Nutritional therapist

Career path and progression

Once you are established, you could:

• specialise in working with people with specific medical conditions like arthritis or chronic fatigue
• expand your business to offer other therapy services
• move into teaching, write about nutritional therapy or do research

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• customer service skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• knowledge of biology
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Biology - Nutritional therapists need a deep understanding of how the human body works, including digestion, metabolism, and how nutrients are absorbed and used by cells. This knowledge is essential when assessing a client's health and explaining how dietary changes can affect their body.
• Food Preparation and Nutrition - Nutritional therapists advise clients on what to eat and why, so understanding the nutritional content of different foods, how cooking methods affect nutrients, and how to plan balanced diets is central to their work. This subject provides the practical food knowledge that underpins their recommendations.
• Chemistry - Nutritional therapists need to understand the chemical processes involved in digestion and metabolism – how vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates interact at a molecular level. This helps them interpret test results and understand how different nutrients and supplements work in the body.
• Psychology - Nutritional therapists work closely with clients to understand their relationship with food, motivation, and lifestyle habits. Understanding behaviour change, emotional eating, and how to support people through difficult adjustments is a key part of helping clients stick to new dietary plans.

Also relevant

• Business - Nutritional therapists are often self-employed, so they need to manage their own finances, market their services, and build a client base from scratch. Understanding how to run a small business is important, especially in the early stages when they are working to establish their reputation.
• English Language - Nutritional therapists need to communicate complex nutritional information clearly to clients who may have no scientific background. They also write treatment plans, reports, and sometimes articles or educational materials about nutrition and health.
• Physical Education - Nutritional therapists often advise clients on lifestyle changes that include physical activity alongside dietary adjustments. Understanding how exercise affects the body – including energy needs, recovery, and overall wellbeing – helps them give more rounded advice.
• Sociology - Nutritional therapists work with people from diverse backgrounds whose diets are shaped by culture, income, and social circumstances. Understanding how social factors influence eating habits and access to healthy food helps them create realistic and sensitive treatment plans.