Dr Alan Beggs

I spent almost twenty-five years in the groves of academe, with a highly successful research career and over fifty publications to my name.

During that time, I also spent several years working part-time in the field of consumer market research - and some of the campaigns I helped shape were very successful indeed. This experience opened my eyes to the tangible value that psychology and psychologists can deliver.

My real passion is in making a difference to people. As an accredited Olympic sport psychologist from 1985 to 2000, I saw a gradual acceptance of the tools and techniques psychologists can bring to people striving to be the best they can be.

I believe I had a very small - but significant - part to play in 25% of the medals that Team GB brought back from the Sydney Games. That made coaches in every sport sit up and take notice. These days, of course, the mental side of sport is now widely understood to be critical.

Back in the world of work, I was heavily involved in the drive to bring the techniques and mindset of coaching to the workplace during the nineties.

Most recently, I have been using some of the insights and theory from the emerging science of Positive Psychology together with the practical methods of Sport Psychology to help build the sense of emotional engagement and psychological well-being which people need to face their challenges, whatever those may be. I have worked with unemployed people, carers of disabled people, and most excitingly, school children of every age.

I have always been involved in writing books. Apart from previously published books aimed at sport and business people, I have currently two books published on Amazon, aimed at Year 6 children facing the 11 Plus and SATs examinations.