An exploration of Irish counsellors’ awareness of the potential benefits of physical activity as an adjunct treatment to counselling for those presenting with moderate depression or anxiety.

Abstract

Engagement with physical activity is psychologically and emotionally beneficial for many people who experience moderate depression or anxiety. Despite this, available evidence suggests that counsellors are unaware of the evidence base behind this assertion. Therefore, this thesis explores whether accredited Irish counsellors are sufficiently aware of the potential benefits of physical activity in treating moderate depression or anxiety. It seeks to understand what barriers they may face in promoting physical activity as an adjunct treatment to their existing counselling services. It further seeks to understand what counsellors want to know more about in this area and to develop and pilot a Continuing Professional Development workshop to bridge these knowledge gaps.

This study adopted an exploratory-sequential approach, which employed a two-phase mixed-method design. Phase 1 involved conducting and analysing semi-structured qualitative interviews with Irish counsellors to ascertain their own relationship with physical activity, levels of knowledge, and barriers to recommendations for physical activity.

Phase 2 involved designing and delivering a three-hour workshop to bridge the knowledge gaps and barriers identified in phase 1 and upskill participants in this area. Participants completed pre- and post-workshop surveys for the researcher to gauge their knowledge and confidence levels on the potential benefits of physical activity for clients experiencing moderate depression or anxiety.

Key findings from the interviews were the identification of knowledge gaps and learning barriers in education on related research findings, how to speak with clients about physical activity, and what types of physical activity are best for moderate depression and anxiety Findings also showed that participation in the workshop improved counsellors’ awareness of the potential benefits of physical activity as an adjunct treatment to counselling for those presenting with moderate depression or anxiety by 42.9%. The workshop bettered counsellors’ knowledge of the World Health Organization’s guidelines for physical activity from 35.7% to 92.9%. The workshop improved comfort levels in discussing physical activity with clients by 49.8% and confidence levels in the physical activity knowledge base by 78.5%.

Based on the success of the workshop, future recommendations include delivering the workshop as a Continuing Professional Development activity to counsellors across Ireland and the UK; facilitating a six-month follow-up survey after these workshops to gauge longitudinal behaviour changes from counsellors relating to recommendations for physical activity as an adjunct treatment in clients with moderate levels of depression or anxiety; and deliver an in-person, classroom-based workshop and compare the results from this to the results from the virtual online workshop.

Date of Award	22 May 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Nikki Coghill (Supervisor) & Emma Solomon-Moore (Supervisor)