Dr Rhonda Cohen

Psychology of extreme sport; motivation and risk; psychology of recovery from sporting injuries, personality in extreme sport, profiling of participants involved in extreme sports, high risk and sensation seeking in extreme sport, performance enhancement.

PhD in the relationship between personality, sensation seeking and sporting participation (July 2012).

Current PhD students 

• Tija Hubej -  Life Discourse Analysis of caregivers supporting  those with Dementia and developing a supportive training programme  (Viva in 2023)
• Fatemeh Fazelli - Cross Cultural percptions of Parents on Physical Acitivty, Fundamental Movement and Obesity in Children (PhD Awarded 2022)
• Bushra Ali - Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity in multiethnic populations- implications for increasing adherence (Registration passed October 2022)
• Anne Elliott - A Multi-method investigation into Physical Activity in Middle age through a life course persepctive ( PhD Awarded July 2016)
• Danny Holmes - Investigating Mental health, knowledge, attitudes and help seeking behaviours in English Professional Football (Sucessful transfered Feb 2022) 

Publications 

• Cohen, R., Baluch, B. and Duffy, L.J. (2018) Defining Extreme Sport : Conceptions an Misconceptions.

  Frontiers in Psychology. 9:1974. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01974

• Cohen, R., Baluch, B. and Duffy, L.J.(2018). Personality differences amongst Drag Racers and Archers: Implications for sport injury rehabilitation . Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation. Vol 14, No: 5, October 31, 2018
• Cohen,R. (2016). Sport Psychology: The basics: Optimising Human Performance. Bloombury Press.
• Cohen, R. (2014). 'Psychology of Enhancing Performance' in Key Clinical Topics in Sport & Exercise Medicine, edited by Navrani, Thomas and Lynn. JP Medical Publishers.
• Cohen, R. (2014). 'Psychology of Injury' in Key Clinical Topics in Sport & Exercise Medicine, edited by Navrani, Thomas and Lynn. JP Medical Publishers.
• Cohen,R. (2013) 'Applying Sport Pscyhology to Business'Think Outside the Box editorial in FitPro Business. April/May/June 2013 edition.
• Cohen,R . (2012). Abstract . Psychology of Extreme Sport .International Network of Sport and Health Science. Szombathely,Hungary. December 2012.
• Cohen, R. (2012) Key Note Speaker n Psychology of Extreme Sport. International Network of Sport and Health Science. Szombathely,Hungary. December 2012.
• Cohen, R., Nordin,S. and Abrahamson, E. (2010). 'Psychology of Injury' as in Sports Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention - Wiley and Son, publishers
• Cohen, R.(2009) Guest Editor of Journal of Health, Social and Environmental Issues, vol.10, no 1.
• Cohen, R.(2009) Foreword for Journal of Health Social and Environmental, vol.10, no 1.page 3-4

• Collins, J., Bishop, C, Hills, F.,Spiegelhalter, A., Cohen, R. and Turner A. 
  A Survey Into the Use of Priming Techniques Implemented by Athletes andCoaches to Improve Athletic Performance. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · December 2021 

• Lazarus,J. and Cohen, R. (2009) Sport Psychology and use of Neuro Linguistic (Journal of Health, Social and Environmental Issues, vol.10, no 1.pp. 5-12
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• Elliott, A., Evans, T. and Cohen, R. , Watt, J., and Volante, M.Was Physical education as bas as people remember it ? Internation Journal of Physical Education and SPort Sciences. 2021.  

• Reviewing  :
• European Journal of Sports Science
• Sport & Society
• Journal of Aging & Health
• Journal of American College Health
• Journal of Sport Science

• In the Media
• BBC Radio London - The Sports Show (Nov 2022)
• MONTHLY - 'ASK THE EXPERTS' for Women's Running Magazine 2018 to current.
• Marie-Claire magazine by Katie Mulloy  (2018)

• Fit & Well magazine (www.fitandwell.com)  Motivation – by Angela Yussuff

•  Bucket List experiences. 5 Wild shore excursions for a a Real Adventure. Tristan Parker .October 2020. Princess Cruises magazine  https://princessjourney.co.uk/destinations/five-wild-shore-excursions-for-a-real-adventure

