Sport Hypnosis

Donald R. Liggett, now deceased, was a professor of psychology and education and a hypnotherapist certified through the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis. He worked with a wide variety of athletes, including powerlifters, basketball players, football kickers and receivers, gymnasts, wrestlers, hockey players, and cross country runners. He received his master's degree in experimental psychology and doctorate in international education and educational psychology from Stanford University. While teaching the psychology of hypnosis at Stanford, he became the first person to use hypnosis to improve athletic performance of members of Stanford's gymnastics and football teams. In 1997, Liggett was invited to teach sport psychology at the University of Malaya and to use hypnosis to help Malaysian athletes prepare for the 1998 Commonwealth Games. These efforts were rewarded when three of his athletes won medals--two golds and one bronze.

Part 1 Incorporating hypnosis into mental training: demystifying hypnosis; taking mental training to the next level. Part 2 Developing specific mental training skills: easing out tension; imaging perfect performance; mobilising energy; building motivation with goals; optimising arousal levels; eliminating distractions; gaining inner strength; easing pain; unleashing self healing. Part 3 Learning from case studies: David, the quarterback; Scott, the soccer player; Matt, the kayaker; Jim, the pole-vaulter; Beth, the basketball player.