Suggested links

Exercise Addiction Counseling

Regular exercise is important for physical and mental health, but excessive exercise can lead to addiction. Brain chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine are produced by healthy exercise, and those addicted rely on them. Counseling is the most effective treatment to overcome exercise addiction, but learning about different therapy options is important.

Battling addiction and ready for treatment? Find Treatment Now

Seeking Counseling for Exercise Addiction

Regular exercise is essential to maintaining overall physical and mental health, but too much of a good thing can be very destructive. For exercise addicts, their brain fails to function without feel-good chemicals, endorphins, and dopamine caused by healthy exercise.

Counseling is the best treatment for exercise addiction, but not all forms of therapy work for everyone. Learn the different types of treatment best suited to address exercise addiction, how they work, and how they can help you or a loved one.

How Does Counseling Help Treat Exercise Addiction?

Because exercise addiction is a behavioral addiction, counseling is often the best way to address addictive behaviors that lead to compulsive exercise. Counseling helps by showing the addict how to identify thought patterns or beliefs that lead to addictive behaviors.

Whether through one-on-one or group sessions, counseling can help addicts feel less alienated and shameful about their addiction. Counseling can also help motivate addicts to pursue recovery and see their addiction from a new perspective.

Each therapy type has its strengths and weaknesses, so if one type doesn’t work for you, another type might be better suited to your needs.

Benefits of Exercise Addiction Counseling

Some people view behavioral addictions like exercise addiction as less serious than substance abuse addictions, leading many to attempt treating their exercise addiction on their own. Unfortunately, treating your addiction alone seldom works.

By working with a professional healthcare provider and committing to exercise addiction counseling, you can avoid the common pitfalls of recovery and learn strategies to prevent relapse.

Benefits of exercise addiction counseling include:

  • Understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
  • Improved relationships with loved ones, coworkers, and classmates
  • Develop strategies to process intense or difficult emotions
  • Improved body image, body dysmorphia, and self-esteem
  • Treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions or eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia
  • Improved coping skills to combat withdrawal symptoms and urges
  • Better overall quality of life
Try Therapy Online

Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with a licensed therapist.

We earn a commission if you purchase services through our links.

Take Assessment

Types of Counseling for Exercise Addiction Treatment

Several types of counseling have proven effective in the treatment of exercise addiction. Each type of therapy has its method, whether it’s focusing on thought patterns and false beliefs or bolstering motivation and handling relationship conflicts.

If you’re not sure what type of therapy would work best for you, ask your doctor what they would recommend. Depending on co-occurring disorders, certain counseling types may work better for you.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational interviewing is a 1–2 session framework designed to help exercise addicts who resist change feel more motivated to improve their situation and lifestyle. The main idea behind MI is to evoke motivation to enter recovery from exercise addiction, not force it.

After all, forcing an exercise addict to stop over-exercising before they’re ready often fails. MI instead uses empathy to show addicts that they are in full control of whether or not they change and how their quality of life will improve if they do.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Based originally on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy differs in its focus on learning to regulate emotions, practice mindfulness, and change behavior rather than thoughts.

For exercise addicts who struggle to change their behavior around physical activity, DBT helps them better regulate the extreme emotions that lead to addictive behaviors.

DBT encourages exercise addiction patients to let go of the past and focus more on the present through one-on-one therapy, group sessions, and skills training.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is the most commonly used form of psychotherapy and has helped many patients with excessive exercise and dependence.

CBT typically occurs in one-on-one sessions where a mental health professional helps the addict identify thoughts or false beliefs that lead to addictive behaviors. For example, a patient may be obsessed with weight loss because they believe they are unhealthy despite a clear bill of health.

Once these negative thought patterns or beliefs are identified, the therapist helps patients replace them with more productive thoughts. Patients will also learn to develop coping strategies to use during high stress to make better choices.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Rational emotive behavior therapy is a type of CBT that focuses on managing irrational thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. While REBT overlaps with CBT in many areas, it differs in handling extreme emotions and encourages addicts to find happiness, even in unwanted circumstances.

A hallmark of REBT is Unconditional Self Acceptance (USA), which teaches addicts to unconditionally accept themselves as the imperfect humans they are, regardless of whether they do well or poorly or are loved or hated by others.

Exercise addicts struggling with extreme self-critical thoughts or having problems regulating strong feelings of anger or sadness may find relief with REBT.

Try Therapy Online

Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with a licensed therapist.

We earn a commission if you purchase services through our links.

Take Assessment

4 Tips for Finding the Right Exercise Addiction Counselor

Finding an exercise addiction counselor isn’t a perfect science, but remember a few things to ensure you find a mental healthcare provider that best suits your needs.

1. Find Someone You’re Comfortable With

When it comes to counseling, working with a therapist you don’t feel comfortable with can affect the mental health benefits you receive. You may feel unsafe talking about certain topics or vulnerable if you don’t get along with your therapist.

Finding a therapist you trust and get along with will make you more likely to discuss the more sensitive or difficult topics you can’t discuss with family members. Don’t hesitate to try another therapist if you feel uncomfortable with the person you see.

2. Appointment Times That Fit Your Schedule

We all have busy lives, so finding appointment times that don’t conflict with daily life is important. If your counseling appointments are difficult to work around your schedule, you’ll be more likely to cancel or even drop them entirely over time.

