By: Liliya Vafina, Nutritionist
Those of you who follow me on Facebook probably know that Kathy King has been the source of my current fascination. Kathy King is a dietitian, entrepreneur, author and a great business coach with tremendous experience behind her back. Today, I’d like to talk about online nutrition counseling, a very controversial topic I recently came across in one of her books . Apparently, counseling by email is becoming more and more prominent in today’s global world where people travel frequently, work around the clock, juggling careers, families and busy social lives. With all of that, fitting regular one-to-one nutrition counseling sessions is proving to be difficult. The associated lack of commitment to nutrition therapy results in frustration and loss of motivation as health goals are not being achieved while money is being spent. It seems inevitable that online technologies will grow in the future to facilitate our increasingly global lifestyles, but is it possible to build trusting working counselor-patient relationships via email or other online technology? Are there techniques that allow a nutrition counselor to influence and motivate beneficial behavioral change in their patients/clients to drive desirable results online?
I’d like to ask your opinion about this approach to nutrition therapy. 
It doesn’t matter if you have ever used/considered or never used/considered nutrition counseling services in your life, I want to hear your thoughts. Please take a few minutes to answer (anonymously!) the survey questions (see link below). I will be collecting submissions for the next two weeks after which I will promptly share my thoughts on the survey results. Thanks for your time! 
I have used e-mail and phone counseling in the past and we are getting revved up to use it in my current work place. I have always felt that people who seek out online and phone nutrition counseling are motivated individuals and just need some guidance. That being said there is no one on one face to face contact and that seems to allow for a stronger rapport quicker. There is no physical judgement felt at any point by either party when counseling is done online or by phone.