• Patient Magazine - NHS September 2020 - LydiaSmith
  https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-judgement-whilst-exercising.
• BBC Inside Out – London – on Dementia -   Interview at the Dementia Club UK – Dr. Rhonda Cohen based on funded research February 2020.
• Time Out – article by Leonie. Cooper  -  Sport & Exercise Addiction – quotes by Dr. Rhonda Cohen  January/February 2020  
• Extreme fitness- are you up for the challenge - Marie-Claire magazine - June 2019 online ;-by Katie Malloy. Pushing yourself to the limits taps into a very current notion of what success looks like....
• Bye Bye Buddy August 2018 "Knowing someone else is reliant on you means that you don't want to let them down." Women's Running 
• Penalty Pressure: England's Struggles And What Really ... - SPORTbible  1 May 2018 - Dr. Rhonda Cohen is the head of the London Sport Institute and she believes that while athletes won't ever be able to fully free themselves of the effects of pressure , they are more equipped than ever before to succeed. 'Personality is something you are born with,' Dr. Cohen explains. 'Predisposed genetic 
• "Exercise which requires youto push harder and longer will challenge you to break through the safe exercise barrier, as well as through self-imposed limits to achieve more than you think is psychologically possible".  Dr. Rhonda Cohen in the Metro newspaper on Bootcamp and Aggressive exercise . Feb 11 2018 http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/11/fine-dont-thrive-stressful-bootcamp-gym-environments-7291690/
• • •  
    • Very - Listyle - 9th October 2017  by Amy Abrahams   "...benefits outside of the the gym ... sharpen our minds and focus ..."says Dr. Rhonda Cohen 
    • Gender and Fitness Is your workout Sexist?  Hannah Nathanson.  Elle Magazine . Sept 2017
    • Sunday Telegraph 25 Feb 2017 " Psychological Benefits of low intensity training by Lucy Waterlow. Stella magazine lifestyle section.  Sport psychologist, Rhonda Cohen says LISS can also be more beneficial for long term health ...
    • My Fitness pal by Andrea Childs . Psychologies . April 2017 sub-section - 'How to create a challenge mindset'- Rhonda Cohen 
    • Top Sante Magazine April 2017 Motivating Mindset "But ultimately , a good body image emanates from positive thoughts and emotions,..says Rhonda Cohen ..."
    • Cosmopolitan (UK) 1 Mar 2017One of the most interesting things that I’ve come across in my research is the fact that so many professional women who weight-lift do go on to put themselves forward for appearance-based competitions,” says Dr Rhonda Cohen, psychologist and head of the London Sport Institute.
    • "How to start Running and why it will change your Life" Marie Claire magazine  February 2017  "Men are greater risk takers a, so often start faster ..." 
    • "This one simple trick will help you run further" Red Bull "...fear as a tool ...turns into a powerful motivator ."  22/02/17
    • Why Being Chased Boosts Performance - The Sports Psychologist's Vew by Dr. Rhonda Cohen  22/02/01  Wings for Life World Run -Red Bull 
    • The Power of Positive Running by Lisa Jackson Women's Running UK 
    • London Free Papers Get Fit with advice from the experts Jan 2017 
    • 10 tips to keep fit Buzzfeed  https://t.co/wmW4qSRr2Z  Jan 2017 
    • Try a new year's resolution to WALK .  "...  improves mood and even the shortest walks can make you fel better."according to Dr. Rhonda Cohen Get Walking in 2017- Pledge with Living Streets Jan 2017 
    • “A limiting mindset can prevent you from achieving your optimal performance,” says Dr Rhonda Cohen, a registered sports and exercise psychologist, and head of the London Sport Institute at Middlesex University  Women's Running - January 2017 by Claire Chamberlain 
    • Women's Running " 5 Ways to Run without Goals this Winter" 10 Nov 2016  Pile up Miles ...Dr. Rhonda Cohen suggests... 
    • Putting the fun back into fitness BBC News Dr. Rhonda Cohen, "Exercise as play captures the essence ... 31st October 2016 
    • England athletics -Mental Health Week -The importance of this scheme is in raising awareness is that mental health issues can be helped. “If you are affected by mental illness then you shouldn’t feel stigmatized, nor should you feel alone,” says Dr Rhonda Cohen, a sport and exercise psychologist at Middlesex University 10th October 2016
    • "MY Body Convulses..." Guardian Newspaper 8th October 2016 “We lead very regulated lives, where almost everything is done for us,” explains Dr Rhonda Cohen, a sport psychologist at Middlesex University. “But knowing we can survive is a very important part of being human. ...
    • The Rise of Climbing, According to Dr. Rhonda Cohen... Elle magazine October 2016
    • Women's rugby receives support from Middlesex, Saracens and the RFU Sept 2016 
    • Rio Olympics 2016: Six types of Olympic booingBBC News-9 Aug 2016  So booing from a crowd can be distracting and prevent them performing at their best," says Dr Rhonda Cohen, a sport psychologist at ...
    • Booing Hope Solo? Jeering our beach volleyball teams? How rude!LifeZette-19 Aug 2016  Dr. Rhonda Cohen, a sports psychologist at London's Middlesex University, told the BBC, "The Olympics has always been synonymous with ...
