Nutritional therapy is the application of nutrition science in the promotion of health, peak performance and individual care. In clinic, I will use a wide range of tools to assess and identify potential nutritional imbalances and to understand how these may contribute to your symptoms and health concerns. This approach allows me to work with individuals to address nutritional balance and help support the body towards optimal health. Nutritional therapy is recognised as a complementary medicine and is relevant for individuals with chronic conditions, as well as those looking for support to enhance their health and well-being.

I consider each and every individual to be unique and so I recommend personalised nutrition and lifestyle programmes rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. I would never recommend nutritional therapy as a replacement for medical advice and always refer any client with ‘red flag’ signs or symptoms to their medical professional. I will also frequently work alongside a medical professional and will communicate with other healthcare professionals involved in your care to explain any nutritional therapy programme that has been provided.

I follow the Functional Medicine model, which considers the whole and its environment. This model draws on the latest nutrition research to identify the imbalances at the root of chronic conditions rather than simply to suppress their symptoms.

Probably, some people have. It will almost certainly take longer and it could well be harder as a result but there is no reason why you could not. If you still have questions about how it works, do get in touch.

I wish I could. I can guarantee you that I will give you my all but I can’t guarantee you will fully recover. Also bear in mind people often leave me when they are not fully recovered for the very good reason that you have to do the last bits on your own. It’s a bit like learning to drive, passing your driving licence doesn’t make you a good driver, you need to drive on your own for a bit to really become proficient at driving. One thing that I can say though, is that it’s the people who throw themselves in the process, show up to the sessions and do the tasks I give them who tend to do the best. Again, you can’t learn to drive simply by looking at car magazines or talking about the theory. Recovery is an active process in which you have to be involved.

I appreciate that the thought of spending months in recovery can seem daunting but think about how long you have been struggling with food. You can’t expect those beliefs and habits to be undone in a few weeks. The reality is that for some people it can take years. If you still have questions about this, please do get in touch.

I’m afraid, no. I only work with people who are ready to commit to spending a minimum of three months with me. If you are unsure this is the case for you, we can book a “clarity call” so we can talk about your needs. 

I don’t work with any specific insurance but if you have an insurance which covers nutritional therapy, I’m happy to work with them. It’s always worth checking what your insurance covers.

Yes, I often work alongside CAMHS. From experience, our approach is similar except that I have more time with you so we can go into more details.

I am always more than happy to liaise with your CAMHS team.

I see people regardless of gender, sexual orientation, nationality, skin colour etc. So, yes, I see boys and men too. 

Even though I’m called a “nutritional therapist” I’m not a therapist in a psychological sense, that’s just what we are called. I encourage all my clients to have a therapist/psychologist as part of their care too so that any deep seated psychological issue that could get in the way of your eating can also be addressed. Note that I am currently studying cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in view of becoming a Master Practitioner in CBT. This means I will use CBT skills in my practice. If you are confused and still have questions, get in touch.

Yes, because I work online, I regularly work with people outside of the UK, especially Europe. I cannot work with people in America and Canada, however, as my insurance doesn’t cover me for the States.

Yes, if you live locally (I’m in Devon). I currently work from home though, so it would have to be at my house and my time slots are limited, in order not to interfere with my family life too much. Ask me if you still have questions about that.

PS: I also have a very friendly cat who may want to jump on your lap!

You will receive an invoice at the start of each block and payments are made by bank transfer.

Registered dietitians

Registered Dietitians (RD) work principally in the NHS and are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Their professional body is the British Dietetic Association (BDA). A Dietitian uses the science of nutrition to devise eating plans for patients to treat medical conditions. They also work to promote good health by helping to facilitate a positive change in food choices amongst individuals, groups and communities. RD would typically hold at least a BSc Hons in dietetics, or a related science degree with a postgraduate diploma or higher degree in dietetics. 

Registered Nutritionists

Registered Nutritionists provide evidence-based information and guidance about the impacts of food and nutrition on the health and well-being of humans (at an individual or population level) or animals. Registered Nutritionists have a good understanding of the scientific basis of nutrition and work in a range of settings, including research, education and in policy development. They should have at least a three-year university degree in nutrition and be members of the government-approved Association for Nutrition (AFN). 

Registered Nutritional Therapists 

Registered Nutritional Therapists apply nutrition science in order to promote health, peak performance and individual care. They, too, use evidence-based information to identify potential nutritional imbalances and understand how these may contribute to people’s health concerns. They should have obtained a three to four year diploma or undergraduate degree in nutritional therapy accredited by either the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT), Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) or General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GTCCT). 

To confuse the matter further Registered Nutritional Therapists are also called registered nutritionists when they provide non clinical advice in a group setting.

Applicable to all

All groups must practise with full professional indemnity insurance. 

Also note that anyone working with eating disorder clients should have further qualifications in that field. 

Other titles

Qualified or certified nutritionist doesn’t mean much I’m afraid. “Nutritionist” isn’t a legally protected title so anyone could call themselves a “nutritionist”. Some people have done a module on nutrition as part of a fitness training, some have just done an online course for a minimal fee. You could ultimately pay to have a nutrition certificate in a matter of a few hours. 

As for diet gurus, health bloggers, beautiful Instagrammers and celebrities, their only qualifications could boil down to a lifetime of eating (or dieting). It’s always great to hear about people who have changed their diet and lifestyle and who are now feeling much better. It’s great that these people encourage others to eat better, but do bear in mind that what has worked for them may not work for you. 

Self-proclaimed nutrition experts are not authorities on nutrition and could, unintentionally, do more harm than good.

Remember also that a lot of what you see on social media isn’t real: do these people really eat what they say they eat? Are they always that glowing? Are they healthy? How many of them suffer from disordered eating themselves? The hashtag ‘healthy eating’ often features alongside ‘weight loss’, ‘detox’, ‘clean eating’ and ‘fit fam’ promoting what sounds more like restriction than health. So do be careful who you follow. 

To conclude, if it was me, I’d choose someone who is registered and doesn’t make too many claims.

Your life won’t be fixed by eating the perfect diet – oh and by the way, the perfect diet is different for everyone.

If you still have questions (!) get in touch.