Become a Functional Imagery Training Practitioner (Live and self-study models available!)

Let’s hear from previous FIT practitioner training attendees first:

‘I first became aware of Linda’s enlightening output via Harvard Medical School Affiliate – “Institute of Coaching” – where one of her colleagues provided a presentation to a group of avid listeners. As I’ve had much success with visualization in the past and greatly desired an evidence-based methodology to offer my clients; after attending the aforementioned presentation I performed a deep dive on the net gobbling up every precious morsel I could find of Linda’s work. Finally, after learning all I could online – I opted to take her training as a means of ensuring I gave back to someone whom I was certain would soon greatly benefit my own entrepreneurial venture.
However, much to my surprise – upon contracting with Linda I was immediately provided an impressive breadth of additional FIT research and tools (alongside access to a burgeoning community of students and qualified providers) I would have never imagined existed whilst gathering data surrounding her work from the various sources online. Over the course of the last few months I’ve stated on multiple occasions in conversation with family members: “Linda’s training was the best money I’ve spent in quite some time”. Thank you Linda!’

Ian C. Baptiste, Private Senior Counsellor, Manhattan, 2022
Former Residential Counsellor
McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School Affiliate
Belmont, MA

‘…what we need is hope for the future, faith that things can change and a plan for how to work towards that one step at a time. By a curious twist of fate, what I want to tell you about in this newsletter is a new training programme that is all of those things. Which means that as well as teaching you a new evidence-based motivational training to use with your clients, you’ll probably benefit personally too. This is not my training and there is no benefit to me of promoting it. I’m telling you about it because it was the best training I myself attended in 2019, and it enhanced my own clinical practice.


Dr Helen McCarthy (The Appetite Doctor) consultant clinical psychologist and author of the international bestseller: ‘How to retrain your appetite’ https://theappetitedoctor.co.uk/. This is a tiny section of Helen’s incredibly generous blog post she had dedicated to telling professionals in weight management about FIT training. More here: https://theappetitedoctor.co.uk/2020/12/23/professionals-new-functional-imagery-training-course-launching-2021/

‘I found the FIT training with Linda really beneficial & enjoyable with good resources to support learning, practise & integration. 

The combination of Motivational Interviewing & Imagery training is very powerful and effective. I have already started to use it within my work with clients to support improved performance & wellbeing.’


Peter Connolly, Senior Occupational Therapist, FIT MINDS creator and CEO at Lifestyle Awareness https://lifestyleawareness.ie/ recently qualified as FIT Master Practitioner (October 2021) having completed the FIT advanced practitioner training course and assessment with Dr Linda Solbrig.

PLEASE NOTE a self-guided study model of Functional Imagery Training via training videos, followed by the usual individual time with me, is available all year round. Please email me with any expressions of interest linda.solbrig@plymouth.ac.uk .

The price for the autonomous model which fully qualifies you as advanced practitioner (same as the live training course) is £520.

The course content and competencies it affords are exactly the same as the live training also.

I will still be your online trainer….

while this option is very flexible and more affordable.

You will still be invited to become part of our Face Book closed community of practitioners (managed by me), so you will be able to connect with other practitioners and trainees.

The next online live taught Functional Imagery Training Advanced Practitioner course starts on Tuesday the 17th of Jan 2024 at 2pm GMT.

We will focus on using FIT to boost motivation, confidence and performance across the behaviour change spectrum.

A special emphasis will be placed on well-being (mental fitness), anxiety and stress, lifestyle changes- weight management & physical activity.

This course is aimed at professionals and practitioners from any discipline.

It will be particularly useful to those working in weight management, obesity, health, wellbeing, coaching, psychology, clinical and/or counselling psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, nutrition, nutritional therapy, dietetics, personal training, occupational therapy, nursing, podiatry, lifestyle medicine, functional medicine, mental health, performance coaching, work-place health and wellbeing as well as leadership, and/or physio therapy.

Following the 8 x recurring 2 hour live group sessions which will be taught every Tuesday at 2pm GMT, you and I will arrange individual master class training time and clinical supervision which are included in the training package (1.5 hours).

I video every session, excluding breakout room practice time and share them with my trainees. So, if you miss a session or want to refresh knowledge you have a solid record available.

Cost for the course and certification is £985.

