A Career in Nutritional Therapy
I am often asked for advice from others looking to work in nutrition. I get asked questions like, what is the best study route? What did you think of your Nutrition diploma? and How can I set up as a Nutritional Therapist once I qualify?
Of course Nutritional Therapy is a rewarding career which allows you to change the lives of other people, help them to overcome sometimes serious illnesses and brings a quality of life to people who must continue to live with ongoing illnesses.
Nutrition is a popular area to study but with rates of diet related illnesses growing at a fast rate, nutrition specialists are needed more than ever and there is plenty of room for more. So I put together some advice that might help you when it comes to making your choices.
1. CHOOSING THE RIGHT QUALIFICATION
My study was with CNM - The College of Naturopathic Medicine in London. I had a great experience there where I took my classes and learning both online and with face to face practical clinics in London.
The study was a challenge and I would urge anyone thinking of embarking on this kind of study to give serious thought to how they would fit extra study into their lives. I studied as a home educating mother of two boys, running a small business. I had to use my ‘spare’ time effectively. I would listen to lectures while I did housework and cooking. I would make one hour every day specifically for study and when I travelled I would take my laptop and study on trains and planes. It is possible if you are dedicated but it takes commitment.
You will need support too, especially if you have children. So that you can meet study deadlines, assignments can be researched properly and handed in on time and also so that you can read through the study books that are required from your course.
When you choose a course it’s important to make sure that it is accredited. In the UK, there are a number of main accreditation bodies. The main ones are
BANT - The British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT)
ANP - The Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (TheANP).
NNA - Naturopathic Nutrition Association (NNA)
2. KEEP AN OPEN MIND
Throughout the course of our lives we have been exposed to all kinds of information about food and nutrition and not all of the information is as it seems. Companies that manufacture food and sell health products have a vested interest in maximising the apparent benefits of their products and minimising any negative effects. You will learn throughout the course of your studies to think critically and to apply evidence based nutritional therapy in your work.
3. CONTINUALLY DEVELOP
You will be shown how to read research papers and find that our understanding of the body, the effects of nutrition and diet and also the way that they interact is changing all the time. It should change all the time because that means we are learning and developing our body of knowledge and the same applies to you. You will be expected to continue to grow and learn throughout your career. Your membership to a regulatory body like The British Association of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine ( BANT ) or The Association of Naturopathic Practitioners ( TheANP ) or NNA - Naturopathic Nutrition Association (NNA) will require you to follow CPD - Continuous Professional Development long after you complete your studies.
4. TAKE A YEAR TO GENERALISE BEFORE SPECIALISING
This might be some of the best advice I was given. When I was newly qualified many people told me to specialise immediately but a fellow Naturopath said, ‘wait a year and see what comes your way’. I found that I seemed to energetically attract the same kinds of clients in clusters. I would have a client come to me with Polymyalagic Rheumatica and then another would arrive. I would have a client with Prostate cancer come to me and then a few men with various issues of the prostate like Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and so on. I quickly learned that Cancer was the area I wanted to work in and got good results and took further study to pursue that. However I could not have known this until I had a little experience in practice. So choose to generalise in year one of practise.
5. REMEMBER YOU ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE
People are complex and multi-faceted. You can have two people with the same condition/diagnosis, similar blood results and presenting symptoms and produce a different protocol for each. What works for one, won’t work for another. It’s so important to remember that we work with people, not diseases. We don’t treat diseases, that’s for the medical system. We support people to have a healthy lifestyle and diet and help them to shift their mindset to a healing one.
6. IT’S NOT ALWAYS GLAMOROUS
These days we see lots of celebrity nutritionists, big names in the field writing books, doing presentations and wowing their audiences with their dynamism. The reality of working in clinic as a Nutritional Therapist is that you are working with human bodies and how the body expresses dis-ease in sub-optimal conditions. Some people are desperate when they come to you and you will need to demonstrate empathy, kindness and create actionable and practical steps for them. Understanding that in order to create a successful business, you will need to put your heart and soul into understanding who your patients are. Doing a lot of research in the background is essential, especially at the beginning and committing to seeing your patients through their process to help them get the results that they came to you for in the beginning.
7. DON’T UNDERVALUE YOURSELF
There is a lot of competition in the world of nutrition. Everywhere you turn online there is an ‘expert’ who claims to guarantee weight loss in 12 weeks with their method, or sells you a magic pill which naturally helps you to detoxify effectively. As a properly qualified nutritional therapist, you don’t need to compete at that level. You have invested your time and energy into your education and learning, into getting accredited with the right associations in the industry. As a qualified nutritional therapist, you have knowledge that can help change the course of someone’s life for the better. Know that and value yourself and the work you put in!
8. BOUNDARIES
It’s a tricky one when you are raring to go at your new career, but try to establish healthy boundaries from the start. Both with the way that you manage your work and life balance. Those working in helping careers, are most likely to burnout within the first two years of practice. You must take time for rest, relaxation and do what you can for people within the limitations of your career. You will get patients messaging you outside of work hours. It’s important to set boundaries on your own personal time so that one doesn’t impinge on the other. Put on your own safety mask first then you are in the best place to support other people.
9. MONEY
There is a significant outlay that comes with both getting educated in nutrition. You are likely looking at anything from a Level 5 diploma up to Level 7 and perhaps even beyond in time. This can be financially costly. Anywhere from around £4000 overall to £15000 for a 2/3 year diploma, depending on the college/institution. Then you will need to pay for your affiliation yearly to the regulatory body that you choose, not to mention any business start up costs. Consider the overall impact on your life during that time and how much you would need to work to recoup the outlay, before you start.
10. BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD
People buy from people so think about how you can embody the values you will share with others. Be an ambassador for your work. Use the energy and time you have invested into your education, to make your own diet and lifestyle as healthy as it can be. This is the hidden bonus from your work, you can use your new skills and knowledge to better your own life and that of your loved ones. As a shining example of health, clients will find you more attractive because you will be your own best advert.
Links to courses and accreditation bodies
British Association for Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine www.bant.org.uk
Naturopathic Nutrition Association https://nna-uk.com/
Association Of Naturopathic Practitioners https://theanp.co.uk/
The College of Naturopathic Medicine https://www.naturopathy-uk.com/
The Institute of Optimum Nutrition https://www.ion.ac.uk/Pages/Category/bsc-hons-nutritional-therapy
Oxford College https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/product/level-45-accredited-health-diet-nutritional-studies-diploma/
Natural Healthcare College https://naturalhealthcarecollege.com/fees-2/
