Bruce is intelligent, energetic with a thorough knowledge of all phases of competitive swimming, including the psychological aspects of competition and training, dry land exercises, training methods and stroke mechanics. He can get along with athletes and motivate them in their performance. Bruce and I worked together for nearly a year, during which we explored various aspects of the psychological preparation of swimmers, and I have used some of his methods with success. He is one of UK’s best young coaches, and I am convinced that because of Bruce’s knowledge of sports psychology and his desire to raise his standard of coaching, he will also raise the standard of Britain’s swimming.”

Head Coach USA’s swim teams 1964 and 1976 Olympics. Following Dr. Lawrie’s 1977 study trip to Indiana University, then aged 25.

Today’s athlete and coach need to be equipped with appropriate psychological tools to attain optimal individual and team performance. There are few – if any – more experienced and knowledgeable than Dr Bruce Lawrie to guide an athlete and coach through this minefield. I have worked with Bruce on numerous occasions and have been impressed by his depth of wisdom, patience, and delivery in Winning and Performance Sports Psychology. Bruce’s input has undoubtedly helped me and several of the Olympic champions under my guidance, throughout numerous Olympics and World Championships.

Coach at five Olympic Games, coached 27 medallists at the Olympic Games and World Championships and nine world record holders.

As a coach to elite swimmers, I have endeavoured to find a robust and practical way to develop the mental toughness of my swimmers for the last two decades. Dr Bruce Lawrie and the Association of Applied Performance Psychology has given me what I  believe is the best tool I have ever had the privilege of using in this area. One that is practical, easy to understand and eminently useable in the daily training environment and competition arena. A great resource that can make The Difference!”

Head Coach to City of Manchester, Coach to multiple Olympians and Paralympic champions.

We recognise Dr Bruce Lawrie’s contributions to the Swimming in Australia Journal and his overall contribution to sport as a significant positive opportunity that will help coaches, teachers and athletes perform better, unlock their potential and reach their goals. We are fortunate that Dr Lawrie is sharing his knowledge and experience with us.

Executive Officer at Swim Australia.

The modern-day Performance athlete is now heavily reliant on a team of experts around them, all providing input into the coach-athlete relationship, that which is seeking those marginal gains that become ever-increasingly difficult to acquire as the athlete progresses. One significant area of relative unexplored gain is that of psychology. And why? It is often because coaches don’t understand it and fear it and are unwilling to allow others into the fold. But in Dr Bruce Lawrie, we have discovered a leader in a very discrete number of psychologists. One who understands the coach because he has been one. One who understands the relationship because he has been there. And one who has such a depth and breadth to their knowledge across various psychological fields that an answer or a method is readily available. And this is rare. And on this basis, I cannot endorse him or his work highly enough.

National Performance Director (Swimming & Diving) – Swim Ireland.

Dr. Bruce Lawrie is a friend and colleague I have had the privilege of knowing since the mid-1970s. Our first association was at Indiana University in the United States. At that time, the swimming program was under the direction of the legendary Dr James (Doc) Counsilman. Bruce spent a considerable part of a year with us. It was clear from the outset that Bruce’s stay with us would be of mutual benefit. His background and expertise in Psychology allowed him to make observations and ask the kinds of incisive questions, allowing us opportunities to test new approaches to working with the world-class swimmers on hand. In addition, his coaching background and easy-going manner allowed him to interact with all of us on a more personal level.

Director, Aquatic Research Laboratory, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. Former Olympic, Paralympic, and U.S.A. Division I University Swimming Coach.

I have interacted with many professionals through my 30+ years as an athlete and now coach, and I am incredibly thankful to have Dr Bruce Lawrie in my life. There is no better practitioner than Dr Lawrie to help guide me, you, and everyone in need of advice and direction. I am indebted for the kindness that Dr Lawrie has demonstrated and continues to do so. Words that Dr Lawrie spoke to me, “Be a kinder friend to yourself”, will stay with me forever, and I now use these words to help others. I strongly recommend Dr Lawrie’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Guide, which contains practical, informative, relatable guidance aimed at helping you be your best self in sport and life and enhance your mental health and wellbeing. A must-read for all from one of the World’s Leading Experts!”

