5 Relationship Checkpoints for Trauma-Informed Fitness Coaching (Part 1 of 5)
In 2017, I opened my first fitness studio–Fitness For Introverts. It was explicitly trauma-informed, shame-free, and beginner-friendly. Previously, I’d taught at other gyms and yoga studios. Those spaces were OK on the surface, but lacked consent policies, gender-inclusive programming, size-inclusive marketing, etc. They put the burden on neurodivergent and disabled folks to request accommodations, rather than making it the default. It was clear that the traditional approach to fitness left a lot to be desired.
I received education in trauma-informed practices in my first teacher training with Three Sisters Yoga in NYC. And my lived experience with C-PTSD and undiagnosed ADHD gave me an ton of perspective. I started by creating a space that I, personally, would feel safe in, and let it unfold from there.
There was a calming mural, soft lights, plenty of plants, and a faint tea tree smell that welcomed clients when they walked in. I offered tea and water, and generally didn’t play music. As comfortable as the studio was, that was just a tiny part of the overall experience I offered. Trauma-informed coaching is certainly impacted by the space, but at its heart is the coach-client relationship.
Whether coaching out of a big box gym, boutique studio, or garage, there plenty of concrete things you can do to provide a more trauma-informed client experience. Here are five key relationship checkpoints to consider:
Initial Consult – Creating a safe and supportive entry point for clients with trauma history
Program Design – Incorporating trauma-informed practices into goal-setting, programming, and client celebrations
Cueing – Empowering clients to set boundaries and communicate their needs
Policies – Crafting policies that set a foundation of trust and transparency
Marketing – Using shame-free marketing messaging to attract and retain the right clients
This post will cover step one, the initial consult or sales call. I’ll cover the other four checkpoints in future posts.
Throughout this 5-part blog series, I’ll give plenty of examples of what I’ve done at each checkpoint. Feel free to copy my ideas, but make them your own. Your clients will be able to sense if you’re genuine (hypervigilance is kinda our thing), so do a gut check to be sure that when you implement these ideas, it’s in your voice and feels like you.
I want to caveat all of this by saying that I’m not a mental health expert. These are simply things I’ve done in my teaching practice that have worked over the years. These are things that, as someone with C-PTSD and undiagnosed ADHD, I wish other studios put thought into. Understanding these checkpoints has helped me create meaningful relationships with clients who keep coming back year after year.
What is a trauma-informed fitness coach?
Before we discuss the five checkpoints, I’d like to start with a shared understanding of trauma and its impacts on clients in the fitness space. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, trauma is “an injury (such as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent, a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury, or an emotional upset.”
I think it’s important to consider the vast range of what trauma can mean physically, mentally, and emotionally. To be a trauma-informed coach is to recognize the prevalence of trauma and understand how it can manifest in various ways, with varying intensities. Providing trauma-informed care means understanding the potential triggers that may arise during fitness sessions and having strategies in place to address them.
The first step in offering this care is to maintain clear boundaries around the scope of your work and your comfort level as a human. While we can educate ourselves about signs of trauma, such as hypervigilance, dissociation, and emotional dysregulation, it’s essential to be grounded in what our scope as fitness professionals does and doesn’t include.
As a personal trainer or group fitness instructor, here are a few examples of things that ARE in your scope:
If a client discloses that they have panic attacks during the intake process, ask how they’d like to be supported if that comes up in a future session.
Practice ongoing & explicit consent when tactile cueing.
Learn about the history of anti-Blackness within the fitness industry by reading books like Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia and The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love.
Keep a list of therapists, eating disorder specialists, etc., to refer to, similar to how you’d refer to a physical therapist for pain or orthopedic injury.
Ask clients what pronouns they use rather than making assumptions about their gender.
Be mindful not to over-share or trauma-dump your personal experiences.
Educate yourself on the Fat Liberation Movement, body neutrality, and Health at Every Size.
Here are a few things that aren’t in your scope (unless you have training that explicitly gives you this authority):
Diagnosing mental health conditions
Asking questions about a client’s trauma or history that are unrelated to fitness
Creating treatment plans for mental health issues, eating disorders, injury, etc.
Listening to traumatic stories that you aren’t comfortable listening to
I find a lot of relief in knowing what’s what’s NOT my responsibility. Understanding my scope helps me set realistic expectations for myself as someone who can over-commit. It also helps me save my energy for the things that are within my control.
By fully understanding how to offer trauma-informed care within your scope, you can better support your clients and adapt your coaching methods to meet their needs. Now, let’s explore what this looks like daily with my five trauma-informed fitness coaching checkpoints!
Initial Consult – Creating a safe and supportive entry point for clients with trauma history
The initial consultation with a client who has a history of trauma is the first checkpoint in establishing a safe and supportive relationship. I approach this meeting with the goal of answering three main questions:
Am I able to help them with what they’re looking for?
Are they a client I want to work with?
What is the next step?
Keeping these questions in mind helps establish a mutually-beneficial relationship that feels good to both parties. They can also help you avoid bringing in clients who aren’t a good fit for you or your community.
Am I able to help a potential client with what they’re looking for?
