Phoebe Gray
I’m a personal trainer and psychology PhD researcher with over 7 years of experience helping women build strength, confidence, and a positive relationship with exercise.
My approach is rooted in body image research and designed to shift the focus from how your body looks to what it can do, creating a supportive, enjoyable space to move and grow.
I offer 1:1 personal training and run workshops for fitness professionals on promoting positive body image, blending real-world coaching with evidence-based insights.
About Me.
I became a qualified personal trainer in 2017, while I was still studying for my undergraduate degree. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of delivering over 7,000 personal training sessions, completed an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, managed a personal training studio, and started my PhD. My research looks at women’s body image within the world of personal training — a topic I’m really passionate about. I feel very lucky to be able to combine both my research and hands-on experience to help improve women’s experiences of exercise.
Education
2022-2025
Psychology PhD
University of Sussex
My PhD is where I have really focused in on combining my interests. I have done research with both clients and personal trainers to understand more about how the fitness industry might be able to move away from focusing on appearance and promote more positive body image. See below for my published research!
2019-2021
MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
University of Chichester
During my Masters, I learnt a lot about how to apply theories of motivation to exercise settings. For my dissertation, I conducted an experimental study on whether self-paced exercise could improve women's state body image.
2015-2018
BSc Psychology
University of Sussex
It was during my second year that I learned about exercise psychology as an area of both research and applied practice. This inspired me to get my PT qualification during the summer of 2017!
Read my research...
"Women’s body image experiences in the context of personal training in the UK: A qualitative diary study": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144525000373
"Perceived body acceptance by personal trainers and client body appreciation in women in the UK: A pre-registered study": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029224002103