Dr Rachel Sheehan, PhD
Why book Dr Rachel Sheehan, PhD?
- Dr Rachel Sheehan is the Sport Psychologist who supported Mayo on their incredible journey to winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Final in 2026.
- She has an extensive background in elite sport, including an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship, over 100 caps for Ireland, and a professional contract in Spain.
- Rachel has engaged employees, HR professionals and executives at over 150 companies across Ireland as an Assessor for Ibec’s KeepWell Mark, giving her a unique insight into workplace wellbeing and performance.
Biography
Rachel Sheehan is the Sport Psychologist with the All-Ireland winning Mayo Senior Football Team and All-Ireland finalist Kerry Ladies Team, as well as a private consultant to individuals and teams in Ireland and internationally. She worked with the Dublin Senior Hurlers in 2025 as they overcame Limerick in the All-Ireland quarter final, as well as Henry Shefflin’s Galway Hurlers. Rachel has a track record of improving athlete and team performance across a range of sports, from rugby to rally driving to Irish dancing to ballet, in both Ireland and abroad. She combines ultra-personalised sport psychology programmes with stimulating and engaging group sessions, allowing athletes to progress their psychological skills and, ultimately, improve their performance.
Her academic background bolsters her applied work, with the importance and impact of her PhD (on athlete motivation and mental health) and post-doctoral research (with the IRFU-backed Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance Project) recognised by the awarding of over €180,000 in grants and the publication of eight articles. As a lifelong athlete, she played NCAA Division I basketball, accumulated over 100 caps for Ireland, and played professionally in Spain, all of which equipped her with vast experiential and contextual knowledge that facilitates her work with athletes.
Relatedly, she is an assessor with Ibec’s KeepWell Mark. In this role, she has visited over 150 companies of all sizes in order to assess how they optimise the wellbeing and performance of their employees. Rachel has lived in Ireland, the USA, Canada and Spain, as well as travelling the globe, equipping her with a unique interest and insight into diverse people and cultures.
Topics
Building and Sustaining High Performance Culture
How many books have you read or podcasts have you listened to that cite “culture” as one of the key drivers of sustained high performance? While it is clear that it is critical to deliberately foster shared values and direction, it is often unclear how to do so. In this session, audiences will learn:
- How to collaboratively create and renew a culture that is flexible and progressive.
- How to transform values into tangible behaviours that are owned by the people.
- How to balance long-term vision with an absolute commitment to day-to-day processes.
- How the Mayo Senior Football Team used culture to transform itself into All-Ireland champions.
The Ingredients of a High Performance Mindset
While there is an ever-present focus on winning in all domains of life, both research and anecdotal evidence point to performance as the priority in high-achieving teams and organisations. As the saying goes, we must “control the controllables”. In this session, audiences will learn:
- How to foster genuine connection with people of different backgrounds and experiences.
- How to build robust belief based on internal sources.
- How to manage setbacks and transform them into learning.
- How to embrace innovation and develop an openness to alternative ways of thinking and doing.
Testimonials
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Enquire about Dr Rachel Sheehan, PhD today!





