Case studies: Nutritional therapist: Kate Osborne

Kate graduated in 2007 with a diploma in nutrition. She runs consultations two days a week at two different clinics. She promotes her own business and books clients in for appointments.

I have a degree in biology from the University of East Anglia and a diploma in nutritional therapy from the UK College of Nutrition and Health.

Since I graduated with the diploma, I worked hard setting up a website and promoting myself – mainly through leaflets, business cards and directories. I found a couple of clinics in my local area that I could practise from (in health food stores) and I now have consultations two-and-a-half days per week.

The diploma in nutritional therapy is very relevant and I use the material that I studied all the time. The degree in biology is not so relevant but it helped me to get into the diploma course and I found it very useful to have a background knowledge in science.

I spend the morning preparing for the consultations using a completed questionnaire that the clients have sent me. Sometimes I need to do some extra research on a particular ailment. In the afternoon I go to the clinic and see clients between four and eight pm.

I have only been practising since November 2008, but in that time I have expanded expanded from just one clinic on a Saturday to one on a Thursday as well. My ambition is to be an expert in the field of cancer therapy.

I enjoy helping people and giving people the knowledge to make themselves healthy. It can be very satisfying. I also enjoy the research and finding out interesting facts about nutrition each day. It’s great to work doing something that interests you.

It is sometimes challenging dealing with people so intensely on a one-to-one level. I do not always have the answers and it’s tough when I can’t help someone, but this is usually when they don’t have the commitment to help themselves.

The best thing about working in this sector is seeing people improve after following your advice – it’s very rewarding. If you want to become a nutritional therapy consultant (not a dietitian) you cannot currently work for the NHS.

At the end of your course the main route of employment is to set up your own business or work for a nutritional supplement company. Setting up a business takes confidence and funding, but it is a very rewarding and enjoyable career path.