Locked In SportSport & Exercise Psychology

About Locked In Sport

Get to know Nicole

The HCPC-registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist behind Locked In Sport.

Nicole Smith, HCPC-registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist

The psychologist behind Locked In Sport

From the gym floor to the mental side of performance

Nicole is a HCPC-registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with a strong passion for helping athletes and coaches understand and develop the psychological side of performance, shaped by her own journey as an acrobatic gymnast. Her early involvement in high-level sport sparked a lasting interest in the mental side of performance. Since then, she has supported athletes, coaches, teams, and organisations across over 20 different sports.

Nicole has worked within a range of performance pathways, from youth development to elite and professional levels, including clients involved in national squads and systems. She believes that greater self-awareness leads to more consistent, high-quality performance.

Nicole is passionate about collaborative engagement with clients, where she supports the development of psychological skills to build resilience, manage setbacks, and maintain long-term focus and success. Her goal is to offer proactive support, mentally equipping athletes and coaches to face challenges rather than waiting for issues to arise before taking action.

This mindset sits at the heart of the three keys of Locked In Sport.

HCPCRegistered Sport and Exercise Psychologist
20+Different sports supported
Youth to eliteFrom youth development to elite and professional levels
UK & beyondIn person in Glasgow, online across the UK and internationally

About Locked In Sport

The Locked In approach

Discover the Locked In approach and how personalised sport and exercise psychology can help you understand your performance, develop psychological skills, and unlock potential.

Key 01

What we do

Personalised support

Locked In Sport provides personalised sport and exercise psychology support tailored to the needs of athletes, teams, coaches, parents and organisations. This includes one-to-one support, integrated psychological support within training and competition environments, and workshops focused on education and development, all delivered by Nicole.

Key 02

How we work

The person first

Nicole’s practice is grounded in a humanistic approach, valuing the person as much as the performer. By taking time to understand the individual behind the athlete or coach, Nicole creates a safe and supportive environment for honest reflection, meaningful growth, and psychological flexibility, both in and beyond sport.

Key 03

Our philosophy

Evidence-based

Nicole’s psychological framework blends evidence-based methods including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). This allows Nicole to deliver flexible, client-specific support that is designed to balance performance goals with psychological needs.

Behind the work

In the room, on the floor

Your Locked In journey starts here.

Interested in one-to-one support, a workshop, or integrated psychological support? Get in touch and let’s explore how Locked In Sport can support you.

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