Gyms Beat Therapy: Danish Professor’s Shocking Claim

Ascar Ashleen

Writer

February 27, 2026
1:25 pm

A Danish psychology professor argues that strength training and fitness can support mental health in ways traditional therapy cannot, challenging fellow psychologist Svend Brinkmann’s preference for conventional therapeutic approaches. Research suggests physical activity helps people overcome psychological challenges through movement and community rather than words alone.

Fitness Centers as Therapeutic Spaces

The debate over whether gyms can serve as therapy rooms is gaining attention in Denmark. Julie Midtgaard Klausen, a professor in clinical psychology at Psychiatric Center Glostrup, presented a perspective that surprised Svend Brinkmann during his radio program on DR Radio. She stated she would not immediately book a psychologist appointment when facing mental health challenges.

The Body’s Role in Mental Health

Klausen’s research demonstrates that sedentary lifestyles affect how people perceive reality. When individuals sit still most of the time, their perception of the world also stagnates. This impacts mental wellbeing significantly.

She argues that humans need to use their bodies and feel present in physical form to become whole people. Interacting with others through movement creates psychological benefits that sitting still cannot provide. People living in small, inactive worlds struggle more when confronting psychological difficulties.

Movement as Mental Reset

Physical exercise can pause racing thoughts in ways that sitting therapy cannot always achieve. Brinkmann himself acknowledges this from personal experience. When using the body actively, attention shifts away from whatever was circling through the mind moments before.

Klausen notes that fitness represents Denmark’s largest sport nationwide. This popularity reflects something deeper about modern needs. Despite Brinkmann preferring to train at home without strangers around, he agrees motion can interrupt negative thought patterns effectively.

Advantages Beyond Traditional Therapy

The therapeutic environment differs dramatically between a psychologist’s office and a fitness center. Traditional therapy rooms feature face to face seating, windows for contemplation, and perhaps a plant for visual calm. Gyms contain mirrors, other people, and music filling the space.

Progress Without Words

Klausen emphasizes that physical training allows mental and physical progress without verbal communication. For many people, this represents a significant advantage. When words do appear in sports contexts, they typically involve positive stories, mutual recognition, or even humorous defeat narratives.

This creates a psychological repertoire that participants can draw upon. Obtaining similar experiences in conventional therapeutic rooms proves far more difficult. Emotions serve as fuel in both therapy and physical activity, yet the gym offers something distinct.

Personal Ownership of Change

Progress experienced through training is self driven rather than therapist driven. Simply showing up to exercise represents something individuals have ownership over. This autonomy differs fundamentally from therapy, where progress often depends on the therapist or collaborative effort.

The self directed nature of fitness creates empowerment that complements but differs from traditional therapeutic relationships. Participants make independent choices about intensity, duration, and commitment level. These decisions build confidence through demonstrated capability rather than discussed capability.

Research on Youth Mental Health

Current research projects examine how training communities affect young people with severe mental illness. Klausen participates in studies investigating whether fitness increases connectedness, hope, and agency among this vulnerable population.

CrossFit as Intervention

Although final results remain under calculation, interviews with young participants reveal positive patterns. Descriptions suggest training functions as a bridge to other life activities. One participant resumed swimming and described underwater time as a noise filter for the world.

The research partners with crossfit centers across Denmark. Klausen calls crossfit a very inclusive environment despite its intense appearance. Mental illness often involves inactivity, making crossfit’s active nature a powerful contrast. The training format allows participation across different skill levels.

Social Connection Without Eye Contact

CrossFit and similar training forms can occur without direct eye contact, benefiting those uncomfortable with intense social interaction. Participants can withdraw when needed while remaining in a room with others. This flexibility accommodates varying comfort levels with social engagement.

The physical space provides structure without demanding constant interpersonal engagement. People work alongside each other rather than necessarily with each other. This arrangement suits individuals for whom traditional group therapy feels overwhelming or counterproductive.

Expanding Rather Than Replacing Therapy

Klausen clarifies her position does not devalue psychotherapy. Her goal involves expanding the domain of mental health support rather than diminishing established approaches. Physical activity provides an experiential foundation that people can potentially draw upon during therapy sessions.

Complementary Approaches

The Danish healthcare system increasingly recognizes multiple pathways to mental wellness. Combining physical training with traditional therapy may offer benefits neither provides alone. Different individuals respond to different interventions based on personal history and preferences.

Brinkmann, a professor at Aalborg University known for critiquing self improvement culture, maintains reservations about positioning fitness as therapeutic. His broader academic work questions the medicalization of everyday life. However, the discussion with Klausen illustrates evolving perspectives within Danish psychology.

Building Experiential Resources

Physical activity creates tangible experiences of overcoming challenges and building capacity. These experiences become psychological resources individuals can reference when facing difficulties. The body remembers achievements that the mind might discount or forget.

Training provides immediate feedback through physical sensations and measurable progress. This directness contrasts with therapy’s often abstract nature. Both approaches address mental health but engage different aspects of human experience and capability.