Students graduating from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN) are dedicated holistic nutrition practitioners who educate individuals about the health benefits of natural nutrition due to their unique biochemistry. Functional Holistic Nutrition is a special combination of modern science and time-tested wisdom based on the philosophy that each person has unique nutritional requirements. CSNN Graduates recognize that the interactive mind-body-spirit factors are specific to each client and that each must be addressed for the client to feel well.
CSNN Graduates are educators in wellness and prevention. Their comprehensive practitioner training focuses on clinical application, science, body functions and symptoms, whole foods and quality food production and processes, natural source supplements, healthy lifestyle practices, and the connections between the body, mind and spirit. Read more about the Role of a CSNN Grad
The key differences between the two professions are their scope of practice, their training, and the associations that support them.
Scope of Practice
This is based on the information available from the NWBHWC. Health coaches mainly provide guidance and help their clients achieve self-determined health and wellness goals. They act as accountability partners, not directors, to encourage clients to use their own insights, personal strengths, and resources to set self-directed goals and come up with the steps to achieve them. The coach’s role is to help navigate behavioural change and explore opportunities for growth and development, consistent with treatment plans as prescribed by other health care providers and practitioners.
The scope for holistic nutrition practitioners, including graduates from CSNN, covers more than just motivating clients on their health and wellness goals. They use comprehensive intake forms and their science and evidence-based education to allow them to make specific nutrition, menu planning, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations based on a multitude of factors specific to the individual. They can work with individuals, families, and groups, providing recommendations to improve diet, lifestyle habits, and mindset to achieve optimal health. They are also equipped to work with other health care providers and practitioners.
By supplying a Scope of Practice, CSNN demonstrates how much it cares about the safe practice of its graduates, the health and safety of the public, and how much CSNN and its graduates respect the unique scopes of practice of other health care practitioners.
Training Comparison – The Foundation
A Scope of Practice clearly defines what graduates can and cannot do. Because the CSNN Scope of Practice covers more than that of a health coach, their training provides a range of subjects such as nutrition fundamentals to science courses, from specialized nutrition such as Sports Nutrition to optimal food production, and from Nutritional Symptomatology to Motivational Interview Skills.
The practical component is also quite different. Health coach programs include practice coaching sessions whereas practitioner programs like CSNN’s have real-life case studies that include comprehensive intake forms, health assessments to find the root cause, and nutrition, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations to address health concerns and imbalances. Working on these case studies also includes practicing important motivational interview skills to encourage positive change.
We cannot speak to the training of all health coaches and all holistic nutrition practitioners, but we can compare the associations and their guidelines for approved programs. They differ in minimum instruction hours, subjects, and skills required.
The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) states their approved programs need:
Coaching program courses may include: Facilitating Behaviour Change, Positive Psychology, Wellness and Prevention
Compared with the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP)-approved program requirements:
CSNN additionally includes Body-Mind-Spirit courses, Nutritional Pathology, and Nutrition Literature Research to help graduates get a more complete picture of their client and teach them how to effectively interpret and use research studies.
Professional Associations
Health coaches and Holistic Nutrition Practitioners join different professional associations. Associations are important in these self-regulated holistic nutrition industries. Not only are there many benefits and support for professionals, but they work to help maintain a high professional standard with approved programs and board certification exams. CSNN graduates can join CAHN-Pro, CANNP, and NANP.
Curious about taking your career to the next level?
CSNN has been training Holistic Nutrition Practitioners for over 30 years. With a comprehensive curriculum, clinical component, and flexible learning formats and schedules, the Natural Nutrition Program can help you achieve a deeper understand of nutrition and health so you can improve your own health and wellbeing and equip you with the strong foundation and tools for a fulfilling career in holistic nutrition.