    • Quais são os seis tipos de vaias da torcida brasileira na Rio 2016BBC Brasil-17 Aug 2016  Então as vaias podem distrair e até evitar que os atletas tenham o melhor desempenho", diz Rhonda Cohen, psicóloga do esporte da ...
    • com-17 Aug 2016... perjudicar el rendimiento de los deportistas”, dijo el doctor Rhonda Cohen a la BBC, psicólogo del deporte en la Universidad de Middlesex.
    • 6 tipos de abucheos que han llamado la atención en las ruidosas ...BBC Mundo-11 Aug 2016... y pueden perjudicar el rendimiento" de los deportistas, dijo el doctor Rhonda Cohen, psicólogo del deporte en la Universidad de Middlesex.
  • Dementia Sufferers get a boost from Saracens and Middlesex University, 3rd August 2016, Hendon & Finchley Press - Borough of Barnet Free Papers, Dr. Rhonda Cohen says the starting point for the research has been to see if exercise enhanced mood , brain function and balance in patients. 
  • Saracens Fund Middlesex Dementia Club Research July 2016, Dr Rhonda Cohen and Professor Trish Hafford-Letchfield DCUK and Saracens Sports Foundation: The impact of a Dementia café on carers supporting those with dementia
  • Women's Running - August 2016 Champions of the Mind by Tina Chantrey "...running is a free therapy..." Says Dr. Rhonda Cohen
  • The Fighting Mentality by Rhonda Cohen - Courier Magazine June/July 2016 
  • Dr Rhonda Cohen, head of the London Sport Institute, says short bursts of anger cause the adrenaline ...In the EVENING STANDARD5th May 2016
  • "The best form of exercise is free and on your doorstep" Top Psychologist from Middlesex University , Rhonda Cohen ...28th April 2016
  • Women's Health May 2016 "Don't bin your Fitbit, use it ...."
  • Fathers in Sport - Can the Nappy Factor explain Danny Willett's golf win?  Telegraph 12th April 2016
  • Adrenaline Zen - Men's HealthRiver-bugging in Scotland  Drown your anxieties with a hardcore river-bugging mission in the Spean Gorge  menshealth.co.uk/fitness/adrenaline-zen 11 Apr 2016 - ... says Dr Rhonda Cohen, a sport psychologist at Middlesex University. ...
  • 17 hints to improve your running- Women's Running UK "These help activate your glute muscles musch earlier on in your runs and take the pressure off...and visualising yourself running again," says Dr. Rhonda Cohen, a sport and exercise psychologust... 1st April 2016
  • 17 tweaks to massively improve your running- Men's Running Magazine ...and visualising yoursef run again ," says Dr, Rhonda Cohen, a Sport & Exercise Psychologist. "This will help you ....30th March 2016
  • Givemesport - Zlatan Ibrhamovic "To Dare is to DO" by Pete South, February 2016 
  • The Daily Mail-Can doing a headstand every day boost your sex life? by Alice Smellie - "You are increasing the blood flow to the head," points out Dr. Rhonda Cohen... 14th January 2016 
  • CNN-14th Jan 2016- Meet the father of BASE jumping -  That's what people asked BASE jumper Carl Boenish all the time. ....new film released called 'Sunshine Superman'.  "We're frightened yet excited at the same time..which provides us with a pleasurable feeling," Rhonda Cohen, at Middlesex University  ...
  • Top Sante -January 2016 issue  'Your winter running REBOOT'. Dr. Rhonda Cohen suggests using memories, including visual, auditory and physical , as a combative strategy ...pages 70-75 
  • Women's Running UK - November 2015; Autumn Almanac : We show you how to keep yourself on track as the weather changes. Dr. Cohen suggests vidualising your winter running with a stacking or building exercise ...
  • The daredevil psych: risk takers aren't as reckless as they seem, says Dr. Rhonda Cohen. Guardian    October 2015
  • Keeping the sporting dream alive -Middlesex University, for example, ...we integrate academic learning with ... 8th August 2015 Guardian 
  • “These bursts of activity improve our mental clarity and heighten our alertness because in extreme adventures we need to focus on one task,” says Dr Rhonda Cohen, a sport psychologist at Middlesex University. 30th July, 2015
  • CNN - Base Jumping: The thrill, the fear and the excitement.. Dr Rhonda Cohen  18th May, 2015
  • KORA - Rhonda Cohen– Extreme Sport Psychologist, Middlesex University“Be in the moment, as this will reduce your distraction from interfering thoughts. Enjoy the beauty and spirituality of being in this environment where you are one with nature. 19th April, 2015 
  "Start subsituting negative thoughts..." 18 Ways to be a Better Runner (Adrian Monti) - Women's Running UK - November 2014
• 17 Ways to be a Better Runner (David Castle) - Men's Running UK - 14th November 2014 "...visualise yourself running again", says Dr Rhonda Cohen
• Womens Running - Adrian Monti. A time out period...
• Take Control (Matthew Huckle) - Men's Fitness - September 2014... "Self Belief is important when taking risks", says Cohen
• The Telegraph (India) - Finger at Neymer and Boos
• Great British Chefs - July 2014. Dr. Cohen also sheds light on why a highly motivated indivudal might...
• "In making the shift towards being responsible..." The Biggest Losers (Adrian Monti) - Runners World UK - July 2014
