When I was in training and thinking about the kind of nutritional therapist I wanted to be, I asked lots of friends, family, colleagues and clients to use three words to describe me. Apparently, this was going to help me figure this out.
As you can imagine, I was cringing sending the email to ask for this feedback. I did it with a healthy dose of anticipation, nervousness and frankly a little frog in my throat. But this was going to help me, so I pushed send.
As it happened, none of the words they came up with were offensive! Great!
Interestingly there were many words repeated by different people.
Real, honest, pragmatic, truthful, authentic, interested, empathetic, chatty, straightforward, funny. Now obviously my insecurities read nosey, boring, can’t shut up, and a tendency to do silly things accidentally.
But I share them here (still slightly cringing) because I want to try to give you an idea of what I’m like to work with, and if I’m the right nutritional therapist for you.
I’m real. I don’t have a perfect diet (more about my peanut butter addiction soon). I have a busy and sometimes stressful life. I’m not the most elaborate of chefs (more than ten ingredients on a recipe has me in a sweat). I don’t like the size of my thighs. I’m at the beginning of some ‘interesting’ peri-menopause symptoms. Sometimes I don’t follow my own advice.
But I have enhanced my health no end over the years by eating well, for me, for my challenges, to fit with my lifestyle, at the time I needed to.
There is no point in me telling you to drink green smoothies if they make you feel nauseous and you don’t own a nutribullet.
The advice I give you when you work with me is realistic and takes your lifestyle into account. We go at your speed. We prioritise effectively and efficiently.
I’ll also tell you WHY I’m asking you to do something differently or put certain foods in. Maybe it’s the nosey in me – but I have to know why I’m doing something if I’m making a change.
Crucially – there is no judgement here - my diet isn't perfect all of the time and I don't expect that from my client's either.
* disclaimer, I may tell you do drink green smoothies if you love them and we decide they will be helpful for you 😊
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