Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized

Lisa thought I might have some advice on how to find a good nutritionist!

While it’s not something I often look for, I do have some opinions and thoughts on this.

1. Make sure your nutritionist is registered

In Australia, once you’re qualified, if you want to practice as a a nutritionist you have to join a professional association. Registration is also necessary for getting insurance – vital for practising these days.

As I’m from the naturopathic school I’m registered with ATMS. Dieticians are registered with the Dieticians Association of Australia. And I suspect the same is true in many other countries.

If your practictioner is registered with a professional body it’s your guarantee they are qualified, have a basic level of competence and are more likely to conduct themselves ethically. I would strongly recommend against seeing an un-registered practitioner.

2. Consult widely

About 80 percent of my clients are referred to me by existing patients and other practitioners. Knowing someone who has already come to see me means they can have confidence in my abilities and a knowledge of how I work.

This is a great way of finding a good practitioner Talk to friends and family members and find out if they’ve seen a nutritionist. If none of your immediate circle know a nutritionist, then check with your local health food shop. They very quickly get an idea of who’s good and who to avoid in the local area.

3. Ask your prospective practitioner questions

Having a good rapport with your nutritionist is important to the success of your health changes. If you trust, like and respect them you’re more likely to follow through on their suggestions. If they have an understanding of you and your lifestyle, they are more likely to make recommendations which suit you.

Before making an appointment call or email the practitioner. Ask them how much they charge and what the ongoing costs will be? Whether they have any areas of speciality? What training they’ve had? How much time is involved? Can they describe how they work? How often do they prescribe supplements? How flexibile are their programmes?.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be shy.

4. Don’t commit to a long term programme before you’re sure

With most practitioners you are able to have a one-off initial consulation, without committing to a long-term programme. The first consult is time to get to know your practitioner and discuss options.

Be wary of any practitioner who asks you to lock you into a programme before your initial consultation.

5. During consultations be clear about what you want

I spend a lot of time during consultations talking to clients about what they want. From me, from the process and for their health. How much time do they have to concentrate on their health? What are their cooking skills? What’s the extent of their food knowledge? How long do they think treatment is going to take? How are they expecting to feel in one week or two months? What are their goals? What’s their budget?

I work in a highly collaborative way. I negotiate with clients, check on what they can and can’t do, ask for their input.

Therefore the clearer you can be about what you want the better. Prior to your appointment spend some time jotting down notes. Think about how you’re feeling now and how you want to feel. What troubles are you experiencing and what help do you need.

I find this time and focus pays dividends.

What about you – any other thoughts on how to choose a practitioner?

What is Q & A Thursday?

This post is part of Q & A Thursday – a monthly burst of blogging, where you get to dictate the subject matter. Q & A Thursday is all about simple, practical answers to food and diet dilemmas sent in by readers.

09 October, 2008