Dr. Phil Hopley on Stress and Success in High-Pressure Worlds

In today’s episode I sit down with consultant psychiatrist and former elite rugby player Dr. Phil Hopley to explore the mental health challenges we face in high-pressure environments — from boardrooms to Formula One pits. With decades of experience supporting top performers in sport, law, and finance, Phil shares how his own journey from the rugby field to psychiatry led to a passion for building resilience and emotional recovery.

From founding Cognacity, a trailblazing mental health consultancy, to coaching professionals on navigating burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism, Phil breaks down how to shift from reactive to proactive care. He reveals what elite athletes, CEOs, and everyday professionals can do to regulate stress, avoid cognitive traps like catastrophising and rumination, and take back control. Plus, he speaks candidly about the mental toll of retirement, and why connection and purpose are essential to sustaining wellbeing.

Find Phil: https://www.cognacity.co.uk/team/dr-phil-hopley/

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