PRACTICE TERMS & CONDITIONS

Version: 2.1 — September 2026

These Practice Terms & Conditions outline the nature and scope of Nutritional Therapy, my professional responsibilities, your responsibilities as a client, and the policies governing our professional relationship.

Part 1 – Professional Terms of Engagement

THE NUTRITIONAL THERAPY DESCRIPTOR

Nutritional Therapy is the application of nutrition and lifestyle medicine sciences in the promotion of health, peak performance and individual care.

Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (RNTPs) assess and identify potential nutritional imbalances and understand how these may contribute to an individual's symptoms and health concerns. This approach allows them to work with individuals to address nutritional imbalances and support the body in maintaining health.

Nutritional Therapy is recognized as a complementary medicine and is relevant for individuals with chronic conditions, as well as those seeking support to enhance their health and well-being. Practitioners consider each individual unique and recommend personalised nutrition and lifestyle programmes rather than a "one-size-fits-all" approach.

Practitioners never recommend Nutritional Therapy as a replacement for medical advice and always refer any client with 'red flag' signs or symptoms to their medical professional. They frequently work alongside medical professionals and will communicate with other healthcare professionals involved in the client's care to explain any nutritional therapy programme provided.

THE REGISTERED NUTRITIONAL THERAPY PRACTITIONER (RNTP) REQUESTS THAT THE CLIENT NOTES THE FOLLOWING:

  • The degree of benefit obtainable from Nutritional Therapy may vary among clients with similar health problems who follow a similar Nutritional Therapy program.

  • Nutrition and lifestyle recommendations will be tailored to support the health conditions and/or health concerns identified and agreed upon by both parties.

  • Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners are not permitted to diagnose or claim to treat medical conditions.

  • Recommendations from Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners are not a substitute for professional medical advice and/or treatment.

  • Food supplements and/or functional laboratory testing may be recommended as part of your Nutritional Therapy program. Recommendations are based on your individual clinical needs.

  • Where I have a financial interest in a recommended product or service, I will disclose this to you before any purchase is made.

  • Standards of professional practice in Nutritional Therapy are governed by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council’s (CNHC) Code of Conduct, Ethics, and Performance.

  • This document covers only the practice of Nutritional Therapy within this consultation. If I provide services outside the scope of Nutritional Therapy, I will make this clear to you in advance.

THE CLIENT UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO THE FOLLOWING:

To help ensure safe and effective care, I understand and agree that:

  • I am responsible for contacting my medical doctor or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional about any health concerns.

  • If I am receiving treatment from my medical doctor or another healthcare professional, I should inform them of any Nutritional Therapy recommendations provided by my RNTP. This is necessary because of any possible interaction between medication and the nutritional program.

  • It is important that I inform my RNTP of any medical diagnoses, medications, herbal medicines, or food supplements I am taking, as these may affect the nutritional program.

  • If I do not understand any aspect of my Nutritional Therapy program, I will promptly contact my RNTP for clarification.

  • I understand that the recommendations are personalised for me and may not be suitable for others.

  • I must contact my RNTP if I wish to continue any specified supplement program beyond the originally agreed review period.

  • Recording consultations (audio, video, photographs, or screenshots) requires the prior written consent of both my RNTP and me.

  • For online consultations, I am responsible for ensuring I have a suitable internet connection and a private environment. If I am unable to attend due to technical issues on my end, the appointment will be handled in accordance with the cancellation policy.

RNTP RESPONSIBILITIES

As your Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (RNTP), I will:

  • Practise within my professional competence and scope of practice.

  • Provide personalised, evidence-informed Nutritional Therapy tailored to your individual needs.

  • Explain the rationale for any dietary, lifestyle, supplement or functional laboratory testing recommendations.

  • Respect your right to make informed decisions regarding your care.

  • Communicate with healthcare providers where clinically necessary as part of safe Nutritional Therapy practice.

  • Recommend referral to another appropriately qualified healthcare professional where necessary.

  • Maintain professional registration, professional indemnity insurance and continuing professional development in accordance with CNHC and BANT requirements.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY‍ ‍

Your personal and health information will be treated as confidential and handled in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), applicable privacy legislation in your province or territory of residence, and Nutritional Cove's Privacy Policy.

Your information will be collected and used solely to provide Nutritional Therapy services.

Your personal information will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent, except as follows:

  • where required or authorized by law;

  • where there is a serious concern regarding your safety or the safety of another person; or

  • where disclosure is otherwise legally permitted.

