IINH Diploma 3 ½ Year Nutritional Therapy Programme
What is Nutritional Therapy?
Nutritional Therapy (NT) is a dynamic holistic therapy that uses food, phytonutrients, therapeutic food supplements and lifestyle changes to modulate disease processes, strengthen vitality and promote optimal wellness. Functional Medicine has emerged as a more positive and productive approach to chronic illness than the traditional disease-based model. Nutritional Therapy as taught at IINH applies the person-centered approaches used in Functional Medicine to restore health. More….
What does a nutritional therapist do?
She or he prepares individualised recommendations for diet and lifestyle designed to alleviate or prevent ailments and promote optimal gene expression and health. Recommendations may include: guidance on natural detoxification; how to promote colon health and/or support digestion and absorption; avoidance of toxins or allergens; appropriate use of supplementary nutrients, including phytonutrients. A nutritional therapist’s advice addresses the particular client’s unique dietary and nutritional needs for metabolic and hormonal homeostasis, often drawing on a variety of biochemical and functional tests to inform recommended protocols and programmes.
Career Opportunities
The diploma is designed for those wishing to become Nutritional Therapists in clinical practice, either alone or alongside other health professionals and therapists. Some of our graduates are educating the public and healthcare professionals on nutrition and health issues, working as food and nutrition consultants in companies, writing articles for publication, and running businesses in the natural health sector, among other things.
Duration & Prerequisite
The Nutritional Therapy study programme, including clinical training, is completed over three years and six months.
The Nutrition & Health Coaching Advanced Diploma Programme forms the first year (see below).
Completing the Nutrition & Health Coaching programme is the prerequisite for entering years 2 and 3 of our NT course. In addition to delivering important modules of the NT Diploma programme, the Nutrition & Health Coaching programme will:
- provide NT students with important practice and useful earning potential while they complete years 2 and 3 of the programme
- provide NT graduates with extra skills and competencies to enhance their therapeutic expertise, boost their business and earnings, and strengthen their longer-term career prospects.
Course Outline (Years 2 & 3)
NT students learn to develop cutting edge yet holistic understanding of how nutrition impacts the intricate interaction between gene expression, cells and organ systems. They also learn the clinical and practical skills necessary to design effective nutritional and lifestyle programmes for people with previously diagnosed illness, injuries or chronic health problems. These include digestive dysfunctions, hormone imbalances and fertility issues, fatigue, stress related disorders, immune system dysfunctions, depression and learning/behavioural difficulties, among many others.
Course Modules include:
- Food Composition – Detailed understanding of the nutritional macro-nutrient groups (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids & essential fatty acids) and how to explore and compare nutritional profiles of different foods
- Micronutrients and Phytonutrients – Sources, biochemistry, functions and interactions of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and phytonutrients (bioflavonoids, brassicas, carotenoids, polyphenols, etc.) and their therapeutic uses.
- Dietary Therapy and Cooking – Providing a firm understanding of how health and vitality from conception to old age are rooted in healthy dietary principles and lifestyle choices. Includes menu planning, food preparation and cooking skills.
- Food, Environment & Health – Fosters understanding of the impacts of the agriculture and food industries on food choice, availability and quality, and on eating behaviours and trends.
- Anatomy & Nutritional Physiology – Structure & functions of the organs and physiological systems, their integrated actions within the body and how nutrition influences them.
- Pathophysiology – A systematic, integrated explanation of the common diseases, their aetiology, clinical features and differential diagnosis.
- Nutritional Biochemistry – Processes and pathways at a cellular level including gene expression, energy production within cells, cell membrane integrity, receptor/hormone interactions and their control at molecular, cellular, tissue and whole body levels.
- Nutritional Therapeutics – Understanding, evaluating and applying the principles of modern-day nutritional therapeutic interventions (food, phytonutrients, herbs, food supplements). Combines a holistic perspective with evidence based knowledge.
- Pharmacology – Investigation of the major classes of drugs, their administration, uses and nutrient/drug/herb interactions.
- Research Methods – Exploring and applying research strategies to evaluate nutritional therapeutic approaches to disease. Involves collection of reliable data and development of critical appraisal skills.
- Clinical Practice & Practice Management – Developing the appropriate range of skills to assess clients and apply the appropriate range of knowledge in the practical clinical setting.
- Counselling Skills – Effective counselling and psychological skills are vital components of Nutritional Therapy.
Assessments
Classroom tests, formal exams, essays, case study reports and presentations, literature review and dissertation, supervised clinical practice.
Awards
Graduates of our Nutritional Therapy programme gain the following awards and qualifications:
- BTEC Advanced Diploma in Nutrition & Health Coaching (internationally recognised qualification)
- FETAC Certificate in Nutrition & Health (Level 6 minor award)
- ITEC Diploma in Diet & Nutrition for Complementary Therapists’ (optional award in year 1 or 2)
- ‘Diploma in Nutritional Therapy’ (Dip NT). This award is recognised by Nutritional Therapists of Ireland (NTOI – www.ntoi.ie), the independent professional body representing Nutritional Therapy in Ireland.
Both IINH and NTOI uphold standards based on the National Occupational Standards and Core Curriculum for Nutritional Therapy formulated by the UK Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC – www.nutritionaltherapycouncil.org.uk).
Graduates from IINH can join the NTOI practitioner register, which enables the competence and conduct of those who practise nutritional therapy to be assessed.
NTOI’s Code of Ethics and Practice is based on the code upheld by the British Association for Applied Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy (www.bant.org.uk).
Practitioner insurance for IINH graduates is obtainable at very reasonable rates through group schemes operated by IINH or NTOI.
Progression to MSc
After graduation it is possible for our graduates to fast-track onto a Masters degree programme in Nutritional Therapy, Nutritional Science, or Person-Centred Nutrition, offered by a prestigious UK college specialised in nutrition education (cnelm.co.uk). Middlesex University validates and awards these MSc programmes. The study options are flexible – full-time, part-time, attendance, online e-learning, or blended learning.
Study Format
The lecture weekends for the second and third year programmes are held in Bray about once a month from September to June. Tutorials are held regularly in Bray and online.
Course Venue
Our main teaching venue is the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre, Southern Cross Road, Bray.
Tutorials are held at the Nutritional Therapy Clinic, 2 Woodlands Office Park, Southern Cross Road, Bray and online.
Parking is free and secure.
IINH Team
Members of IINH teaching staff, led by our Director, Richard Burton, BSc (Hons Nutrition), MBANT, DipAc, include graduates in Nutrition or Nutritional Therapy with a wealth of clinical expertise. They are joined and supported by specialist teaching staff in counselling and other specialised therapies.
Head of Academic Studies and of the NT Diploma programme is Dr David Smallbone, M.B., Ch.B., L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., M.F.Hom., F.C.O.H.
Dr Smallbone is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a Member of the New York Academy of Sciences, a Member of the Faculty of Homoeopathy and a Fellow of the College of Healing. In September 2011 he became President Elect of the Food & Health Section of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Please Click here for more details of the IINH teaching team.
IINH Library
Students may borrow books, DVDs, journals and other materials from the IINH lending library.
Visits from External Specialists & Experts
IINH arranges outside speakers in more specialised areas of expertise to support the Diploma studies and also as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events for graduates. These sessions are open to all IINH students and graduates where appropriate.
In recent years, guest lecturers have included Dr Alex Richardson, top research expert in the effects of omega 3 fatty acids on children’s behaviour, mood and learning, Heather Rosa, Head of Nutritional Therapy programmes at University of Westminster, London, and Lucille Leader, expert consultant on the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease using nutritional approaches.