£150 discount for NHS staff

£150 discount for university students

Get in touch with any specific questions or to book your place. I am very happy to discuss the training and certification with you before you decide to sign up via email and/or phone/Zoom.

FIT Training Structure, Resources, Certification & Competences info:

  • To sign up for the course please email linda.solbrig@plymouth.ac.uk
  • 8×2-hour group sessions, taught on Zoom
  • One on One FIT training, clinical supervision and sign-off time to be arranged individually (about 1.5 hours)
  • Cost £985
  • Total hours including self-study, practice and assessment: Approximately 40 hours
  • Please note that the course can be taught one on one and/or tailored to a specific team/service in which case dates and times can be agreed upon request- just email me to enquire.
  • Please also note that I do not train more than 15 trainees per course. I want to insure very high quality and provide room for questions and discussions. I also give much live feedback.

The FIT advanced practitioner status is awarded and certified only upon satisfactory completion of this course and its assessment time with me.

There is an option to receive FIT Master Practitioner Status after completion of advanced status and satisfaction of a top-up assessment (enquire with Dr Linda Solbrig). 

The training, assessment and certification process is conducted by the FIT co-developer and primary developer of FIT for weight management: Dr Linda Solbrig (University of Plymouth and Dr Linda Solbrig Consultancy).

Motivational Interviewing for FIT teaching sessions and assessment (3×2 hours, taught on Zoom):

Trainees complete 7.5 hours of taught foundational Motivational Interviewing Training for FIT. We would expect you to set aside an additional 5 hours of self-study, using the provided learning resources.

MI sessions cover, but are not limited to: 

  • We consider why people find change difficult and how MI can help
  • We cover MI background, MI success to date and its application in various settings
  • We consider patient-centred, collaborative, but directive approaches and the use of OARS in practice
  • We give extra consideration the power of excellent reflection skills
  • We consider how to best apply OARS and especially Reflection with very ambivalent clients
  • We consider the MI 4 process model, engagement, evocation, focusing and planning, and how it is applied in practice
  • We teach you how to use MI through videos, demos and exercises
  • We engage you in MI role/real-play at several points throughout with an assigned buddy
  • We consider the importance of OARS and the four-process model in FIT
  • We take your questions and consider discussion throughout the sessions
  • Brief assessment

Assessment info:

We ask you to participate in a short assessment on the final day of MI teaching sessions. This assessment comprises a series of client/patient statements and we will ask you to write example responses, using your new and/or refreshed MI skills.

We will ask you to complete this brief task online and Dr Linda Solbrig will give brief written feedback on your responses over the week that follows the end of your MI course section.

Your answers will be kept confidential and your responses are never shared with anyone other than Dr Linda Solbrig.

Please note the MI assessment is not a pass-fail part of the course; it simply gives the trainer an indication of where the group is in terms of their MI skills and how much depth of MI review needs to be addressed within the FIT teaching sessions. This should make the next part of the course much more effectively tailored to your needs.  

Learning resources provided MI for FIT part:

  • MI example scripts for lifestyle change
  • MI reading list, including copies of key academic MI publications
  • FIT example video/audio that illustrates the importance of the use of MI in FIT
  • Training power point slides in form of PDF document with all video and reading links
  • Resources to self-check MI skills, like the MITI and our own simplified version to check MI skills in FIT interviews

Functional Imagery Training teaching sessions (5×2 hours, taught via Zoom)

We continue with 10 hours of taught FIT sessions. We would expect you to set aside an additional 5 hours of self-study, using the provided learning materials.

FIT Taught sessions cover, but are not limited to: 

  • You will experience some brief parts of FIT and the use of imagery on yourself
  • We briefly consider ethical conduct when using FIT
  • We teach the research, rationale and theoretical background of FIT
  • We review why MI is so important in FIT
  • We teach you how to use FIT, through demonstrations, video and audio examples 
  • We engage you in real-play on a peer at several points
  • We consider the application of FIT, offer and discuss practise-based evidence examples and share observations
  • We discuss how to use FIT to support other programs, such as prescribed diets and exercise regimes
  • We learn how to flexibly and creatively adapt FIT training for clients with complexities, specific preferences, while retaining FIT fidelity
  • We discuss how to use FIT in group settings
  • We demonstrate and invite you to experience key exercises of FIT that address issues such as acute cravings, binge urges and periods of slow progress (weight loss plateau) 
  • We discuss how to adapt FIT delivery for individuals with ADD and ADHD, to maximize performance outcomes for this client group
  • We take your Questions and encourage discussion throughout the sessions

Learning resources provided for FIT:

  • FIT handbook, including practise sections and FIT example scripts for lifestyle change
  • FIT reading list, including copies of key academic FIT publications
  • FIT example videos, case studies and brief written dialogues
  • Training power point slides in form of PDF document
  • Resources to self-check FIT skills and fidelity

2 practice/supervision sessions are arranged individually with me.

