Answer :
Final answer:
Personal trainers should provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment for individuals with social physique anxiety. They can start with private sessions and integrate cognitive-behavioral strategies and social skills training to help clients focus on personal goals rather than external evaluations.
Explanation:
Personal trainers working with individuals who have social physique anxiety (SPA) should adopt a sensitive and understanding approach. SPA is the distress a person experiences from perceived negative evaluations about their body when in social settings. Personal trainers should focus on creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment, one that emphasizes personal goals and improvements, rather than comparisons with others.
Starting with private sessions may help individuals with SPA feel more comfortable, gradually building confidence without the immediate pressures of a group setting. Trainers can later integrate them into group activities once the individual feels ready. Additionally, personal trainers can offer cognitive-behavioral strategies to clients and may encourage them to seek professional help for their anxiety. Incorporating social skills training into their routines, as it is shown to augment the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy, can also be beneficial. Strategies such as setting attainable fitness goals and celebrating personal achievements can detract from external evaluations, minimizing the focus on body image concerns.
