Elite sport can be an unforgiving and harsh environment. This book explores psychological predictors of wellbeing and performance excellence in elite level athletes, and presents an innovative approach for optimizing mental wellbeing and sporting performance. Jointly developed by performance psychologists, clinical psychologists and sport scientists the Flexible Mind approach draws on contemporary psychological theory and research to help athletes build ‘psychological flexibility’ - the ability to experience challenging thoughts and emotions and still be true to one’s values. A range of case studies relating to different sports are used to demonstrate how three core components - Being Present, Being Open and Doing What Matters - can improve athletes’ performance and wellbeing. This book will be a game-changing resource for sports psychologists, mental health practitioners, coaches and support staff who are committed to helping athletes to excel and stay well. “A practical, yet readily graspable approach is presented in the comprehensive and thorough work of Ross G. White, Andrew Bethell, Lewis Charnock, Stephen Leckey, and Victoria Penpraze titled Acceptance and Commitment Approaches for Athletes’ Wellbeing and Performance: The Flexible Mind. ... The authors of the book are a group of experts specializing in sports psychology. ... they provide a holistic approach to athlete care, emphasizing mental flexibility, well-being, and optimized performance.” (Nasrin Jourianp, Hungarian Educational Research Journal, July 12, 2024) “This book provides the reader with solid theory and research on the psychological issues that face athletes. And then, they go one step further and provide a very engaging read, with memorable ways to enliven the work, and it all comes together as a very useful resource. I can see this as being very welcomed by all those who work with athletes. A great handbook to give to coaches. Many aspiring athletes are still very young adolescents and helping them manage their skill along with their mental wellbeing is critical. If you work in this field, I think this is essential.” (Louise Hayes, PhD, clinical psychologist, author of The Thriving Adolescent, Your Life Your Way, and Get out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens) “Our ability to learn, unlearn and relearn is one of the biggest differences in forming high performance cultures. The authors offer us a rich supply of research, tips and techniques to speed and facilitate this process. This bookis an invaluable resource.” (Damian Hughes, Visiting Professor of Organisational Psychology and Change, author and co-host of The High Performance Podcast) “Psychological flexibility is thundering into sport and mental performance coaching because it opens up new and effective ways to think about training, toughness, competition, and life balance. The Flexible Mind leaves no stone unturned in its honest, thorough, and skillful application of the model to that most human of all human behaviors: organized athletic competition. I learned something on almost every page. Highly recommended.” (Steven C. Hayes, Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno and originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or Training) “This is an important book: accessible, practical but with real substance. It distils one of the fastest growing models of how humans react to their situation and tailors it beautifully to the needs of athletes and their coaches. In a world ofindividual, gimmicky ideas, its expert authors bring you real science applied to real performance and well-being issues.” (Dr Ray Owen, Consultant Clinical & Health Psychologist. Author of Facing the Storm & Living with Enemy) “This is an essential guide for anyone coaching athletes towards excellence. Grounded in the latest behavioural science and based on a powerful behavioural change model, this ground-breaking, practical, and clearly presented programme will help athletes to develop resilience and achieve peak performance in the high-pressure context of elite sport. I cannot recommend this book enough.” (Dr Mike Sinclair, Consultant Counselling Psychologist, Clinical Director of City Psychology Group, and co-author of Mindfulness for Busy People, The Little ACT Workbook, The Little Depression Workbook and The Little Anxiety Workbook) “This book provides a comprehensive toolbox of evidence-based insights driving elevated athletic performance. However, the benefits are not limited to athletes. Rather, this exceptional text simultaneously opens the door to enhanced outcomes across a range of personal and professional settings. If you’re looking to take your game to a new level in any key area of life, this is your ticket!” (Bradford Cooper, PhD, CEO of US Corporate Wellness, Co-Founder of Catalyst Coaching Institute, Host of Catalyst Health, Wellness & Performance Coaching Podcast) “An essential read for anyone in the field of sports psychology. Whether you work with professio