Brook, V. (2023). An exploration of open awareness in sport: a heuristic study [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Liverpool John Moores University.

This research explores the transpersonal in sport, with an emphasis on how the transpersonal coaching method of Open Awareness affects current or former sportspeople. The research question is inspired by my personal journey through being a professional sportsperson to integrating those experiences into regular life. Moustakes’ Heuristic Inquiry (1990) is a qualitative methodology ideally suited – informed by the researcher’s personal experience – to exploring seven participants/co-researchers’ experiences as current or former sportspeople and how they can be impacted by Open Awareness. Open Awareness is a state of being that can be accessed at any time and any place, and allows individuals to step out of tunnel awareness, reduce self-talk, activate relaxation, sharpen sensory acuity, and reduce reactions of fear and stress. Co-researchers were provided with an Open Awareness information sheet and asked to explore the tool for a period of 4 weeks, at which point they were interviewed. Analysis of interviews uncovered themes and the results are presented through individual depictions, an exemplary portrait and composite depiction, and a creative synthesis. The discussion adds insight to transpersonal psychology and suggests that Open Awareness can be a useful transpersonal coaching tool to benefit sportspeople on and off the sporting field.