A nutritional therapist is a practitioner who works with clients to design dietary plans for health goals or to investigate suspected food intolerances. The title sits in contested territory: in the UK it is not legally protected, and practitioners range from graduates of accredited nutrition science programmes to holders of short-course certificates in alternative approaches. Responsible practitioners take detailed diet histories, use evidence-based elimination and reintroduction protocols, and refer onward for medical investigation. Critics warn that some offer unvalidated tests, such as hair analysis or applied kinesiology, and restrictive diets without proper supervision. The distinction from a registered dietitian or registered nutritionist matters: those titles denote regulated or accredited professionals bound by codes of conduct, while “nutritional therapist” alone guarantees no particular standard of training.