You do not need any specific qualifications in order to take the Health Provider Certification module, and it is not a substitute for formal training in your particular discipline (for example, if you want to become a health coach then you should consider a coaching qualification). However, having this qualification will certainly add to your repertoire of achievements and enhance your credibility and attractiveness to clients wishing to pursue this particular dietary avenue.

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By the time you start this module you will already have a clear understanding of what the low fat, high raw, plant-based diet is and why it is a good thing for health. You should already be able to speak confidently about its benefits to clients and support them with meal planning and preparation. During this part of the course we will consider the particular challenges and controversies that you might encounter as a health professional wishing to promote this dietary style and consider some creative ways of overcoming them. We will discuss ways to mitigate against any potential risks to yourself, your clients and your business such as the use of consent forms, limits to confidentiality statements and legal disclaimers.

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You will also learn about some specific physical issues that you may encounter with individuals with particular health conditions. One example is high blood pressure, where switching to this diet can cause blood pressure to drop rapidly leading to a risk of falls if medication is not reduced accordingly. In this situation you would need to refer them back to their prescribing doctor for blood pressure monitoring and 'deprescribing'.

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Finally, we will spend some time considering how you might manage the emotional component of this kind of work, both for yourself as a professional and for your clients. You may or may not have experience of therapeutic work, and it is important to understand and recognise your limits. Teaching people how to use a spiraliser is a fun thing but major dietary change can be the hardest thing a person ever does and you may find yourself working with people who have very serious health conditions or challenging emotional relationships with food. For example if someone has been using food as a form of comfort, once this is removed it can reveal past histories of trauma and abuse. As a professional you need to know how to create a safe space for your clients, maintain professional boundaries and manage your own emotional responses, and refer on appropriately if a situation arises that is beyond your capacity to deal with.

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Once you have completed the certification module, if you have your own business your details will be published on the U-Turn Health® website (with your permission), and customers will be invited to leave reviews. 

You will then have the option of paying a small annual fee for corporate U-Turn Health® membership and access to ongoing advice and support. 

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N.B. because this is a new endeavour and the content is still under development, at present the Health Recovery Programme and Health Provider Certification modules are not CPD accredited, but I will be seeking this once the content is finalised and if you have participated at an earlier stage you will be retrospectively recognised.