Narrative Dietary Counseling: A new approach for the dietitian that strengthens the relationship and collaboration with clients

Using cases and empirical data from a research and development project at a Danish prevention center, this study explores whether and how the use of narrative dietary counseling can strengthen dietitians' relationships and collaboration with clients who are chronically ill. The results of the study show that the use of whiteboards and narrative learning strategies, such as exploration, externalization, evaluating questions, and unique outcomes, were experienced by the dietitians to provide advantages over the existing practice, which used motivational interviewing alone. Specifically, narrative dietary counseling empowered clients and improved relationship building and collaboration between client and dietitian.