All coursesSummit session
Summit session · 1 CEC

The Behavior-Change Gap: Why Theory Isn't Enough and What Actually Moves Clients

What do you do in the gap between what the behavioral theory predicts and what your clients actually do? What would coaching look like if you stopped prescribing and started responding? Fitness professionals often learn behavior change and motivational strategies through models, categories, and…

About this course

Session from the 2026 ACSM Health & Fitness Summit

What you will learn

  • Differentiate between behavioral theories and realities by using key behavioral constructs (e.g., self-efficacy, self-regulation, autonomy, affect, support) to recognize how client motivation, readiness, and communication needs shift session-to-session
  • Use person-first, client-centered strategies, including motivational interviewing and collaborative goal setting, to tailor real-time exercise prescription to individual needs, barriers, cultural contexts, health conditions, and lived experiences
  • Develop practical, real-world intervention approaches that integrate constructs across multiple levels (individual, interpersonal, organizational, environmental) and prepare clients for challenges, setbacks, and relapse without compromising motivation or adherence

Save when you bundle

Journal CESELF-PACED / ONLINE
1 CECBehavior Change

Beyond the Numbers: Navigating Fitness Technology in the Age of AI

This article-based course explores the benefits and potential drawbacks of wearable technology and artificial intelligence in fitness, emphasizing that although these tools can support self-monitoring, motivation, and behavior change, excessive reliance on data may undermine autonomy, enjoyment,…

$30
Member $18