• The Telegraph (India) -  June 2014 - "Suarez would have been under pressure," said Rhonda Cohen, a sports and exercise psychologist at Middlesex University in the UK. "He was frustrated and reverted to an instinctual behaviour of biting."
• Kora - Rachel Wareing - Ultramarathons (in press)
• Top Sante - Laura Jane MacBeth
• Circus Fest at the Roundhouse - Impossible Acts - 17th April 2014
• "Don't look Down" - an interview on Australian '60 Minutes' about urban free climber James Kingston
• The Science of Sport - Middlesex Univeristy - March 2014
• "Adrenaline activities are for those who enjoy..." Dr Rhonda Cohen in Asia Spa (January-February 2014)
• Dr Cohen featured in Canada's National Post in an article entitled "The pursuit of flying just a stones throw from a tragic fall"
• Dr Cohen gives her expert views on CNN World Sport about downhill skier Lindsey Vohn
• Mail On Sunday supplement - Children and the benefits of exercise - March 2013
• Biography of Dr Cohen - 'In sport 90 per cent of what you do is psychological'. Ian Florence talks to Dr Rhonda Cohen in the British Psychological Society magazine, 'The Psychologist'  October 2013
• Sporting Gestures and Global Health - Vision in Dubai - Olympic legacy, self esteem and depression
• Pourquoi Mario Balotelli ne rate aucun penalty? Nouvelle Tribune. 29 May 2013. Pour le Dr. Rhonda Cohen, Psychologue du sport et de l'exercice a l'Universite du Middlesex, Balotelli est un fin psychologue
• Balotelli je senzacny a neomyiny. V penaltach. SME.sk - 21 May 2013. "Balotelli dokaze odburat tiak, nevsima si publikum. Jedine, Na co sa sustredi, je pohyb brankara" tvrdi Rhonda Cohen
• Mail On Sunday supplement - quoted in Children and the benefits of exercise - March 2013 - "Applying sport psychology to business" by Dr.Rhonda Cohen. The Think Outside the Box editorial page in FitPro Business April/May/June 2013 edition
• The Balotelli Factor - Italy vs the Netherlands February 2013 Goal.com
• Why is it so hard to get back into running? Huffington Post - February 2013
• The wind of change is always difficult' Goal.com - January 2013
• Men's Health , December 2012, 'Are you a Workaholic?'
• Felix Baumgartner - jumps from space Huffington Post - October 2012
• The Daily Mail - Anti-gravity yoga: Dangling from the ceiling in a hammock made of parachute silk http://t.co/MzAAmq4p via @MailOnline
• Podium website congratulates Middlesex University student Lutalo for medal success 10th August 2012
• Channel 3 News - GB Team medal success - New Zealand - 10th August 2012
• British Psychological Society - news item about GB Team Home advantage 9th August 2012
• Daily Telegraph online - GB Team Medal success at London 2012 7th August 2012
• British Psychological Society - Ethics, Drugs and Sport 22nd May 2012
• Opening of the Human Movement Lab at Middlesex University 1st May 2012
• Daily Mail Why FIT is the new rich 30th April 2012
• Olympic Sprinter's boost to sport in Higher education
• Universities Week at Middlesex
• Limbering up for the Olympics
• Podium UK Universities Week 2012 - 2nd May 2012
• Women's Running - April 2012 - '20 Ways to Feel happier' by Claire Chamberlain
• Men's Heath - April 2012 - PT+ 'Stick to your Plans'
• Motivation in FitPro Life Virtual Magazine- February 2012
• Interviewed in Goal.com 'Their collective energy can destroy the Goliath' - the psychological problems Real Madrid must overcome in order to beat Barcelona
• 'Survive Festive Stress' Womens Running Magazine - January 2012
• 'A Question of Motivation' out in this month's FitPro Network October November 2011 magazine
• Doing something scary in a safe environment pushes us ! Rhonda in the Independent Newspaper 30th August 2011
• Rhonda interviewed in Flipside magazine about sport psychology and extreme sport-July 2011
• July 2011 issue of Top Sante for an article on exercise addiction and why exercise can make us fat!
• Read about Olympic Ordeals and Athletic Anxieties in theArts London News, May 2011.
• Interview about the psychology surrounding Manchester United's goal scoringat the very end of a match
• Rhonda interviewed about the psychology behind Fernando Torres's Goal drought in his first 5 weeks at Chelsea FC - 16th March 2011
• Women Running Magazine . Feel the Fear . March 2011
• Abseiling, "the benefits go beyond the physical" in Guiding in Autumn 2010 issue
• Daily MirrorSauna Championship tragedy, where Russian competitor dies
• Danish publication BT.dk and Finish publication Italehti.fi
• BodyFit Magazine September 2010 Motivation and Exercise
• The Daily Mail - Joint degree between Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesex University-July 2010
• 'Injury Time' in Women's running - July 2010 (Alex Gazzola)
• Times on line - South Africa read 'Making it burn every single day' Carol Midgley
• The Times -by feature journalist CarolMidgley - Ain't no mountain high enough: the rise of the challenge junkies
• Westminster News Online Dealing with dangers of winter sports27th February 2010
• Arc of a Diver - Independent Newspaper Tuesday 5^thMay 2009 - Online Red Bulletin magazine
• 50:50 Magazine - Psychology as a Profession (Oct 2009).

