Guest Blog (Carl Fivey) - Personal Training: A Collaborative Partnership, Not a Command
- Jun 26
- 5 min read
Written by: Carl Fivey, Founder of PTBooker
Rethinking the Role of a Personal Trainer
A traditional image of a personal trainer may be one of a stern figure barking commands, enforcing discipline, and pushing clients to exhaustion — one could argue, this image still lingers in popular culture... Only this portrayal is both outdated and counterproductive. In reality, effective personal training is a collaborative and client-centred process that fosters autonomy, builds self-efficacy, and supports sustainable change.
Research in exercise psychology has consistently shown that individuals are more likely to sustain behaviour change when they feel intrinsically motivated — when the drive to act comes from within, rather than from external pressure (Deci & Ryan, 1985). The best personal trainers don’t just prescribe workouts; they help clients understand their values, define meaningful goals, and develop confidence in their ability to achieve them.
Your Goals, Your Journey: A Tailored Approach
Every individual enters personal training with different experiences, expectations, and challenges. That’s why successful coaching begins not with a program, but with a conversation...
What matters to you?
What do you hope to feel, do, or achieve?
What’s worked or not worked in the past?
These are the questions that form the foundation of a truly individualised training journey. Drawing on Carl Rogers’ (1951) client-centred theory, effective personal trainers act as facilitators rather than directors. They create a non-judgmental, empathetic environment that empowers clients to take ownership of their path.
Whether your goal is to improve cardiovascular health, feel more confident lifting weights, recover after injury, or simply maintain mobility as you age, your trainer’s job is to listen first — and then co-create a plan that fits your life, schedule, and preferences.
This approach aligns with the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983), which recognises that people are at different stages of readiness for change. A skilled PT recognises where you are in your journey and adapts their support accordingly — from building awareness and motivation to providing strategies for maintenance and relapse prevention.
Evidence-Based Coaching: Structure Without Rigidity
While personal training should be flexible and client-led, it is also grounded in science. A well-qualified PT draws from a wide body of research... about programming, progression, recovery, and injury prevention. However, evidence-based training doesn’t mean inflexible routines. Rather, it means using the best available evidence in a way that’s appropriate for you.
Key components of effective coaching include:
1. Goal Setting That Works
Goal-setting is a cornerstone of personal training, but it must be meaningful and adaptable. Locke and Latham (1990) found that specific, challenging (yet attainable) goals improve motivation and performance. However, these goals must also be revisited and revised when circumstances change, whether due to illness, stress, travel, or shifting priorities.
2. Adaptation to Real Life
Life is unpredictable. A rigid “no excuses” approach often backfires, contributing to guilt and dropout. Dishman et al. (1985) noted that perceived barriers — such as time constraints, fatigue, or lack of support — are strong predictors of exercise non-adherence. A responsive PT doesn’t ignore these barriers; they help clients work with them, using strategies like routine flexibility, micro-goals, and psychological reframing.
3. Autonomy-Supportive Coaching
Self-Determination Theory highlights that when people feel autonomous, competent, and connected, they are more likely to persist with a behaviour (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Rather than relying on shame or pressure, the best trainers foster autonomy by offering choice, encouraging self-reflection, and validating the client’s experiences.
Beyond Metrics: Redefining Success
Traditional fitness culture often fixates on metrics — weight loss, body composition, reps, personal bests. While these may be meaningful for some... they can be alienating or irrelevant for others. A more holistic and psychologically informed approach recognises multiple forms of success:
Reduced pain during daily movement
Greater consistency with physical activity
Increased energy and confidence
A more positive relationship with food and body
Feeling empowered in one’s own skin
This reframing draws on positive psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000), which emphasises human strengths, well-being, and fulfilment rather than merely fixing deficits. It also resonates with the Health at Every Size (HAES) paradigm, which advocates for weight-neutral approaches to health and fitness, focusing instead on behaviours that promote physical and mental well-being.
The Trainer as a Partner, Not a Judge
The personal training relationship should feel like a partnership, not an audit. Your PT is not there to grade your performance but to support your progress... and help you navigate obstacles with compassion and strategy.
Motivational Interviewing (Miller & Rollnick, 2012), a client-centred counselling method, is increasingly used in health and fitness settings for this reason. It helps clients resolve ambivalence, discover internal motivation, and take ownership of their choices. Instead of saying “you should,” the trainer helps you articulate why change matters to you.
This shift from “accountability to the trainer” toward “accountability to one’s own values” fosters long-term engagement and builds self-trust — key ingredients in making health and fitness a lasting, empowering part of your life.
Final Thoughts: Redefining Personal Training for the Better
If you’ve avoided personal training because you feared judgment, unrealistic expectations, or being pushed too hard, it’s time to reconsider... The best trainers are not enforcers of a rigid fitness ideal — they are guides, listeners, and supportive collaborators who help you shape a fitness journey that fits your real life.
They don’t walk ahead, pulling you forward; they don’t walk behind, pushing you from behind. They walk beside you, adapting, encouraging, and helping you become the expert in your own body and goals.
Author – Carl Fivey
Explore This Topic in Coaching
Bring this knowledge to your decision-making and to your coaching sessions, and make faster progress toward your goals.
Want to explore this further through coaching and live a happier and healthier life? Returning clients, book your next session or group programme today. For new clients, book a discovery call to find out more.
Resources
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Springer.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Dishman, R. K., Sallis, J. F., & Orenstein, D. R. (1985). The determinants of physical activity and exercise. Public Health Reports, 100(2), 158–171.
Gould, D., Collins, K., Lauer, L., & Chung, Y. (2007). Coaching life skills through football: A study of award-winning high school coaches. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 19(1), 16–37.
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (1990). A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance. Prentice Hall.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Prochaska, J. O., & DiClemente, C. C. (1983). Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: Toward an integrative model of change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(3), 390–395.
Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-Centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications, and Theory. Houghton Mifflin.
Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14.
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