I set the tone for the initial consult by calling it an “Is it a good fit?” Session within my scheduling software. I want potential clients to know the session won’t be a high-pressure sales call, rather a time to get to know each other. I want to respect their time by learning, first and foremost, if I can help them.
People choose to start a fitness plan for a variety of reasons, and have a variety of needs and preferences. I want to make sure their goals and desires align with my education and interests. I want to make sure I can deliver on any agreements I make. The only way to do that is to get clarity about what they want and need.
When potential clients arrive, I open the conversation by saying, “I like to use these sessions to get to know you. I’d love to know if I can help with whatever you’re looking for.” I generally sit on the floor with them and listen. I ask open-ended questions that help me learn more about their goals, preferences, personality, and injury history. If they bring up trauma and/or mental health concerns, I’ll ask questions directly related to my own role in supporting them. Some examples include:
You mentioned panic attacks. If that comes up in class, is there a particular way you’d like to be supported?
You mentioned feeling a lot of emotion when you do hip mobility. If that comes up, would you prefer to talk about it or would you prefer I give you space?
You mentioned a history of sexual violence. Would you prefer I avoid hand-on cueing all together, or would you rather I ask consent prior to each hands-on cue?
You mentioned a traumatic fall, and I don’t want to make any assumptions. Would you prefer to engage in movements that could improve fall skills or avoid potentially triggering exercises?
You mentioned having a hard time staying motivated/accountable during bouts of depression. Would it feel supportive for me to check in if I notice you haven’t been here in a bit, or would that feel pressure-y?
During the initial consultation, create a space where clients feel comfortable sharing as much–or as little–about their trauma history as they choose. Avoid asking non-fitness questions or pressuring clients to disclose more than they are comfortable with. Giving them the freedom to share at their own pace can reassure them that you will respect their boundaries throughout the coaching relationship.
It’s important that you feel comfortable and confident in helping them reach their goals…not just from a sets and reps perspective, but as a whole human.
Are they a client I want to work with?
With all coaching relationships, there’s a value exchange. You provide the service, and in return you receive payment. Traditionally, gyms focus on a sales goal or quota for consults and provide a script based on that goal. But that agenda inherently creates a weird power dynamic and feels pressure-y to potential clients, which can be triggering, especially for folks with a trauma history. You probably already sense that which is why you’re reading this post. But it can be hard to unlearn Capitalism and regain humanity in these moments, especially when most of us as fitness professionals aren’t making a ton of money.
Madeline Pendleton, author of I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt, wrote, “In 2021, 73 percent of Americans ranked financial issues as their number one cause of stress—above politics, work, or family—and these numbers are highest in Generation Z and Millennials.” We have to eat and pay bills, which can often rattle around in the back of our minds during these sessions.
I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes, to keep the lights on, you have to take on a client or two you don’t feel 100% good spending time with. If you’re not careful, though, this can easily lead to resentment. If you show up with resentment, it can be especially damaging and triggering to trauma survivors (no matter how well you think you’re hiding it).
I’d encourage you to do a gut check to make sure you’re genuinely motivated to show up for the person in front of you. Here are a few things that get me excited to work with someone:
Is there a fun movement puzzle to solve?
Are they fun to talk to?
Do we have shared interests?
Are they currently working with a medical privider I’d like to learn from or collaborate with?
Do I feel at ease around them?
Is there an opportunity for me to expand my skills?
Would their energy add to the community I’ve already built?
Are they eager to learn?
What is the next step?
Another process I’ve put in place to weaken the background noise of Capitalism and recenter my client is having a closing process for those who are a fit and those who aren’t. At the end of this initial consult, I am open about where I stand and provide clear next steps.
If I think it’s a good fit, I let them know I’d be stoked to work with them and wait for their response. If it’s an enthusiastic yes on their part, I’ll walk them through the process for booking their first session, or we’ll open our calendars to find a time to meet. If they seem hesitant, I suggest they sleep on it and let them know I’m available via the chat function in our app if they have any questions.
If I don’t think it’s a good fit, I will be transparent about that and offer support by referring them to someone who could better meet their needs. “I don’t think I’m the best fit to help you with XYZ. I’d recommend getting in touch with so-and-so.” I have checked out the other fitness spaces in my town and have curated a list of mental health professionals, physical therapists, etc., so that I can give great recommendations.
It may sound simple, but giving people the choice to opt in or out without shame, judgment, or pressure is unfortunately rare. Fitness spaces sadly have a reputation for trapping people in long-term membership contracts, pushing upgrades, and turning their trainers into sales reps.
Making space to listen and connect can be life-changing for your clients. Slowing down can help you, the coach, avoid misaligned client relationships. And being intentional about your initial consults can help you create a much-needed, soul-satisfying community that people want to be a part of.
The real fun starts after the initial consultation when people join your program! In the next four posts in this series, we’ll discuss:
The real fun starts after the initial consultation when people join your program! In the next four posts in this series, we’ll discuss:
Program Design – Incorporating trauma-informed practices into goal-setting, programming, and client celebrations
Cueing – Empowering clients to set boundaries and communicate their needs
Policies – Crafting policies that set a foundation of trust and transparency
Marketing – Using shame-free marketing messaging to attract and retain the right clients
Be sure to follow along on Instagram or TikTok to get updates on these and all future posts!
