Canadian Dietitians’ Understanding of the Client-Centered Approach to Nutrition Counseling

Many dietetic researchers have recommended the use of a client-centered approach to counseling, but little has been written about what that means from the perspective of the practicing dietitian. The purpose of this study was to explore dietitians’ understanding of the client-centered approach to nutrition counseling. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 Canadian dietitians from a variety of practice areas. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a form of inductive, thematic analysis. Results suggest that although participants believe that practicing in a client-centered manner is important, they were struggling in their attempt to balance their practice values and beliefs with the realities of their work environments. Meeting clients’ needs and wants was seen as critical to the client-centered approach, but there was some indecision around who determines these needs and what the difference is between needs and wants. Recognizing the expertise that clients can bring to the counseling relationship was also an issue for participants. Additional research to explore the way that dietitians learn how to counsel can lead to a better understanding of how to develop effective therapeutic relationships with our clients within the confines of current workplace environments.