Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Practitioner

Many people I work with have already invested time, money, and hope into support that sounded promising, but left them feeling unsure why things hadn’t truly shifted.

This is a quick guide to help you understand what “personalised support” really means in practice and hopefully find the best practitioner for you.

If you are speaking to a nutritionist, functional practitioner, or health coach, these questions can help you understand how their care actually works beyond the initial consultation.

1. What happens on follow‑up calls?

Listen for:

  • Do they review your symptoms in detail?

  • Do they adjust your plan based on what is or is not working?

  • Is there space to talk about stress, sleep, setbacks, or life changes?

Red flag:

  • Follow‑ups are mainly to “check compliance” or repeat the same advice.

2. When you say “personalised,” what does that mean exactly?

You might ask:

  • Is my plan built from my test results, symptoms, preferences, and capacity?

  • How often is it reviewed or changed?

  • What would make you alter the approach?

Red flag:

  • “Personalised” means choosing from a small set of fixed protocols.

3. How do you adapt plans when symptoms change or flare?

Important to know:

  • Do they expect progress to be linear?

  • Is there flexibility built into the process?

  • Can the pace slow down if your nervous system or life needs it?

Red flag:

  • Worsening symptoms are framed mainly as failure or lack of willpower.

4. How much contact and continuity is included?

Ask about:

  • Frequency of sessions

  • Length of support

  • Whether you see the same practitioner throughout

  • Support between sessions

Red flag:

  • Very limited 1:1 contact once the initial plan is delivered.

5. How do you work with stress, overwhelm, or emotional factors?

You are not asking for therapy, but for awareness.

Listen for:

  • Whether they acknowledge the gut–brain connection

  • Whether they consider nervous system load

  • Whether emotional strain is treated as relevant or ignored

Red flag:

  • Everything is reduced to food and supplements alone.

6. What does success look like to you?

A thoughtful answer may include:

  • Symptom stability

  • Confidence with food

  • Understanding your own patterns

  • Fewer flare‑ups

  • Long‑term optimal health

Red flag:

  • Only short‑term symptom suppression.

7. What happens when the set programme ends?

You might ask:

  • Is there a transition or maintenance phase?

  • Will I understand how to adjust things on my own?

  • Is there an option for ongoing support if symptoms return or circumstances change?

Red flag:

  • The relationship ends abruptly with no guidance for what comes next.

A Final Note

Good care is not about perfection or rigid plans. It is about being met where you are, having space to adjust, and being supported as a whole person, not just a set of symptoms.

You are allowed to ask these questions. You are allowed to take your time. And you are allowed to choose support that feels aligned with your needs; steady, responsive, and human.