Creating the climate for consultation The climate created is clearly under the PT’s control. This first meeting is the beginning of what may be a long and productive relationship. The client is about to make a commitment to changing their life for the better with the PT’s guidance. The climate established should be conducive to developing rapport with the client and letting them open up and feel comfortable giving information about themselves. Rapport comes from a genuine attempt to understand the other person on their own terms, to see the world from their point of view and imagine what it would be like to ‘walk a mile in their shoes’. Attention to detail is important; the PT should make sure there are no interruptions, that the room is laid out correctly to avoid barriers, that the seating is comfortable and that the PT uses open body language and maintains good eye contact. Developing rapport The ability to quickly develop rapport with a client is vital in setting the mood and establishing a climate that is conducive to open communication. The word ‘rapport’ implies a harmonious relation or emotional affinity between two or more people. It is common for there to be a little tension or awkwardness between two people when they first meet. It is the responsibility of the trainer to reduce that tension and help the client to feel comfortable and at ease. This is where rapport building skills really come in useful. The most important aspects of successfully building good rapport are positive body language and the way that we say things, much more so than what we actually say. Once good rapport has been established it will be much easier to discuss the relevant information and explore concerns and barriers than it would be if the client was still feeling awkward. Rapport building is not only a skill needed for the initial ice breaking, but should be continually weaved into the whole consultation process to improve the professional relationship and continue to overcome communication barriers. Developing skills to conduct a consultation Conducting an effective consultation is not something that will just happen. It needs to be worked on; in particular the skills to work on are questioning, listening and communication oriented.
Copyright © 2010 Active IQ Ltd. Manual not for resale Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training - Manual
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