressed in many situations; it would prevent me from taking part in different things. I now look at the situations holistically and not let thoughts prevent me from putting myself forward.

Charlie Harris
2nd-year student – The University of Greenwich – Forensic science with Criminology Student

Floyd Woodrow MBE

Denise is impressive in her abilities by any standard. Her ability to teach and develop those around her, mark her out as someone with exceptional leadership and coaching skills. I constantly seek advice and counsel from her and trust her implicitly.

Floyd Woodrow MBE
Chairman and CEO of Chrysalis Worldwide

Nadia McMillian

I am so grateful to have worked with Denise, I used to float in and out of different moods and believed it was other things and situations causing them. Honestly, this understanding has changed my life.

Nadia McMillian
Third Year Student - The University of Kent, Sport and Exercise Science.

Mark Harris

I reached out to Denise when my world seemed to be falling apart. I had recently received a diagnosis of two different types of cancer; my son was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and had little time to live. I did not know how to process all of this, and my mental state spiralled! Within ten minutes of quiet time with Denise, I felt everything lifting from my shoulders and a feeling of calm settling in its place. Working with Denise has given me a deeper understanding and knowledge of the mind, it keeps me on a healthy path not only in general day-to-day life but as a life skill in my work environment and sport. Forever grateful to you, Denise.

 

Mark Harris
Senior Business Analyst and Golfer!

Jack Pransky

Denise Holland is one of my best “students.” She is one of the few students I have asked to teach with me, and I was and remain very impressed with her presence, her knowledge, her wisdom, her feeling and her responsiveness. I would say anyone who works with Denise is in excellent hands.

 

Jack Pransky
Author - Someone Should Have Told Us (Simple Truths for Living Well)

Matthew Roberts

I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Denise when we met in America. It would be easy to accuse me of exaggeration or sensationalising by making the following statement, but I can only offer you the truth as I see it.

Matthew Roberts
England International High Jumper who came back from breaking his neck!