Circus Psychology

Circus Psychology is an evidence-based guide to nurturing the mental health of circus artists while enabling them to perform at the peak of their capacities. The book is organised into three sections: Mental health in circus, Optimising the circus environment to facilitate thriving, and Mental skills for thriving in circus.

Dr Fleur van Rens is a circus artist and a lecturer in sports psychology at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.

SECTION 1: Mental health in circus 1. An introduction to mental health 2. The mental health of circus artists 3. Stress, mental health, and performance in circus SECTION 2: Optimising the circus environment to facilitate thriving 4. Engaging circus students 5. Creating a circus environment that nurtures psychological wellbeing 6. Sustainable talent development in circus SECTION 3: Mental skills for thriving in circus 7. Goal setting and self-talk in circus 8. Mental imagery in circus 9. Relaxation and arousal regulation in circus 10. Psycho-perceptual motor skills and visual anticipation in circus. Epilogue.