DIPLOMA IN NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

Who is this course for?

Nutritional Therapy is a holistic healthcare discipline in which individualised recommendations for diet, eating habits and lifestyle are formulated to prevent or alleviate illness and to promote optimal health.

Nutritional therapists often work with clients who have chronic health problems. These include allergies, digestive and bowel disorders, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, depression, stress-related disorders, auto-immune conditions, joint problems, skin disorders, fertility problems, learning and behaviour difficulties in children, among many others.

Based on solid scientific principles and the latest research, nutritional therapy uses foods and nutrients to alleviate disease and strengthen vitality.

Study Outline

The Nutritional Therapy Diploma programme is considerably more detailed, intensive and demanding than the one-year Certificate course. Although firmly science-based, the overall approach remains holistic – using dietary and lifestyle modifications, foods and supplements therapeutically to assist the body’s own healing processes. Study modules include:

• Food composition
• Cooking
• Micronutrients
• Food, environment and health
• Anatomy and physiology – structure and function of body systems and nutritional influences
• Biochemistry – pathways and processes at molecular level
• Pathophysiology – systematic, integrated explanation of the common diseases and their aetiology
• Nutritional therapeutics – understanding the application of nutritional therapeutic interventions
• Pharmacology – major classes of drugs, their administration and uses, and nutrient/drug interactions
• Research methods – sourcing and interpreting materials
• Counselling skills – developing the rapport, communication and motivational skills necessary for effective clinical practice
• Practitioner development – ethics, reflective self-evaluation, setting up and managing a practice
• Clinical practice – observation, learning and practice under supervision in a real-life clinic open to the public
• Expert tutors – one-day seminars from leading experts and specialist trainers in various fields are held during the final year

Duration of course

Three years of study, including clinical practice, from September to June  each study year. Next course begins September 2008.
1st Year: 10 weekends
2nd Year: 11 weekends
3rd Year: 7 weekends, followed by assignments. Clinic observation from September to March, followed by development of clinical skills until June/July.

Assessment:

Short tests, assignments, projects, case studies and exams in first and second year; dissertation in third year with Anatomy and Physiology exam in March. Final assessment of clinical skills and fitness to practise begins in March of third year and is usually complete by early summer.

Awards:

Diploma in Nutritional Therapy (DipNT).

This award is recognised by the Nutritional Therapists of Ireland (www.ntoi.ie) ), the professional body representing Nutritional Therapists in Ireland. IINH is a member of the NTOI Schools Forum. This forum was set up to assist Irish Nutritional Therapy Training Providers seeking accreditation with the appropriate Irish Government accrediting bodies. NTOI upholds standards based on the National Occupational Standards and Core Curriculum for Nutritional Therapy formulated by the UK Nutritional Therapy Council (www.nutritionaltherapycouncil.org.uk). Graduates from IINH can join the NTOI practitioner register that enables the competence and conduct of those who practice nutritional therapy to be assessed. NTOI’s current code of ethics and practice is based on the code upheld by the British Association for Applied Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy (www.bant.org.uk).