Addressing exercise in therapy: Therapists’ personal exercise habits, attitudes, knowledge, and perceived barriers to addressing exercise with clients.
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Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the factors that contribute to addressing exercise in psychotherapy. Self-identified psychotherapists (n=94) completed surveys relating to: the frequency and type of conversations they have with clients regarding exercise; the frequency and length of time in which they personally engage in exercise; attitudes towards the use of exercise in treating and preventing psychological disorders; perceived knowledge on the effects of exercise on psychological disorders; and potential barriers to addressing exercise in therapy. Addressing exercise with clients was shown to be common among participants. Furthermore, attitudes were favourable, few barriers to addressing exercise in therapy were identified, and perceived knowledge on how exercise affects psychological disorders was correlated with addressing exercise in therapy. The findings are indicative of the importance of training psychotherapists on the psychological effects of exercise, and contribute to the limited information we have on psychotherapists’ conversations on exercise in therapy.