Health records are securely stored using Practice Better and other secure systems that support the delivery of Nutritional Therapy services.

You have the right to request access to your personal health records held by Nutritional Cove. Requests should be made in writing and will be addressed in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.

A separate Privacy Policy is available for your review at nutritionalcove.ca under 'Privacy Notice,' and a copy is available upon request.

In the event of a privacy breach affecting your personal information, you will be notified in accordance with applicable legislation.‍ ‍

Part 2 – Practice Policies & Informed Consent

Part 1 contains the professional terms of engagement required for Nutritional Therapy practice. Part 2 sets out Nutritional Cove’s practice-specific policies and informed consent terms. Part 2 is intended to supplement, not replace or alter, the professional terms in Part 1.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

Nutritional Therapy recommendations are developed following a comprehensive assessment of your health history, symptoms, diet, lifestyle, and relevant laboratory test results. Your personalised program may include recommendations for nutrition, lifestyle, food supplements, and functional laboratory testing, as appropriate.

Recommendations are intended to support your health and wellbeing and may be adjusted over time as your circumstances and goals change.

YOUR PERSONALISED PROGRAMME

Following your consultation, you will receive a personalised nutrition program that includes tailored nutrition recommendations and, where relevant, lifestyle recommendations. This may also include supplement guidance, such as advice on your current supplements and recommendations for new supplements where appropriate, as well as supportive resources. Functional laboratory testing may also be recommended to provide further insight into your individual needs. The expected delivery timeline will be confirmed at or after your consultation and may vary depending on the complexity of your case.

ONLINE CONSULTATIONS

Consultations are conducted through Practice Better’s secure platform. You are responsible for ensuring you have a suitable internet connection and a private environment for your appointment. If technical difficulties prevent the consultation, we will make every reasonable effort to reconnect or reschedule, as appropriate. If the issue is on your end and the appointment cannot proceed, the cancellation policy may apply.

FUNCTIONAL LABORATORY TESTING

Functional laboratory testing may be recommended to provide additional information that could help guide your personalised Nutritional Therapy program.

Participation is entirely voluntary. Before you decide whether to proceed, the purpose, benefits, limitations, and costs of any recommended testing will be explained. You may decline testing without affecting your access to Nutritional Therapy services.

  • Functional laboratory tests are not intended to diagnose disease and should not replace appropriate medical assessment or treatment.

  • If you decide to proceed with recommended tests, you are responsible for their cost.

FOOD SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Where appropriate, food supplements may be recommended based on your individual clinical needs.

Recommendations are evidence-informed and take into account your health history, current medications, and any supplements you are already taking.

I may have a financial interest in some recommended products or services, including affiliations with supplement providers such as Fullscript. This disclosure is provided to help you make an informed decision before purchasing any recommended products or services. I recommend only products and services that I consider professionally appropriate for your individual needs.

  • If you decide to purchase the recommended supplements, you are responsible for their cost.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONSULTATIONS & RESPONSE TIMES

Brief email or secure messaging support is available between scheduled consultations for questions and clarification about your program. Questions requiring clinical assessment, symptom review, or changes to your program may require a follow-up consultation.

Nutritional advice and program recommendations will be provided only via secure email, Practice Better messaging, or during scheduled consultations. For privacy and security, text and social media may be used only for administrative purposes, such as appointment confirmations.

I am generally available Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Messages received during working hours will typically be responded to within 2–3 working days. Messages received outside working hours will be treated as received on the next working day.

If you have an urgent health concern, please do not wait for a response — seek appropriate medical care promptly.

FEES, PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICY

Consultation fees are listed on the Nutritional Cove website and confirmed at the time of booking.

Payment is due at the time of booking unless otherwise agreed. For packages, alternative payment arrangements must be agreed upon before booking.

Once consultations have begun, fees are non-refundable except in exceptional circumstances, at my discretion.

Nothing in this policy limits any statutory cooling-off or cancellation rights you may have under applicable provincial or territorial consumer protection legislation.

Late cancellations (less than 48 hours' notice) and missed appointments will incur the full consultation fee. This fee may be waived if the cancellation resulted from circumstances genuinely beyond your control — for example, sudden illness, a family emergency, or severe weather. Please notify me at your earliest opportunity in such cases.

Appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 48 hours' notice.

COMPLAINTS & CONCERNS

If you have a concern about your care, I encourage you to raise it with me directly, in the first instance, so that I have an opportunity to address it promptly and fairly. If a resolution cannot be reached, or if you prefer, you may contact the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) or the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) through the formal complaints procedures published on their respective websites.