One of the biggest challenges that fitness professionals face with their clients is exercise adherence and the associated motivational barriers.
With this issue being spoken about more widely, and research diving deeper into the behavioural psychology behind health behaviour change, it is a key topic within the sector.
Leading behaviour change specialist Dr Heather McKee of Myzone recently spoke at the sector networking event active-net, where she uncovered that member experience within the gym and club environment is crucial to motivating people to stay active.
That is why we’ve featured five courses to support your clients with behavioural change, forming a part of your continued professional development. These CPD opportunities comprise of in-person and online learning to help keep your development flexible. Plus, we’ve signposted further relevant resources to allow you to develop and apply your knowledge.
CPD
1. Introduction to Health Behaviour Change
Provided by Royal Society for Public Health
1 CIMSPA CPD point
Gain the skills and information you need to have conversations with the people in your life to help them make healthier decisions.
The course is designed to give you the space to reflect on the conversations you have with people, how you can bring the theories of behaviour change to life and how you can use these skills to support people to make a change. You will be able to apply these skills to a variety of health behaviours including smoking cessation, increasing physical activity, limiting stress and more.
What you’ll learn:
- What health behaviour change is
- The underlying principles of change and how to help people change their behaviour
- Key skills to support people working towards a behaviour change
- How to structure a behaviour change conversation, identify what could go wrong in a conversation, and learn how to overcome them
2. YMCA Level 2 Award in Engaging Inactive People in Physical Activity to Create Long-Term Behaviour Change
Provided by YMCA Awards
10 CIMSPA CPD points
The purpose of this qualification is to enable qualified group exercise and/or fitness instructors to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to work with inactive adults with no pre-existing health conditions.
Completing this qualification will enable learners to plan and deliver physical activity programmes that engage and positively challenge inactive individuals to create long-term behaviour change.
What you’ll learn:
- Identifying how to promote healthy lifestyles
- Understanding the importance of healthy lifestyles in combatting mental and physical illness
- Identifying target groups likely to be inactive
- Combatting barriers to inactivity and non-participation in physical activity through application of behaviour change strategies
- The benefits of physical activity to society on a local and national level
- Awareness of initiatives aimed at increasing physical activity levels
- How to collate and feedback to inform future programmes
- How to prepare, plan and deliver inclusive, safe and fun physical activity sessions for inactive people within communities
- Identifying individual client requirements for differentiation and adapt exercises accordingly
- Promote retention and behaviour change via appropriate communication skills and feedback to participants
3. Behaviour Change Coaching
Provided by Future Fit Training
5 CIMSPA CPD Points
Increasingly recognised as one of the most important skills for fitness instructors and nutrition advisers to master, behaviour change coaching is an important skill and vital component to diplomas.
This unique e-learning course includes the right strategies and techniques to facilitate positive behaviour changes and successfully implement them as a personal trainer or nutrition advisor. The course covers the main psychological models of behaviour change, psychometric testing and provides the psychometric tests for trainers to use. On completion of this course, you will be able to measure your clients’ readiness to change.
What you’ll learn:
- Introduction to behaviour change
- Barriers to change
- Models of behaviour change
- Tools for assessing readiness to change
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Introduction to motivational interviewing
- The Formula 4 Change system, exclusive to Future Fit Training
- Evaluation and assessment
- The need for change
4. Behaviour Change: Build Habit, Build Value
Provided by FitPro
How do you build healthy habits in your clients so that they stay longer with you?
Join David Howatson, senior educator in behaviour change science, as he leads you through the steps of behaviour change using the latest models and shows you how to apply them to your current client base.
You’ll be given the tools to help your clients establish, manage and reinforce healthy habits using behaviour change science, enabling you to build short-, mid- and long-term change.
The course contains five major topics, starting with your own reflective practice. You’ll learn some of the most common behaviour change models, motivational interviewing techniques and practical coaching solutions that you can implement with your clients straight away.
What you’ll learn:
- Scope of practice: Understand the appropriate role of health and fitness professionals in influencing, managing and reinforcing client behaviours.
- Behaviour change science: Explore key principles of behaviour change using recognised models and current evidence-based practice.
- Habit-based coaching: Apply behaviour change concepts to support the development and reinforcement of healthy habits in clients.
- Practical application: Use practical tools and coaching strategies that help clients sustain long-term behaviour change.
- Client retention: Strengthen your ability to support long-term client success and build stronger professional relationships.
5. Behaviour Change Essentials for Fitness Professionals
Provided by Fitness Education Online
10 CIMSPA CPD Points
This course is designed to equip you with the skills and confidence to lead dynamic bootcamp sessions that energise participants and cultivate a loyal client base. From mastering effective marketing strategies to creating engaging workout plans, this course lays the foundation for your success in the growing fitness industry. Learn all at your own pace, with comprehensive support and community engagement to inspire you every step of the way.
What you’ll learn:
- The fundamentals of behaviour change and its relevance in fitness coaching
- The boundaries and responsibilities of fitness professionals when implementing behaviour change strategies with clients
- The science behind habit formation and the impact of habits on long-term behaviour change and client success
- Behaviour change techniques and how to implement them to support clients in achieving their fitness goals
- How motivational interviewing can be used to facilitate behaviour change and enhance client motivation
- How to address behaviour change strategies for clients with more complex needs, including those facing significant lifestyle or health challenges
- The common barriers and challenges to behaviour change and strategies to overcome these obstacles in your coaching practice
Discover more CPD
More endorsed courses – find training and CPD opportunities to support you throughout your career in sport and physical activity.
Visited Endorsed Training Directory
Training Academy – discover the highest quality training and development opportunities with courses endorsed and mapped to our sector professional standards, provided by organisations that have achieved CIMSPA’s highest quality assurance outcomes.
Your CPD Library –there’s a variety of complimentary learning available via your CIMSPA Dashboard. Visit ‘My CIMSPA partner offers’, then ‘Your CPD Library’ for different ways to maintain your professional status and earn valuable CPD points including SkillGate, our eLearning platform, complimentary learning from our partners and other skill development opportunities.
FitPro* – explore the FitPro online education platform from your home or on the go and stay relevant in the sector.
Not a FitPro member yet? You can access FitPro via your CIMSPA Dashboard. Log in and look under the ‘My CIMSPA partner offers’ tab, then ‘Discounts’ and click ‘FitPro’ to get started.
*Only eligible membership categories.