Inspiring Sporting Excellence

Business Details

16 Years

experience

Sports Psychology Coaching for Peak Performance

Inspiring Sporting Excellence was founded in 2010 with a mission to empower athletes, coaches, and teams to achieve peak performance through evidence-based sports psychology and mental toughness training. Our team of HCPC-registered psychologists and accredited coaches brings decades of combined experience working with elite professionals, youth athletes, and teams across diverse sports. We specialise in translating cutting-edge neuroscience and psychological research into practical strategies that enhance focus, resilience, and confidence under pressure.

Our approach combines one-to-one coaching, online sessions, and group workshops to address challenges such as performance anxiety, leadership development, and career transitions. With a commitment to ethical practice and client-centred support, we have helped thousands of individuals and organisations unlock their potential through tailored mental performance programmes.

Services

Mental Toughness Training Sports Psychology Coaching 1-2-1 Support Online Coaching Workshops Leadership Development Career Transitions Support Injury Coping Strategies Performance Anxiety Management Team Culture Development

Details

Year established: 2010

Highlights and features

Over 10 years of experience in sports psychology coaching
Personalised mental toughness programmes tailored to individual needs
Proven strategies used by elite athletes and teams
HCPC-registered psychologists with specialist accreditations
Flexible delivery via face-to-face, online, and group workshop formats

Associations and certifications

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

What people say

Transformative mental toughness training Effective sports psychology strategies Significantly enhances athletic performance Highly recommend Improved confidence

Website

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Services

Mental Toughness Training

Our mental toughness training builds psychological resilience through evidence-based techniques. We help athletes develop emotional control, confidence, and focus to perform consistently under pressure. Programmes include goal-setting frameworks, visualisation exercises, and stress management strategies tailored to individual sports and competition levels.

Sports Psychology Coaching

Personalised sports psychology coaching addresses specific performance challenges. We work with athletes to overcome anxiety, improve decision-making, and enhance motivation using cognitive-behavioural techniques. Sessions focus on developing mental skills that translate directly to competitive success while maintaining athlete well-being.

1-2-1 Support

Tailored one-to-one support combines psychological assessment with targeted interventions. Our accredited psychologists create custom development plans addressing confidence issues, injury recovery, and performance plateaus. Sessions use a blend of face-to-face and remote delivery to accommodate athlete schedules.

Online Coaching

Flexible online coaching delivers expert support through video conferencing platforms. This service maintains the same rigorous standards as in-person sessions, enabling global access to mental performance training. Programmes include digital resources and progress tracking tools for continuous development.

Team Workshops

Custom team workshops develop collective mental resilience and communication skills. Designed for clubs and organisations, these sessions focus on building positive team culture, enhancing leadership capabilities, and improving performance under pressure through interactive exercises and group dynamics analysis.

People

David Charlton

Owner & HCPC Psychologist

Founder of Inspiring Sporting Excellence with 15+ years' experience. Chartered Sport Psychologist specialising in mental toughness development. Former amateur golfer and grassroots football coach with expertise in performance anxiety and leadership training.

Gayatri Bhushan

Associate Psychologist

HCPC-registered Sport Psychologist with experience at Chelsea FC Foundation. Specialises in youth development and mental health integration in sport. Founder of Mind Matter Performance, combining scientific rigour with compassionate practice for athlete development.

Alessia Bruno

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Psychologist and EMDR consultant with dual expertise in sport and mental health. Masters in Sport Psychology with focus on creative performance and trauma-informed approaches. Combines Brainspotting techniques with traditional sports psychology interventions.

Tom Short

Sport Psychologist

HCPC-registered psychologist specialising in team sports performance. PhD researcher at Loughborough University focusing on elite cricket psychology. Delivers group sessions for academy football players to enhance consistency and fearless performance.

Aditi Gandhi

Gymnastics Specialist

HCPC-qualified Sport Psychologist with elite gymnastics background. Expert in performance anxiety management and coach-athlete relationship dynamics. Uses evidence-based approaches to balance high-pressure demands with mental well-being in youth athletes.

Questions

What sports psychology services do you offer?

We provide mental toughness training, 1-2-1 coaching, online support, team workshops, and leadership development programmes tailored to individual athletes, coaches, and teams across all sports.

How can sports psychology improve my performance?

Our evidence-based techniques enhance focus, confidence, and emotional control. Clients learn practical strategies to overcome anxiety, maintain motivation, and perform consistently under pressure through personalised development plans.

Do you work with youth athletes?

Yes, we specialise in youth development programmes addressing confidence building, resilience, and performance anxiety. Our psychologists work with young athletes and their families to create supportive environments for long-term success.

Are sessions available online?

All our services are available through secure video conferencing platforms, enabling global access to expert coaching while maintaining the same rigorous standards as face-to-face sessions.

How do you measure progress?

We use validated psychological assessments combined with performance metrics tracking. Regular reviews ensure programmes adapt to individual development needs while maintaining focus on specific performance goals.

What qualifications do your coaches hold?

Our team includes HCPC-registered Sport Psychologists, BPS-chartered professionals, and CASES-accredited practitioners with specialist expertise in mental toughness training and performance enhancement techniques.

Reviews (6)

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Ann-Marie Smyth

Oct 12, 2020 Report

I worked with David after sustaining a severe sporting injury playing Roller Derby. I was out of action for 8 months and asked David to help me overcome psychological and physical barriers which were preventing me from returning to the sport.
David provided a programme of rehabilitation exercises to help me to regain strength and motion, and a programme to help me to overcome the fear of re-injury allowing me to get back to enjoying the sport as I had previously. I found Davids approach to be thorough and I was allowed to take things at my own pace, not being pushed into doing things before

Luke Mumford

Jan 30, 2020 Report

Great guy, really helps, and has improved me mentally which is great! Appreciate it!!!!! Thanks again

D. Lee

Jan 05, 2020 Report

I first started working with David Charlton a few months ago. I have been playing golf for 30 years, although really enjoying it for the last 10 years, to a stage where I didnt really play a lot anymore. I did have some limited experience of sports psychology and decided I wanted to use this for my golf. I contacted David and immediately he seemed to get me. I am quite a driven person with high expectations of myself, Davids calmness and analytical, considered approach were exactly what I needed.
David has given me some simple tips during our sessions which have massively helped

Tanya Graham

Nov 12, 2019 Report

At the time of contacting David my 11 year old cricket player was struggling with managing negative emotions during and after matches, impacting on his confidence for the rest of the game. Davids input allowed him to develop strategies to be more resilient on the pitch, with the bonus they translate to other areas of every day life. In addition he used a flexible approach, which included a couple of sessions on the pitch, for this I am truly grateful and would absolutely recommend him. I should also add, just as importantly myself and partner also learnt how we could better support our son too

Motorbike Pod

Oct 31, 2019 Report

I would highly recommend David to anyone who is looking to improve in their chosen sport. I contacted David whilst in a challenging situation in my season, and I felt the work we did together played a vital role in succeeding. I am continuing to work with David to improve myself and I really look forward to our meetings. The audio tapes are great for getting into the subconscious mind and I really enjoy relaxing and listening to them before competitions.

Showw Tim

Aug 24, 2019 Report

I am a pool player who struggled with nerves for years. Loosing so many big matches through shaking and not being able to cope with the pressure. After loosing a recent final after winning soo many tough matches to get there I decided to address the issue and seek help. I eventually found David online and I liked the look of his sports excellence website. After only 2 sessions I massively felt the results. Not only am I thinking positive I now am buzzing to play in these big pool matches. Every day/night I am thinking of upcoming matches and visualising myself playing great in different venues