Strength training aims to increase muscular strength, often through the use of weights or bodyweight exercises. Strength training has been proposed as a successful intervention to many mental health disorders, and this has been demonstrated across a range of studies. 

A review of the literature on exercise and mental health by Heinze et al (2021) found that physical activity increases BDNF, a protein that stimulates neural plasticity. This is important as low neural plasticity is associated with high incidences of mental health. The review also found that exercise leads to improvements in frontal brain areas (the area of the brain involved in cognitive function).

Additionally, Smith and Merwin (2021) found that strength training supports the development of new behaviours and routines, as well as improving cognitive and affect regulation. We can view strength training as improving our ability to promote healthy cognitions as well as enhancing our ability to change old behaviours. These mechanisms allow improvements in many aspects of a client’s wellbeing, using only a single intervention. This is an extremely efficient approach to treatment, and may be relatively low cost compared to medical alternatives.

While physical activity is often recommended as part of traditional treatment for certain mental health disorders such as depression, it is rarely the focus of intervention. However research has found that exercise interventions lead to decreased symptomology in those with addiction (Dolzeal et al, 2013); eating disorders (Danielsen et al, 2018); psychosis (Mittal et al, 2017) depression and anxiety (Ashdwon-Franks et al, 2020).

One of the aims of the RESET approach is to elevate the perceived importance of physical activity to our mental health, incorporating strength training (and other somatic interventions) as a primary treatment alongside traditional therapeutic techniques.