Get a Grip

A climbers’ route to stronger mindset and better mental health

Climbing coach Louis Parkinson and psychotherapist Joel Robertson draw on their years of experience to explore eleven of the most common psychological challenges that climbers face. From self-worth and body image, to mindfulness, fear, relationships and the critical inner voice, they offer a thoughtful and practical guide to understanding what’s happening beneath the surface.

Rather than presenting a rigid formula for success or a perfect mindset to aspire to, Get a Grip encourages curiosity, reflection and self-compassion. Using first-hand accounts, ideas, discussion and practical exercises, you are invited to explore your own emotional landscape and discover new ways of approaching both climbing and life.

Whether you’re projecting your hardest route, rebuilding confidence after a setback or simply trying to enjoy climbing more fully, Get a Grip offers a path towards greater resilience, freedom, connection and joy – on and off the wall.

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  • "A pioneering, thoughtful and open minded exploration of mindset and mental health – this book is a simple blueprint for a healthier and happier approach to climbing and life"

    — Hamish McArthur

  • "Climbing is about so much more than strength and technique. The thoughts and emotions we bring to the wall shape every experience we have. This book is a thoughtful, compassionate guide to understanding that inner world, helping us become not only better climbers, but more confident and fulfilled people"

    — Shauna Coxsey

  • "Full of insight and humanity"

    — Erin McNeice

  • "Get a Grip doesn’t feel like a psychology textbook — it feels like a conversation with people we actually know and trust. Real climbers, real struggles, broken down in a way that’s genuinely easy to take in"

    — James Pearson and Caroline Ciavaldini