I have a client who trains with other trainers on the weekends. How do I ensure she is getting a well rounded program?
I work in a corporate fitness facility that is only open M-F and I am not allowed to train outdoors on weekends due to liability reasons. My client is very aggressive with her weight loss goals, and after a few months with me she decided to add a "bonus trainer" to meet with her on Saturdays. How in the world do I make sure she is getting a well rounded program and plan our workouts properly? This other trainer has an expired cert and is having her do things I don't agree with. Help!
I agree with Carly- offer to find a way to train her on the weekends, or create a program for her to do on her own. One main goal of a trainer is to teach self-efficacy, so she can perform all that you have trained her on her own. I would encourage her to either work with you or on her own for consistency.
Speak your truth to her. Let her know your concerns and that you want what’s best for her. Let her know that it’s essential that a professional upholds the standard in our industry and that’s important to you…would you consider hiring a doctor who by the way didn’t pass the boards? Just missed a few questions ? Or didn’t see the point since they’d had all that school just the same? Of course not!
Then educate, educate, educate while you’re training her. If you are doing that- even she should spot the difference between a trainer who knows good form and one who does not.
Do make sure that you let it know a difference of opinion is OK. We have to agree to disagree sometimes, there is more than one right answer. But if something is injurious to your client it’s important that you point it out. Your relationship is with your client though- not with the trainer- and if they haven’t sought you out – it’s odd so chances are that they aren’t going to do so.
As Carly said…look into finding another outdoor location and/or getting liability insurance which seems beneficial to you and certainly speak with the other trainer. Perhaps he/she could be educated by a brief conversation with you. What about periodization? Client needs, goals, workouts? These are all good reasons to initiate a call. Maybe you could have a meeting of the minds. This is about empowering our clients and helping people meet goals. I would educate (the client) too and eventually it will sink in. Initially some people won’t do much w/o a trainer and then one day they will. Perhaps this person feels she needs that extra day right now to meet her weight loss goals. Rather than look at the “bad” the other trainer may be doing, think how you can both help the client. As for lapsing certification: you haven’t mentioned details but (thinking positively) maybe they are certified in another discipline? I would ask about it.