What is nutritional therapy?
Nutritional therapy is an evidenced based approach that applies nutritional science to help with a variety of symptoms and to promote optimal health and wellbeing.
Why online nutritional therapy?
Online nutritional therapy using video conferencing technology is an alternative to attending in-person nutritional therapy sessions. This form of nutritional therapy is very useful for those who find it difficult to take time off work or other commitments to consult with a nutritional therapist. Those who find it difficult leaving home and clients who reside in remote areas with no access to a nutritional therapist will find this form of nutritional therapy very useful.
What conditions can nutritional therapy support?
- Diet-related illnesses, such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, indigestion and inflammatory bowel disease
- Training for a sports event or trying to improve overall fitness
- Weight loss and improved well-being
- Recovery from long-term illnesses as part of the rehabilitation process
- Personalised nutrition and lifestyle programmes
- Specific food allergies or those who need to adhere to specific diets
- Maintaining a healthy balanced diet tailored to your individual needs
- Supporting an existing health condition through nutrition
What happens prior to a nutritional therapy consultation?
Prior to your first nutritional therapy consultation, you will be required to complete a detailed health/lifestyle questionnaire and a food diary, so your therapist can get a good overall picture of your current health status, diet and lifestyle.
What does an initial consultation entail?
The initial consultation will usually last for about 90 minutes. During the initial consultation your nutritional therapist will try to gather more information from you. You will most likely be required to expand on certain parts of your questionnaire.
What happens after the initial consultation?
After the initial consultation, your therapist will devise a personalised and safe nutrition and health improvement plan that is evidenced based and tailored towards your individual requirements. You may also be recommended supplements and/or functional tests if your therapist feels these could be beneficial.
Why do I need a follow up consultation?
A follow up consultation is generally recommended after 4 weeks. It is during this consultation that your progress and nutritional programme are reviewed. Your therapist may also correspond with you via e-mail or internal messages between sessions to monitor your progress. More than one follow-up session may be required depending on your individual situation and long-term goals.
How many consultations will I need?
The number of consultations needed will depend on your individual health circumstances. Generally, an initial consultation and 2-3 follow-up consultations are required by most clients over a 4-6-month period.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept both local and international Visa and Mastercard Debit/Credit cards. We are not able to accept bank transfers or cheque payments. E-therapy does not currently accept bitcoin or other forms of digital currency.
Is online nutritional therapy covered by private health insurance?
Some insurance providers cover online therapy. Please check with your provider to verify that they will cover the cost of your therapy sessions on e-therapy.uk.
If you consider using your health insurance, please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:
- Do I have mental health or complementary medicine insurance benefits?
- What is my deductible and has it been met?
- How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician or general practitioner?
Will I be recommended supplements?
A nutritional therapist may recommend supplements in cases where nutrient deficiency is established. Generally, a nutritional therapist will devise an individualised meal plan which contains the necessary nutrients required.
Why should I take supplements if I have a healthy diet?
Nutritional supplements are sometimes required in cases where nutrient deficiency has been established. A healthy diet alone may not be sufficient to correct a nutritional deficiency.
Will I require diagnostic tests?
In most cases a detailed history is sufficient to devise a nutritional therapy plan to suit your needs. However, in more complex cases a nutritional therapist may suggest diagnostic tests.
Is a Nutritional therapy programme difficult to follow?
Nutritional therapy programmes are tailored to an individual’s lifestyle and dietary preferences making them practical and achievable. Nutritional therapists may also provide support in between sessions.
Is it safe to see a nutritional therapist if I am on prescription medication?
Nutritional Therapists are trained to recognise any interactions that may occur between drugs and nutrients. You will be required to provide details of any medications you may be taking as well as a medical history when you complete your health and lifestyle questionnaire prior to your initial consultation.
Is my personal information kept confidential?
The e-therapy telehealth platform has been designed and engineered to ensure that video sessions and client health/personal information are secure, private and confidential. Video sessions are not recorded and cannot be viewed by third parties. Our privacy and confidentiality standards are more advanced than what is required by law or regulation.
What is your cancellation policy?
Clients receive a full refund if a scheduled session is cancelled prior to 48 hours before the commencement of therapy. If clients cancel within 48 hours, no refund is available. If your therapist cancels a scheduled appointment, clients receive a full refund or the option to reschedule with the same therapist or another therapist of their choice.
What is the difference between a nutritional therapist and a dietician?
A Nutritional Therapist uses the science of nutrition to alleviate health symptoms and to promote optimum health. Their professional body is the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT). Nutritional Therapists work with many common health issues and often work with patients, many of whom have been referred by medical practitioners, presenting with chronic health problems that conventional medicine finds difficult to treat. These include allergies, digestive and bowel disorders, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, depression or stress, auto-immune conditions, migraine and skin disorders.
A dietician uses the science of nutrition to devise eating plans for patients with various medical conditions. Dieticians work principally in the National Health Service and are regulated by the Health Professions Council. Their professional body is the British Dietetic Association. They may also specialise in the field of artificial nutrition support, work in the medical nutrition industry or in private practice.
Do I need to eat organic?
Organi>c food contains less synthetic pesticides and, depending on growing conditions, it may also contain a better mineral/nutrient content. Remarkable results have been achieved irrespective of whether a client implements an organic or non-organic diet.
What is functional testing and why do I need it?
In some cases, laboratory tests are recommended to help assess or identify specific imbalances. These can help to target underlying causes of illness more quickly and accurately
These tests will require provision of either saliva, blood, urine, or stool samples and can be conducted at home, with a few exceptions where blood may need to be drawn by a qualified phlebotomy service.
Examples of functional tests include:
- Adrenal Stress Profile
- Thyroid Hormone Profile
- Gastro-intestinal Function tests
- Allergy testing
- Food sensitivity (intolerance) testing