Future Fit Training Tutor Sam Holliday tells us why a basic understanding of Health Coaching and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will help every fitness professional.
The high level of excellent fitness training courses available in the UK allows dedicated and forward thinking fitness professionals to embark effectively upon continued professional development (CPD). This is tremendous as the industry is arguably now in the best position it has ever been in where self development is concerned.
Industry trends, new products and the media impact upon the various approaches and offerings of training courses. Understandably, much focus has fundamentally been physiologically based with the emphasis linked mostly to physical performance as opposed to psychological or emotional issues. It would be unwise to suggest that this approach is flawed – after all, we are in the business of improving the functioning of the human body. However, let’s not forget one important organ in the body – the brain.
Far from suggesting the existing approach necessarily needs to change, surely it makes more sense to welcome the existing options and raise the question – do we also need to add equally appealing training opportunities that relate to optimising psychological functioning?
Whilst the quality of exercise prescription in terms of its safety and effectiveness must always remain our ‘bread and butter’, having an understanding of the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy will empower fitness professionals to truly understand what really motivates and inspires people.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is literally translated and defined as our thoughts – how and what we are thinking (cognitive), our actions or response to these thoughts (behaviour) and the analysis and treatment (therapy) of the 2. To expand upon this, one may describe a successful CBT practitioner as someone who is effective at understanding and influencing how we behave as a result of our thoughts.
What follows is a basic and non-formal introduction into some of the fundamental principles surrounding CBT, health coaching and motivational interviewing, designed to assist fitness professionals in delivering effective consultations and appointments. For a deeper understanding of motivational interviewing and behaviour, I suggest you take the Future Fit Training Psychology of Behavioural Change Module.
Exploring ambivalence
Facilitating a client’s quest to reach a solution that allows the achievement of their goals must remain the aim of the practitioner. The objective should be to help and support the client in identifying a specific goal and any barriers and motivations that will impact the achievement of this goal.
Decisional balance
Whatever the desired change in behaviour identified by the client, effective CBT will involve listing the advantages and disadvantages of this change as well as the advantages and disadvantages of not changing the behaviour. The purpose of this process is to objectively assess the implications of behavioural change and overcome ambivalence.
Change talk
Recognising ‘change talk’ is important to ascertain the stage of change that an individual is at. The type of language that is being used by a person is crucial, for example ‘I will, I can, I could, I should, I want’. The regularity, context and tone of such language will offer great insight into understanding an individual.
Client-centred
Fundamental to any consultation must be the underlying approach of adapting and responding to the individualised goal of a client. Allowing a client to express themselves, and serving the role of facilitator without any pre-determined outcome is of paramount importance.
Stages of change
Understanding the stages of change (pre-contemplation, contemplation, planning, action and maintenance) is an important part of this concept.
Reflective listening statement
A basic tool used firstly to clarify what is meant by a client and also used to demonstrate that you are indeed listening and you have a clear understanding of their position.
Non-prescriptive collaboration
CBT is only effective if both parties genuinely view the process as a collaboration between practitioner and client. What must be avoided is a situation whereby either party sees a client as having a ‘problem’, and the practitioner’s role as providing a prescriptive ‘cure’. More than anything, CBT is about facilitating the thinking process, exploring ambivalence and the issues that surround this and empowering a client to reach solutions.
Typically, the more talking a client does the better. As a trainer, ask the relevant question, then stop talking and listen.