Therapists' attitudes about addressing the role of exercise in psychotherapy

A questionnaire was mailed to 250 psychotherapists selected from the National Register of Health Providers in Psychology to assess attitudes regarding the discussion of exercise in psychotherapy. Responses were received from 110 (44%) of this group. The study focused on (1) reasons therapists do or do not address exercise in therapy; (2) beliefs about the efficacy of exercise; (3) the relationship between theoretical orientation and the likelihood of discussing exercise; and (4) the relationship between gender and the likelihood of discussing exercise. We found that exercising therapists are more likely to raise the issue and discuss exercise with their clients. In addition, male therapists are more likely to discuss exercise with their male clients than with their female clients. Although cognitive-behavioral therapists are more likely than psychodynamic therapists to use a cognitive-behavioral approach, no relationship was found between exercise variables and primary orientation.