Career Opportunities

Nutritional Therapists, Dietary Counsellors and Health and Wellness Coaches are often self employed and work in private practice, either independently or as part of a complementary or integrated healthcare clinic. However, many therapists also incorporate other skills obtained from earlier careers or studies into their careers.

Would you feel rewarded by helping people to:

Avoid their genetic destiny by minimising their risks of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis?

  • Recover from illnesses such as chronic fatigue and go on to resume a normal life?
  • Conceive naturally and birth a baby that goes on to become a healthy, intelligent adult?
  • Avoid taking drugs for conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes?
  • Maintain a healthy weight and feel bursting with energy?
  • Manage learning and behavioural disorders to maximise these children’s potential?
  • Deal with distressing digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis?

    • If you answered yes to the above then a career in Nutritional Therapy, Dietary Counselling or Health and Wellness Coaching may well be for you!

    Current opportunities in Ireland include:

  • Private employment in clinics
  • Education of the public, media, students and other health professionals
  • Employment with supplement companies as nutrition advisors, product developers or sales advisors
  • Employment in retail outlets (pharmacies, health stores etc.) as product advisors and technical sales
  • Contributing to radio and TV programmes
  • Postgraduate research to Masters level (Nutritional Therapists only)
  • Training health food traders and other groups in industry
  • Cooking demonstrations and classes

    • What IHS Graduates are doing now…

  • Lynda McFarland

    Lynda McFarland graduated in February 2009 and set up her own nutritional therapy practice.

    “Since graduation, I have been excitedly setting up my business as a nutritional therapist and wholefoods cookery instructor. I find healthy cookery is a fantastic way to teach people about the therapeutic benefits of whole foods as well as steer them away from tasteless processed foods! The consultations are going great – I’m operating from a medical centre, a sports centre and a room above a health store – all great locations for referrals.

    I have tried to be as proactive as possible in the community by giving talks to triathlon groups, parents of children with learning difficulties etc. as well as writing articles for the local newspapers on a regular basis.

    What has really amazed me since graduation is the amount of scope in the field of nutrition, there really are endless opportunities. I found the course with IHS really fantastic, the tutors were first class and the material covered gives you great courage to practice confidently. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Thank you to all the staff and lecturers for all your help and guidance.”

    Contact Lynda at T: 087 7927471 | E: info@lyndamcfarland.com | Website:  www.lyndamcfarland.com

  • Catherine Kenneally

    Catherine Kenneally graduated from the Cork class in February 2009 and set up her own practice in Waterford and Cork.

    “The past six months of running my own nutritional therapy practice, NutritionWorks, in Waterford and Cork have been both exciting and rewarding.  Despite the recession, I’ve been steadily building a client base and getting lots of referrals from previous patients.  

    I work part of the week from my home office in Waterford and the rest in a clinic in Cork.  I’ve also been running nutrition workshops with the public and this has lead to other speaking engagements which is bringing me a lot of publicity.  

    I really like this mix of one to one consultations and public speaking events. Due to the economic times that we are in, you definitely have to work harder to get clients, but, as I’ve always felt, there is a huge demand out there for nutritional therapy.  It’s just about letting people know that it exists.”

    Contact Catherine at T: 086 0846815 | E: info@nutritionworksireland.comW:  | W. www.nutritionworksireland.com

  • Caroline Noonan

    Caroline Noonan graduated with IHS Diploma in Nutritional Therapy in 2010. Caroline is a holistic therapist with a busy private practice and an IHS module leader for distance learning certificate courses.

    “I always wanted a career in nutrition and alternative medicine. When I looked at different courses on offer I chose IHS because of the level of clinical practice training that they provided. For many other reasons, I am now so glad that I chose IHS. The level of student support was fantastic. Both directors, Suzanne and Anneliese were so accessible and always ready to help out with any queries or concerns. Regular tutorials, fantastic course material and access to some of the best lecturers in the industry made returning to study both manageable and fascinating.

    I am now a graduate and my career has really taken off! I had been working as a holistic therapist and now can offer my clients nutrition consultations. I am amazed at how changing people’s diets and working with natural supplements can bring a client back to health. It is so rewarding to make a difference to people’s lives by helping them to feel well again and get the most out of life. I also am working with IHS as a module leader for the distance learning certificate courses. I get great satisfaction of helping other students to learn in an area that they are passionate about and that also benefits their own health as well as their careers. I definitely made the right choice.”

  • Geraldine Hollywood

    Geraldine Hollywood graduated with IHS in 2010.

    "I started working as a nutritional therapist immediately after graduating. I set up my private practice from my home office so that I can take advantage of my family kitchen to give clients practical nutritional information and advice and show them lots of useful tips.

    I have also had a lot of opportunities in education. I work with various organisations and pharmaceutical representatives to deliver talks on nutrition and health. I have also done some radio work with a local station on their weekly health slot.

    One of my favourite areas of work is community based projects. I deliver a programme that leads a group through eight weeks of lectures on food and health issues with a focus on enabling them to take control of their own health. This is my second year running this programme and demand for the course is still very high - we even have a waiting list!

    What I love most about being a nutritional therapist is the ability to empower people to take control of their health. It is an amazing job - or rather a vocation! This qualification has opened up a whole range of opportunities for me. I am really glad that I choose to study with IHS. None of this would have been possible if the training I received was not top-class. The knowledge and competence that was drilled into me has given me the ability to work on an equal level with other healthcare practitioners with confidence. Thank you for the support and training."

    Contact Geraldine at T: 085 159 8574 | E: ger.hollywood@hotmail.com