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

It is surprising that, despite its popularity,

utilization approaches that incorporate

there is still a paucity of literature dealing

sporting terminologies and reminders of

specifically with the use of clinical hypnosis

prior sporting experience.

for the enhancement of sport performance. It

is therefore gratifying to see that a book has

It is well known that many athletes report

now been published that admirably helps fill

entering what is often referred to as `the

this gaping void. The authors, John Edgette

zone',  a  trance-like  state  typically

and Tim Rowan, are admirably qualified to

experienced when performing at one's

produce such a work as they are themselves

optimum. The authors rightly recognize this

sport psychologists and clinicians, both with

as a state of alert hypnosis that can be

a  background  in  Ericksonian  clinical

controlled and utilized by the athlete to

hypnosis. Though `Winning the Mind Game'

further enhance their performance. From

is the first book to be published that focuses

this premise a strategy that allows the

purely on an Ericksonian approach to

athlete to become adept at entering into this

sporting  enhancement,  the  authors

alert hypnotic state whilst performing is

direct

approaches  are  of  value  too  and

recommend Donald Liggett's book Sport

Of the more formal hypnotic approaches that

Hypnosis  (Human  Kinetics,  2000)  as

are discussed, those that utilize hypnotic

"required reading for anyone interested in

phenomena to the advantage of the athlete

the subject". From their own observations

are covered in detail. These include memory

that many sport psychologists already use

function,  time  distortion,  ideo  motor

forms of hypnosis (albeit without realizing it)

functioning,  age  regression,  pseudo

through  the  use  of  relaxation  and

orientation in time, and dissociation, to name but a few. Each

visualisation techniques the authors set about writing a book

phenomenon's possible application to sporting enhancement is

that details more sophisticated approaches to using the trance

covered showing how it can aid the rapid development of the

state. At the same time they highlight their own particular

appropriate cognitive and behavioural skills required for

approach that is designed to help the entire spectrum of age

improvement. This cognitive and behavioural theme is further

and athletic ability, incorporating assessment and intervention

explored with the authors providing approaches specifically

techniques that can be applied by qualified therapists at all

designed to modify any negative or neutral mindset with which

levels of experience in both individual and team settings.

an athlete views their current performance. Further to this,

strategies are also given that can modify and eradicate those

The authors begin by defining sport psychology and include

behaviours that maintain the unwanted performance. The

examples that show how it has helped many famous sporting

authors are at pains to point out that, although these cognitive

personalities to enhance their own performance. A review of the

and behavioural strategies are presented as separate subjects

myths and misrepresentations that can surround the field

for the purpose of clarity, they are interlinked as cognitive

follows, examining and rectifying incorrect assumptions made

changes influence behaviour and vice versa. Maintenance of

by the general public and therapeutic community alike. Edgette

these changes also falls under discussion with solution focused

and Rowan then precis the application of clinical hypnosis,

approaches once again being used, this time to ensure the

highlighting hypnosis as a means of enhancing the efficacy of

continuance of positive psychological and behavioural

the sport psychology model as well as a means of allowing

modifications through feedback in trance.

practitioners to move away from the sometimes protracted and

often turgid methods found within it.

Those hoping to find pages of scripts dealing with the various

aspects of sporting enhancement will be disappointed.

Guiding the reader through a step-by-step implementation, the

However, this lack of scripts is by no means detrimental. On the

authors present an all encompassing model that covers four

contrary, one of the book's many strengths is that it encourages

basic  elements:  psychological  attitude;  cognitive  and

therapists to utilize their own knowledge and experience when

psychological skills; the use of hypnosis; and accessing lost

following the model as laid down by the authors. Though

resources. Throughout they eschew a philosophy of flexibility

focused specifically on sport psychology, the concepts found

with regard to treatment, emphasizing the importance of

within the book's pages can be applied to a far wider

assessing each problem and individual on a case-by-case

therapeutic range. It must be said that `Winning the Mind Game'

basis. The therapists' attitude is also discussed and, for those

is a superb book crammed with useful information and ideas,

new to the field, important advice is given with regard to

providing a thoroughly enjoyable read.

breaking down one's own misconceptions when working with

athletes and sport psychology in general.