OLY Elite Female Swim Coach and Mentor.

During our many illuminating conversations, Dr Bruce Lawrie has often reinforced the fact that we cannot control the external forces that surround us, but we can control what’s inside of us. Namely, our thoughts – that deliver both prevention and cure! As a 55 years old High-Performance Coach, having worked with Dr Lawrie, I’ve discovered that it’s never too late to learn how to self-regulate your thoughts and significantly influence your sporting and life performances and wellbeing. Whether we are athletes, coaches or academics, Dr Lawrie’s thought self-regulation techniques help us become the best version of ourselves, attain our unique potential, build and maintain our wellbeing.

New Zealand Olympic Swim Coach.

As an Elite athlete, Dr Bruce Lawrie quite literally put me back together at what I’ve perceived to be the lowest point in my life. He is a world leader in his field a pleasure to work with, and I am beyond lucky to have the opportunity to develop as an athlete and person under his guidance. He is an eminently professional, understanding, encouraging, sympathetic person. Dr Lawrie’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Guide exemplifies the power of thought self-regulation in supporting psychological toughness and wellbeing, which is imperative to racing, living, and performing in all aspects of life.”

Triple Gold Medallist 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships (400, 800, 1500 freestyle in World Record times). Winner – Four Gold Medals 2022 World Senior Short Course Championships

I have known Dr Bruce Lawrie for almost 40 years. I first met Bruce in 1984. I was age 16 and an elite (Danish National) swimmer, and Bruce was my coach. Bruce was an excellent coach who influenced my view on swimming, coaching, and maybe above all, managing elite sports’ inevitable ups and downs. Looking back, Bruce has been one of the most influential people in setting the tone and values in my life. We have reconnected during the last five years, which has led to Bruce collaborating with my son on mental preparedness, presently the world’s fastest U20 track sprinter. Against this background, I would give Bruce my highest recommendation.

First and foremost, Dr Bruce Lawrie is an inspiration – I have never met a more positive person. Wherever possible, I have utilised Dr Lawrie’s skills to motivate my fellow work colleagues. He has provided mental wellbeing training to boards, sales teams and across entire international teams that I have been involved with or managed. I petitioned for Dr Lawrie to develop a specific training course for one of the companies I managed. It became an integral part of our’ onboarding process’ for new staff and built into our annual reviews. Dr Lawrie is both a highly effective and qualified psychologist, supreme motivator and all-round super nice person. Making mental wellbeing an integrated part of our corporate culture has helped the success of every company in which I have been involved. Dr Lawrie has boundless energy! Over the years of collaborating with him, he always impresses me with his energetic engagement, always with a smile and great sense of humour! I wholeheartedly recommend Dr Bruce Lawrie to any corporation – both large and small and across all industries.

Internationalist, Strategist, Problem solver, business & economic developer, and entrepreneur.

Dr Bruce Lawrie is an eminently qualified psychologist who has developed a highly effective model to train staff in how they can enhance their mental wellbeing. As a business professional, I have always maintained that when businesses make health and wellbeing an intrinsic part of their culture and provide mental wellbeing support, they also enhance their corporate success. In this respect, Dr Lawrie’s mental wellbeing training offers the business world the opportunity to interlink staff wellbeing with productivity. An ideal solution for all concerned.

Managing Director at Aberdeen Drilling Management Ltd.

Bruce has a proven capacity to produce top-class athletes at both national and international levels; he is a great motivator with an impressive ability to help athletes/coaches attain their potential both in training and competition.”

Former Director, British Olympic Medical Centre.

Dr Bruce Lawrie has greatly impacted my training and performance in competition in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I have significantly benefited from his advice and have built a great relationship with him through intense discussions on performance psychology. With his help, I have also been able to share his knowledge with the rest of my team.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Double Gold winner Black Belt Division, Rickson Gracie Cup Glasgow, 2019.

Dr Bruce Lawrie is hugely respected the world over, and has the unique experience of being a psychology practitioner, author, competitor and coach