Interview Strategies to Support the Early Success of New Clients

CEC Course

A CEC-approved course to help Personal Trainers lead effective and meaningful initial consultations

In this course, you'll learn how to create an Initial consultation experience that goes beyond intake forms—one that is founded in behavior change, is client-centered, and gives you practical tools to guide meaningful dialogue.

What You’ll Get

✅ A Structured Interview Framework and Question Guide
You’ll receive ready-to-use resources: Initial Consultation Order of Operations, helping to guide the overall session, as well as the Question Guide that provides a series of exact questions to ask the client.

✅ Behavior Change & Motivation Strategies
Apply practical tools from Self-Efficacy Theory, the Transtheoretical Model, and Self-Determination Theory to better understand client readiness and motivation and help you program more effectively.

✅ Better, More Accurate Goal-Setting Technique
Move beyond “What are your fitness goals?” and ask more intentional, pointed questions that better support initial adherence.

✅ Strategies that Support Participation
Identify specific considerations that better support the client experience.

0.2 CECs

Course Details

Course Specifics

  1. A proven initial consultation framework designed to support sustainable client success

  2. Tools to create a welcoming, inclusive experience

  3. Practical application of behavior change and motivational theories

  4. Techniques to ask better questions

  5. Goal-setting strategies that reflect each client’s values, lifestyle, and needs

  6. Actionable steps to support early success and long-term engagement

CECs

This course is approved by ACE and NASM for 0.2 CECs after course completion and a passing quiz score of 70%.

Materials Provided

  • Four video modules, totaling two hours

  • Downloadable Resource: Initial Consultation Order of Operations

  • Downloadable Resource: Initial Consultation Question Guide

  • Downloadable PDF of slides

Cost

$49+ tax

This course draws from my expertise in behavior change and over 18 years of experience training personal trainers and managing programs.

As a certified personal trainer since 2007, I have developed and utilized these strategies with numerous personal training clients. In my role as fitness manager, I implemented these systems into the personal training programs I oversaw, ensuring continuity in the client experience and equipping my team of personal trainers with the tools to be successful.

More about Christin

This Course is For:

  • Personal Trainers who want to create successful experiences for their clients

  • Coaches who are committed to utilizing inclusive practices

  • Educators and movement professionals who value a client-centered service based on behavior change theory

  • Fitness Managers who want a standardized approach to their Personal Training program

The Initial Consultation Sets the Tone for the Client-Trainer Relationship

When personal trainers lead with curiosity, care, and evidence-based strategies, clients are more likely to feel safe, supported, and capable—and that feeling drives early success.

Research demonstrates that when behavior change theory is intentionally applied from the start, clients are more likely to stay consistent. They feel confident in their ability to follow through, more connected to the process, and more motivated by their own internal drive—not just the trainer’s instruction.

This matters because early success is one of the strongest indicators of long-term adherence. When clients experience small wins, emotional safety, and a clear sense of purpose in the first few sessions, they’re more likely to return.

By creating a thoughtful, inclusive consultation process, you're not just gathering information—you're laying the foundation for trust, autonomy, and lasting behavior change.

Get the Course

Whether you're a new trainer or an experienced coach looking to refine your approach, this course will elevate how you connect, communicate, and collaborate with clients.

📍 100% Online & Self-Paced
📚 Evidence-Based Content
📋 Downloadable resources you can use immediately in your sessions

What Participants Are Saying

  • “It was presented in a professional way that was efficient and effective. The quiz was helpful to check for understanding, and the attached PDF's are GREAT tools that I can apply right away.”

    — Shelby, course participant

  • “This course encourages Personal Trainers to think more critically about the Initial Consultation experience through the lens of our clients. We are often so comfortable in our physical space and so focused on the goal of exercising that these steps that lead to greater rapport and overall client adherence can be missed. All Personal Trainers should take this course, especially those new to the field.

    — Melissa, course participant

 FAQs

  • 4 modules, each including a video and downloadable PDF slides, totaling two hours.

    Downloadable Resources:

    • Initial Consultation Order of Operations

    • Initial Consultation Question Guide

    The course can be completed in one sitting or over time.

  • Forever! Or until I retire the course :)

  • ACE and NASM provide 0.2 continuing education credits upon completion of this course and passing the quiz with a score of 70% or higher.

  • Purchasing this course allows the purchaser to utilize the resources provided and is licensed for single use only.

    If you would like to utilize the materials for your team or program, they can be purchased separately here or added on at checkout when purchasing this course.

Questions? Let’s chat.