Ask the counselor or the scheduler what appointment times are available. Some offices also offer virtual appointment options. You can ask if your office provides virtual appointments if in-person ones are during inconvenient times.

3. Know Your Insurance and Budget

Money is often a huge barrier to treatment for many people. Cost can dictate what counselors you can see and how frequently. However, many offices and counselors will try to work with patients to provide care.

If you have insurance, determine your co-pays and deductibles, so you know what to expect when paying for your session. If you don’t have insurance, you can ask the office what lower-cost or community-based options are available.

4. Expect to Try a Few Therapists

Counseling can be a very vulnerable, sometimes uncomfortable experience. A therapist will ask personal questions and start discussions about sensitive topics you may not have even allowed yourself to think about.

Finding someone you click with who understands your style of working through issues is important. That being said, be prepared to try a few different counselors to find someone who complements the way you think and process issues. Trying several therapists is totally normal.

Additional Resources for Treating Exercise Addiction

Aside from counseling, support groups, and online communities are great additional treatment options to complement counseling for exercise addiction. There are also many small communities on social media sites you can use to connect with like-minded people in recovery from exercise addiction.

Groups like Recoveries Anonymous and Exercise Addicts Anonymous (website not working as of 7/12/24) can provide community and accountability as you begin your recovery journey.

Try Therapy Online

Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with a licensed therapist.

We earn a commission if you purchase services through our links.

Take Assessment

Finding a Counselor for Exercise Addiction

If you or a loved one has the warning signs of exercise addiction and are ready to enter counseling, counselors are ready to help. Inpatient treatment for exercise addiction is rare; most addicts find great results with consistent therapy and support from loved ones.

Talk with your doctor about the negative consequences of your exercise routine and see what treatment options might be best. If you don’t have a doctor or don’t know where to start, try SAMHSA’s online treatment locator or call 1-877-726-4727 (HELP) to see what treatment options are in your area.

FAQ's About Counseling for Exercise Addiction

Is there a treatment for exercise addiction?

Yes. The treatment for exercise addiction typically includes outpatient counseling, along with the support of loved ones or support groups.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common therapy used for exercise addiction. However, dialectical behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing have also proven effective.

Is exercise addiction a mental disorder?

Yes. Although exercise addiction isn’t officially listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition), the condition falls under the umbrella of behavioral addictions like gambling disorder.

How do you know if you have an exercise addiction?

There are a few ways to know if you have an exercise addiction. The first is to discuss your symptoms with a doctor, trusted friend, or family member and determine if a problem exists.

You can also try taking the Exercise Addiction Inventory, a screening tool used by physicians, to get an idea of where you fall on the scale of problematic amounts of exercise. Only a trained mental health professional can provide an official exercise addiction diagnosis.

What are the 3 most common symptoms of exercise addiction?

The three most common symptoms of exercise addiction include:

  • Intense or uncontrollable urges to exercise for an excessive amount of time that takes over that person’s life
  • Continuing to overexercise despite negative consequences
  • Experiencing repeat injury and illness due to not letting the body recover
Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. is a founder of Addiction HelpReviewed by:Kent S. Hoffman, D.O.

Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder

  • Fact-Checked
  • Editor

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. has been an expert in addiction medicine for more than 15 years. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality.

Jessica Miller is the Content Manager of Addiction HelpWritten by:

Editorial Director

Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of Addiction Help. Jessica graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an English degree and combines her writing expertise and passion for helping others to deliver reliable information to those impacted by addiction. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica's empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.

  1. Egorov, A. Y., & Szabo, A. (2013, December 1). The Exercise Paradox: An Interactional Model for a Clearer Conceptualization of Exercise Addiction. AKJournals. https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/2/4/article-p199.xml
  2. Freimuth, M., Moniz, S., & Kim, S. R. (2011, October). Clarifying Exercise Addiction: Differential Diagnosis, Co-occurring Disorders, and Phases of Addiction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210598/
  3. Guarnotta, E. (2022, March 1). What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and What Does CBT Treat?. GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/cognitive-behavioral-therapy
  4. Guarnotta, E. (2023, May 22). Exercise Addiction: Symptoms and Interventions. GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/behavioral-addiction/am-i-addicted-to-exercise-causes-symptoms-treatment
  5. Knapp, S., Miller, A., Outar, L., & Turner, M. (2022, October 1). Psychological Well-Being and Exercise Addiction: The Treatment Effects of an REBT Intervention for Females. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029222001662
  6. Landolfi, E. (2012, December 21). Exercise Addiction. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-012-0013-x
  7. Marais, N. S. D. (2021, November 11). Motivational Interviewing for Substance Abuse Recovery. GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/substance-use-disorder/motivational-interviews-for-substance-abuse#what-s-mi-
  8. Weinstein, A., & Weinstein, Y. (2014). Exercise Addiction—Diagnosis, Bio-Psychological Mechanisms and Treatment Issues. Current Pharmaceutical Design. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24001300/

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Our free email newsletter offers guidance from top addiction specialists, inspiring sobriety stories, and practical recovery tips to help you or a loved one keep coming back and staying sober.

By signing up, you’ll be able to:

  • Stay Focused on Recovery
  • Find Ways To Give Back
  • Connect with Others Like You
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Find Treatment Now