Women's Football Hub

Edited by Dr Ian Cookson – Women’s Football Hub

Introduction

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, Dr Ian Cookson speaks with Serena MacLeod, a Chartered Sport & Exercise Psychologist and former mental performance consultant for Reading FC Women. Serena opens up about her personal journey with injury, why psychological support is vital, and how players, coaches, and parents can better manage the emotional impact of returning to football after injury.

Why Injury Recovery Is More Than Physical

Serena’s passion for psychology began after suffering her own traumatic knee injury at 17. Despite physically healing, she wore a brace for seven years due to fear of re-injury. It’s this emotional aftermath that she now helps others navigate.

“I was terrified of getting injured again. It took years to rebuild my confidence.”

Serena highlights that the emotional fallout from injuries can be just as challenging as the rehab itself. Anxiety, depression, identity loss, and isolation are common responses, especially for younger players.

Stages of Grief in Injury

Injured athletes often go through psychological phases that mirror grief:

• 😢 Denial and disbelief
• 😡 Anger and frustration
• 😞 Depression and hopelessness
• ✅ Acceptance and rebuilding

These stages are not linear and vary greatly between individuals. Serena stresses that understanding where a player is emotionally helps inform how to support them best.

The Power of Psychological Support

As a practitioner, Serena works within multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) involving coaches, physiotherapists, and parents. She uses techniques such as:

• 🧠 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to reframe negative thoughts
• 💬 Compassion-Focused Therapy to address harsh self-talk
• 👂 Active listening & validation to make players feel seen and heard

“Some players feel forgotten when they’re injured. It’s vital they still feel part of the team.”

Individualising the Return-to-Play Process

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some players want to stay closely connected with the team during rehab; others find it too painful. Serena adapts her support plan to the individual, constantly reassessing their emotional needs.

• 👥 Social support is critical, especially for academy players far from home.
• 💬 Constant communication with coaches helps ensure alignment.
• 🛑 Early intervention can prevent more serious mental health issues.

Understanding the Real Risks

If the psychological side of injury is ignored, players risk:

• ⚠️ Depression and prolonged anxiety
• 🍽️ Disordered eating or self-harm
• ❌ Premature withdrawal from the sport

For young players, the risk is magnified. Injury during developmental years can derail identity formation and drastically affect future wellbeing.

“You’re taking away the thing they love most. It’s more than a physical setback—it’s an emotional crisis.”

Advice for Coaches and Parents

Serena encourages coaches and parents to:

✅ Validate players’ emotions

✅ Avoid comparisons to pre-injury performance

✅ Understand the grief process

✅ Offer steady and patient support

“You don’t need to be a therapist to help. Just be a compassionate human.”

What’s Next? Gaps in the Research

Serena calls for more studies on:

• 📚 Academy players and developmental psychology
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parental education on supporting injured athletes
• 🤝 Multidisciplinary team integration for rehab support

These insights could help shape better resources and responses within both elite and grassroots football environments.

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📢 Want to connect with Serena? Visit www.cognitiveperformancesport.com or follow her on Instagram @cognitiveperformancesport

🎧 Listen to the full episode here or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

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This blog post was created with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).