Motivating and supporting exercise behaviours towards improved health are central to the role of kinesiologists in delivering client care. This course takes a psychosocial approach to understanding health behaviour and draws from research and practice in exercise psychology, health psychology and behavioural medicine. A variety of topics will be presented and discussed, including but not limited to: physical activity theories, measurement of behaviour, social relationships and support, quality of life, and behavioural interventions.

The course content will be applied to understanding the complex interaction of clients' perceptions, goals, experiences, objectives, barriers, and facilitators around exercise and health behaviours and healthy lifestyle planning with a focus on mental health outcomes. Skill development will focus on individualized interviewing and counselling techniques, strategies to accommodate varying degrees of health literacy and dynamic approaches to establishing and monitoring health behaviour change. Students will engage in case-based learning, partner/small-group role-playing, and lectures to develop a rich understanding of behaviour change theory and its application.