Physical fitness training: Beneficial for professional psychologists?

Abstract

A survey was conducted to explore the degree to which practicing psychologists are involved in exercise programs, the patterns of exercise favored, and the degree of effect attributed to exercise on various dimensions of psychotherapy practice. Survey instruments were mailed to 262 psychologists listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers; 196 (74.81 %) responded. Most of the respondents (71.43%) reported engaging in regular exercise. Chi-square analyses revealed that patterns of exercise were related to demographic factors. Dimensions of psychotherapy perceived as most positively affected by exercise were the physical stamina, mood, and mental stamina of the therapist. Analyses of variance revealed that demographic and exercise pattern variables were related to perceptions of exercise effect on some of the dimensions of psychotherapy. Most respondents reported that they would recommend regular exercise both to other therapists and to patients.

Mental Illness and Physical Activity: Therapists’ Beliefs and Practices

“…Approximately 51% of responders agreed that providing physical activity counselling was part of their job, and 40% had recommended physical activity to their patients. These estimates are lower than in earlier studies of US psychologists that reported a physical activity counselling rate of 83% [7] while another reported that 93% [8] would recommend exercise to their patients.…”

The COVID-19 era: How therapists can diminish burnout symptoms through self-care

“…The foundation of any self-care imperative, thus, is to have a healthy balanced diet while also having ideal amounts of fluid intake before, during, and after therapy sessions (Korn, 2014 ). Together with focusing on nutrition and hydration, exercise in the form of walking, jogging, playing tennis, swimming or bicycling are not only recommended, but are reported by 71–89% of psychotherapists to be their favorite form of exercising (Barrow, English, & Pinkerton, 1987 ; Knapp & Sternlieb, 2012 ; Sherman & Thelen, 1998 ).…”

Exercise and diet therapy: Psychotherapists' beliefs and practices.

“…Although respondents reported that they did not frequently make recommendations in the areas of exercise and diet, the majority believed that health education is an appropriate task for psychotherapists. Such a belief was further supported by Barrow, English, and Pinkerton's (1987) recent survey of physical fitness activity of professional psychologists, in which most respondents reported that they would recommend regular exercise both to other therapists and to patients.…”