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Infinity first offered a coaching and counselling service in 2024, creating a new standard within the sport of channel and ultra-marathon swimming.
The seed of this new development came from Pádraig’s own channel swims many years ago and watching his friends and family after their huge challenging swims. It also came from the channel swimmers who have put their trust in infinity Channel Swimming for their various cross channel and ultra-marathon swims over the last 10 years.
We always knew there was a need for this service yet never really knew how this should be provided. We had many conversations with Dr Patricia McParland over the years and we contemplated funding a research project and publication of a paper to help channel swimmers understand and deal with as some in the sport call ‘the downer’ that is experienced by a channel swimmer being unsuccessful or even successful. The research didn’t really gain traction as we appreciated that a published paper is probably not the most useful to the majority when in these situations and because we felt it wouldn’t be effective enough.
Whilst in a Doctors waiting room for a general check-up I was sifting through the countless leaflets available. I read that there were FREE counselling services available in certain situations. In the thick of North Channel season 2023 it got me thinking again, this is something we should be focusing on to have a more direct effect on and support our swimmers. The penny dropped like most of my brain waves after a good nights sleep and I sent Dr Patricia an excited voice note at 5am. She was as excited, and responded quickly, keen also to get something in place.
Pádraig
For the run of the mill person seeing a channel swim first hand sometimes just doesn’t make sense but we are not dealing with run of the mill type of people in this sport. Dr Patricia has been part of open water swimming since early 2000’s. She has met every type and age of swimmer, giving her amazing access to this crazy sport and the crazy people who take part in it.
We are extremely proud to be working with Dr Patricia McParland and look forward to continuing to offering this service to channel and ultra-marathon swimming.
Dr Patricia Mc Parland is an independent consultant working in the field of mental health. She has been delivering professional counselling and coaching services for over 20 years. Patricia applies a person-centred ethos to all of her work, believing that each person with whom she works has all they need to create and support the life they desire.
She has been involved with water-based events in a health and safety capacity for many years, is a qualified swim teacher and has worked with infinity on channel crossings. This experience means Patricia is in a unique position to offer this type of support for marathon swimmers and their Crew.
In the context of marathon swimming, Patricia offers therapeutic coaching. This is not sports psychology or sports coaching but rather an approach that aims to enhance self-awareness, explore your personal motivations and blocks, what success and failure mean to you, what is clouding your focus and affecting your decisions, among many other things. Patricia aims to create a space where you can connect with your inner strengths and wisdom empowering you to support yourself either before or after your swim
In 2024 for the first time Infinity offered access to coaching and/or counselling with Patricia. In 2025 having analysed the results of last year, we have made some changes to the package available.
The package includes an introductory call and 4 sessions of 1 hr 15mins. The sessions can be used pre or post swim. The cost of the total package is £500 and Infinity will fund £300 with the swimmer taking responsibility for the remaining £200.
The introductory call lasts approximately 30mins and you can avail of this call at any time free of charge. In this way you can find out more about the service and Patricia, allowing you to decide whether you think the service will meet your needs.
In 2024 Patricia and her colleague Lauren O Malley, an accomplished marathon swimmer, mountaineer and overall endurance athlete, offered a free workshop to local relay teams. This was very well received and in 2025, a two-part workshop is available for relay teams in advance of their swim. The aim of the workshop is to explore individual strengths and perceived limitations, and to build team cohesion, motivation and effectiveness.
Each workshop lasts 1.5-2hrs at a cost of £180 each. Infinity will cover the cost of one of the workshops with the team taking responsibility for the remaining £180.
Currently the workshops are available where the team is in a position to meet in person but we may later develop this as an online offering.
We would encourage you to take advantage of this service. We believe in the value of coaching and counselling and the opportunity it offers to improve your wellbeing and support your personal growth.
It is important to note that while infinity will partially cover the cost of the sessions, in every other way the service being offered is entirely independent. If you wish to consider further sessions, Patricia will discuss the options available.
We know there is more than the solo swimmer in the team. Dr Patricia McParland is available to offer this service to swimmer's crew and other channel swimmers at their own cost.
There is no need to inform any of the Infinity Crew if you decide to avail of the service.
Instead ,please contact Patricia directly by email at patricia.mcparland@gmail.com or by telephone at 00447912063448 to arrange an appointment.
Individual sessions are available in person or online via zoom.
