The Nutritional Supplement

Which Course(s) did you graduate from at CNELM and when did you graduate?

I graduated from CNELM in 2013 with a BSc (hons) Nutritional Therapy, and also gained my NLP Practitioner qualification whilst studying there.

What did you do before doing this course?

I did my first degree in illustration and graphic design at St Martins School of Art in London. After graduating I freelanced for a while in London, then moved to Sheffield. I worked in sales and advertising for a number of years.  Once I had kids I did  courses in garden design and flower arranging, and then went back to college to train as a florist. I worked part time in a florists shop doing flowers for weddings and events which was lovely. I still love working with flowers and every now and then I go and work in a shop for a while just to get my fix!

What made you decide to embark on this course of study and what attracted you to CNELM?

I saw a nutritional therapist out of interest to make sure I was healthy! I didn’t have any health issues but have been vegetarian or vegan all my life and wanted to make sure my diet was sufficient.  Although he only gave me some additional basic food ideas, I was really interested in how food is linked to health, so I started on a science access course so that I could do the degree. The provider closed down after I finished the access course and I researched other providers and found CNELM!

I liked the fact the course was so comprehensive and also that I could study from a distance. The staff were helpful in answering my questions, and assuring me the curriculum was evidence based, which was one of my concerns  when looking at other courses.

Where has your career taken you?

I set up my business and website for Heads Up Nutrition and started practising locally in a sports therapy collective. I also did workshops and some corporate work.

I joined Nuffield Health in Guiseley as a nutritional therapist and enjoyed delivering their healthy weight programme.

I was Chair of the Professional Practice Committee at BANT, shaping the standards for professional practice and dealing with complaints and queries. I really enjoyed this voluntary role and learnt a huge amount about codes of conduct which I’ve always seen as being key to our practice.

I’ve had various roles at CNELM. I started as a student mentor, and then worked as a module leader for Herbal Products and as a research supervisor on the BSc course. I am currently a clinic supervisor for students on the NTPD.

I’ve been a freelance writer for international online publications for a number of years, and currently write  articles for one of the main health information providers in the United States.

I really enjoy the varied work that my work streams provide.

Which part do you think has been the most rewarding or successful?

It's enormously satisfying to see the positive effects that nutritional therapy can have on people's lives and the part you’ve played in that. A particular client I worked with long term lost half her body weight (9 stones) and felt like a completely different person afterwards!  That sort of result is priceless.

I really enjoy widening the variety of foods that people eat, and seeing their health improve by changes to their diet. I’m very food focused in my practice and love passing on tips for cooking, recipes, and prep!

I’ve also used my NLP training extensively, and to a really positive effect with many clients, so this was invaluable training at CNELM!

If you were graduating now, would you do anything differently?

I think today’s graduates are probably not so hung up on getting a website completed as I was! There are so many more social media options nowadays. I invested in a website designer and graphic designer for my branding because of my creative background, but think maybe you can do this cheaper nowadays!

Is there anything you wish you’d known before finishing your studies that you might have prepared for differently?

I think it’s a useful learning process, so no not really. As you progress you see that the options open to you are not limited to seeing clients!

What or who has most inspired you in your work?

I think whilst studying Kate inspired me to get to know the mechanisms and pathways in order to unravel complex cases. Doing my own mechanism review for my dissertation and supervising students doing theirs, has also further consolidated this thought process, which still continues to inspire me.

Nowadays, as a lifelong vegetarian and vegan, I am inspired by the interest in plant based eating. I know it's a controversial topic amongst nutritionists,  but personally I have high hopes that this might become the norm one day!

Do you have any tips, hints, things you’d have done differently...?

I would encourage students to have networks of colleagues they can speak to during their studies and in their professional lives. I’m still in contact with a group of friends I studied with at CNELM, and we still support each other. Also the Facebook groups like BANT are great for finding out information or putting questions up.

Also, although it’s useful to do unpaid work at first as a means of marketing yourself,  you will quickly get tired of people expecting to pay less than  your services  are worth. I would advise someone to always charge for their time accordingly.