Functional Imagery Training
(FIT)
'Functional Imagery Training is Health Coaching 2.0...' Rutger Top, Coach, Trainer, Project Manager, Amsterdam
FIT is strength-based motivational training that effectively boosts motivation and performance across the entire behavioural spectrum.
Functional Imagery Training (FIT) is a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention that aims to help individuals change their thoughts and behaviours by using visualisation and imagery techniques. The goal of FIT is to help people identify and modify the unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that contribute to their difficulties, and to develop more adaptive and effective ways of coping with stress and challenges.
FIT is relevant and useful for all areas of wellbeing change - from health behaviour and lifestyle change, keeping well and recovering from mental health issues, to addressing a life goal and/or performance goal.
FIT is currently most effective way of training individuals in using mental imagery to support their motivation and confidence for goal-success and maintenance long-term.
FIT is a flexible ‘motivational vehicle’, driving forward any change a person may wish to pursue, creating strong desires to achieve.
FIT takes a very personalised approach to wellbeing and performance. FIT is a training that teaches individuals and groups of people to use a new way of thinking, and communicating by drawing on their own cognitive abilities in using mental imagery to compare and contrast, vividly and creatively consider valued goals and to effectively address challenges, as well as to find solutions.
Dr Linda Solbrig (FIT primary developer) offers FIT at My Therapist Online.
What does FIT typically help?
FIT has been found to be effective in the treatment of a variety of mental health conditions, including:
Anxiety
Depression
Substance abuse
Physical health problems - It has also been used to help individuals improve their physical health, such as in the treatment of chronic pain or to help people manage the stress and challenges of a chronic illness.
Chronic illness - FIT has been used to help individuals manage the stress and challenges of living with a chronic illness, such as cancer or heart disease.
What does FIT training involve?
FIT typically involves working with a therapist or trained professional who guides the individual through a series of structured exercises designed to help them develop new skills and strategies for managing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
These exercises may involve visualisation, imagery, and other mental rehearsal techniques, as well as other CBT techniques such as goal setting, problem solving, and relaxation training.
FIT uses a variety of mental imagery exercises to continue building goal, process and success imagery. Crucially, it teaches individuals how to do this for themselves, rather than depending on coaching support long-term.
Is Functional Imagery Training effective?
FIT has been used successfully in research to achieve significant weight-loss and to support weight-loss maintenance, to aid recovery from eating disorders, increase physical activity in people with major depression and in the general community, increase grit in professional athletes, increase resilience and support building growth mind-sets, raise the pass-rate of trainee soldiers on their All-Arms Commando Course (AACC) through resilience and grit in the British Army, support diabetic self-management, treat alcohol dependence, manage cannabis use in people with psychosis, to reduce anxiety and manage stress effectively, to reduce self-harm in young adults.
FIT is unique because it aims to replace the need for ongoing support and is wholly designed to equip clients/patients with all the skills they need to quickly become their own coach.
We make finding the right therapist easy.
At My Therapist Online, we listen to the problems you are facing and match you with the right therapist for your individual needs. You can meet with them for a free initial consultation to be sure it is a good match before starting your therapy.