Television/Radio/Presentations

• BBC Inside Out - Interviewed at the Dementia Club Uk on Funded Research
• Formal introductory speech at University graduation for Maggie Alphonsi 
•  Circus Fest at the Roundhouse - Impossible Acts - 17th April. Presentation and Roundtable discussion
• "Don't look Down" - an interview on '60 Minutes' about urban free climber James Kingston
• The Science of Sport - Middlesex University - March 2014
• Daily Telegraph online - GB Team Medal success at London 2012 7th August 2012
• Channel 4 - Daredevils : life on the edge 4oD July 2012
• Channel 4 The Hidden Talent Show presented by Richard Bacon, April/May 2012 produced by SilverRiverTV/Sony . Interviewed contestants on the mind set/talent for free diving episode
• Speaker on 'Innovation' and presenter of Innovation award at Tottenham Hotspur Inaugural Awards Ceremony December 2011
• Interview about the psychology surrounding Manchester United's goal scoringat the very end of a match - Abu Dhabi Production Company
• Tottenham Hotspur Foundation Launch - Keynote Speaker along with Harry Redknapp and Lord Newby. "One Million Life Changing Opportunities". http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/foundation/foundation_news.html
• Inside Sport - BBC (8th February 2010) Interviewed by Michael Johnson -international gold medal sprinter.

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