FIT Advanced Practitioner Assessment (10 hours of FIT practise recommended, notes on one client experience and progress to be discussed in individual sign-off time with me)

Throughout the course and following, I ask you to accumulate 10 hours of practice in FIT (if possible) practicing on clients, friends, colleagues or family members.

Once you have accumulated 10 hours of FIT practice, and/or feel confident, please submit notes (examples available) on one of your client’s journey and how you used FIT to help them which we will discuss together in our meetings.

Following this meeting your advanced FIT practitioner status will be confirmed and you will receive your certificate via email, certified by Dr Linda Solbrig Consultancy, in affiliation with The University of Plymouth.

You will then be allowed to use the FIT logo to advertise as offering FIT officially to clients and/or patients.

General competences the FIT advanced practitioner training builds

  • Ability to engage client and to demonstrate and explain rationale for using and learning the use of FIT
  • Ability to structure sessions and adhere to agreed agenda
  • Ability to use active listening skills, collaboratively setting agenda, reflecting emotions and emphasising autonomy for behaviour change
  • Using summaries and feedback to structure sessions
  • Ability to assist client in decisional balance
  • Show empathy for client’s dilemma
  • Ability to elicit client’s ideas and incentives for change
  • Ability to build client’s own motivation and confidence
  • Ability to form and support client’s plans for change/goals
  • Ability to teach client how to use the FIT way of thinking for themselves, outside of coaching sessions

FIT competences: behaviour change

  • Knowledge of basic principles underpinning FIT
  • Ability to elicit and gently guide vivid multisensory imagery, using prompts and silence appropriately
  • Ability to employ imagery techniques to elicit goal imagery
  • Ability to use imagery-based mental time travel to enhance discrepancy between current behaviour and core values
  • Ability to use imagery to help client consider hypothetical scenarios
  • Ability to keep main focus of interaction on positive imagery of proximal goals
  • Ability to help client identify and imagine alternative behaviours, particularly where a goal involves abstinence or restraint
  • Ability to assess client’s imagery
  • Ability to elicit key cognitions/emotions via goal imagery
  • Ability to detect, examine and help client reality test elicited cognitions/goal imagery
  • Ability to elicit client’s imagery of past successes and use this to strengthen motivation and overcome current obstacles to change
  • Ability to use confidence rulers to explore and strengthen client’s motivation and self-efficacy
  • Ability to agree concrete plans and help the client problem solve in regards to setting goals and sub-goals, via the use of imagery
  • Ability to end therapy in planned manner, and to plan for long-term maintenance of gains after treatment

FIT competences: behaviour maintenance

  • Ability to assist with ongoing behaviour change using imagery techniques
  • Ability to review original incentives and current progress, revising goal and goal imagery accordingly
  • Ability to identify and affirm progress, even if partial
  • Ability to sustain motivation when progress on specific goal seems slow by eliciting positive imagery and affect related to overarching life goals and values (plateau exercise)
  • Ability to pair imagery techniques with frequent behaviours
  • Ability to teach people to apply motivational imagery themselves
  • Ability to identify appropriate imagery reminders
  • Ability to set appropriate homework: To engage social support, take pictures, make videos

Problem-specific competences

  • Ability to assist with cravings using imagery techniques
  • Ability to flexibly tailor FIT exercises to specific needs and situations (delay, defer etc.)
  • Dealing with low cognitive capacity
  • Dealing with low imagery ability creatively using verbal thinking prompts that are imagery charged
  • Coping with situations where imagery elicits too strong a reaction
  • Ability to work in partnership with the client to deliver the support they need, such as potential recordings of personalised audios using client’s own verbal and imagery-based prompts and narrative