Case Study 3: An acceptance commitment and mindfulness based intervention for a female hockey player experiencing post injury performance anxiety

Abstract

Returning from injury in elite sport presents itself with numerous challenges. Although injury rehabilitation has featured extensively in sport psychology literature, the application of case specific interventions remains scarce. The current case study addresses the anxiety surrounding injury recovery, and presents a detailed intervention program that was delivered to an elite female hockey player. This intervention demonstrates the application acceptance commitment therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson, 1999), with mindfulness and relaxation strategies to reduce imagined pain associated with an old injury, and manage anxiety associated with return to play. Six key stages will be presented: background to case; formulation/assessment multidisciplinary; client education; learning mindfulness and ACT in context; assessing readiness to perform; intervention evaluation. The case concludes by summarising how ACT and mindfulness facilitated recovery from injury and return to performance, providing tentative advice for practitioners wishing to adopt an ACT based approach within the domain of pain management and injury recovery.