It’s not hard to see why becoming a personal trainer can be so rewarding. Mentoring is a way for personal trainers to develop a deep connection with their clients, helping them reach physical goals and become healthier in the process.
As a personal trainer, your main focus is on helping your clients improve their physical fitness. However, there is value in going beyond your surface-level activities. Around one in four people in the UK experience some form of depression, anxiety, or other forms of mental health issue each year. You may encounter some clients who struggle with different health issues. It’s important to understand how and why mental health impacts your job, and what you can do about it.
Clients will often share personal stories to their personal trainers (maybe we should start an anonymous “Confessions of a Personal Trainer” Blog!!). They put a lot of trust in them. Clients often seek guidance from their trainers when they’re facing challenges in life. It can be difficult at times, but it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Seeing someone who has adopted a healthy lifestyle and sees how it benefits them during a difficult time in their life makes the job worthwhile.
So, what exactly can you do as a Personal Trainer to enhance the impact of physical activity on people’s overall well-being?
1. Remember, You’re a trainer, not a psychologist
Don’t give advice or diagnose. We want to be mindful not to give advice or provide our views on whether the client has a particular condition (i.e.: Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It’s not in our scope of practice and many times, clients are looking for a sounding board. Sometimes, clients can come up with their own solutions just by discussing a problem.
2. Don’t be afraid of referring people out.
If clients ask about nutrition and if they have an injury, then we’ll recommend that they see a dietician and a physical therapist and if they reveal that they’re suffering from a mental health issue, you should tell them that treating specific mental health conditions isn’t what you do.
If you find that a situation requires more attention and time than what you’re currently able to provide, it may be time to refer the person to an accredited mental healthcare provider. Safety is a key indicator to look out for.
3. Every client’s different
It’s important for PTs not to forget that every client is unique and that each person’s mental health needs to be treated differently. That being said, the one size doesn’t fit all approach to supporting the mental wellbeing of your clients and the potential benefits of exercise may take some time to be seen. It’s all part of a long journey and needs to be viewed as a marathon instead of a sprint; something important for your clients to understand so they don’t get discouraged. You’ll need to design your courses around what works for your clients and adapt them as you learn what’s working versus what isn’t.
4. Communication is key
People who experience a mental health issue often struggle with communication. Some clients will be very open with their mental health issues, while others may not disclose them or be undiagnosable.
If clients choose to tell you about their mental health history, this is where your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) really comes into play. It’s important to understand why they have chosen to share these details with you.
You should always keep in mind that you need to train clients differently depending on their personalities and backgrounds. A personal trainer’s main job is to motivate his/her clients, but it’s also important to know their limits (what makes people tick, what they respond to, and what they don’t like), and whether your programmes are working. Make sure that you set clear goals and objectives from the start and, once again, why strong communication between team members is so important.
As a personal trainer, you have the ability to help people achieve their physical fitness goals through exercise and develop healthy minds in the process. being a personal trainer goes far beyond helping people to lose weight or gain muscle. It’s about supporting people’s whole wellbeing journeys – as much about their mental health as it is about their physical health. The great thing is that you get to make a dramatic difference in people’s lives by doing something you love.
