Climbing pushes us to our limits – physically and mentally. Fear, self-doubt, comparison and the need for belonging shape not only the way we climb, but the way we live.
In Get a Grip, climbing coach Louis Parkinson and psychotherapist Joel Robertson draw on their years of experience in coaching and therapy to explore eleven of the most common psychological challenges that climbers face. From self-worth and body image, to mindfulness, fear, relationships and the critical inner voice, they offer a thoughtful and practical guide to understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.
Rather than presenting a rigid formula for success or a perfect mindset to aspire to, Get a Grip encourages curiosity, reflection and self-compassion. Using first-hand accounts, ideas, discussion and practical exercises, you are invited to explore your own emotional landscape and discover new ways of approaching both climbing and life.
Whether you’re projecting your hardest route, rebuilding confidence after a setback or simply trying to enjoy climbing more fully, Get a Grip offers a path towards greater resilience, freedom, connection and joy – on and off the wall.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Part 1: Self-worth
- Chapter 1: Performance, success and self-worth
- Chapter 2: The contested worth of our bodies
- Chapter 3: Comparison, the thief of love
- Part 2: Mindset
- Chapter 4: Adopting a change mindset
- Chapter 5: Critical inner voice
- Chapter 6: What we give our attention to
- Part 3: The present moment
- Chapter 7: Mindfulness and an undivided self
- Chapter 8: Working with fear
- Chapter 9: What’s our motivation made of?
- Part 4: Relationships
- Chapter 10: Belonging: a prerequisite for thriving
- Chapter 11: The power of relationships
- Final reflections and practice
- UK-based support services
- References
About the Author :
Louis Parkinson has been climbing for over twenty years and coaching professionally for more than a decade. He has competed nationally and internationally, representing Great Britain in the 2015 climbing world cup. In 2017, he founded Catalyst Climbing, which has grown into one of the world’s leading climbing coaching organisations, working with thousands of climbers of all ages and abilities – including athletes who have gone on to join the GB junior climbing team. Through his popularity on YouTube and Instagram, Louis has become widely known for his work on climbing performance and mindset.
Joel Robertson MA, MBACP is a psychotherapist based on Harley Street, London. Since transitioning from a career in content and project management for startups and charities, his practice has brought him alongside clients from a wide range of backgrounds including professional sportspeople, actors, social workers, CEOs and Michelin-starred chefs. More recently, he has expanded to working with couples and people in other forms of relationships, including family members and business partners. This breadth of experience gives Joel deep insight into the mental health challenges that people bump up against in everyday life, as well as the kinds of conditions that support healing, growth, resilience and lasting change. In his spare time, Joel is a keen climber and occasional triathlete.
