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WORKING AT A FREE CLINIC: A PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY OF INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION CARE

Oct 1
3 min read

Updated October 2026.


Working at a free clinic can be a meaningful way for CNS candidates to build supervised practice hours while serving people who rarely have access to integrative nutrition care.


For this panel discussion we had 3 amazing guests:

  • Vanessa van der Linden who worked at Families Together of Orange County. Vanessa is a CNS and previously did her internship with the Nutrition & Herbal Collective.

  • Laura Davis-Loschiavo who volunteered at the Huntington Beach Senior Center. Laura icompleted her CNS SPE with the Nutrition & Herbal Collective.

  • Lisa Jo Finstrom who previously volunteered at Mansfield Kasemen Clinic. Lisa Jo is a CNS and previously did her internship with the Nutrition & Herbal Collective.


Why Working at a Free Clinic Matters for Nutritionists


Food deserts are real. What is a food desert? It is a geographic location where access to healthy food is limited or unavailable. It is estimated that 23.5 million Americans live in food deserts and have limited real food access. Even in locations where supermarkets exist with real whole food, there are folks can not access the food due to transportation issues or lack of financial resources.


While offering nutrition at free clinics does not solve the issue of food deserts, it does educate folks with limited food resources on how to navigate this and optimize their health with the resources they have available to them.


Benefits of Working at a Free Clinic as a CNS Candidate


We have a real potential win-win here.


  1. Most free clinics do not employ nutritionists.

  2. While low and no cost nutrition consulting does exist in programs like WIC and extension programs, there are limitations in these offerings and functional and integrative nutrition perspectives are not included.

  3. Accessibility to integrative and functional nutrition is limited because these services are often cash-based or fee for service.

  4. Candidates for the CNS credential need to acquire 1,000 Supervised Practice Experience hours and working in a free or low cost clinic is an ideal way to knock out these hours fairly quickly.


Several CNS-candidates we have worked with in our Mentorship Program (LINK) have completed those hours working in low income or free clinics, bringing integrative nutrition to underserved populations. This is an important topic and a win-win. Completing one’s SPE by serving high need population groups is an important way to give back to the community and complete the 1,000 hour requirement.


What Our Panelists Shared


Panelists will be asked the following questions:

How did you get into the free clinic? What was the process?

What were the challenges?

What were the unique opportunities?

If someone wanted to find a free clinic to work with, what advice would you give them?

Were there ways you adapted your clinical work to assist individuals with limited income?


Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I earn CNS supervised practice hours at a free clinic?

    1. Many candidates do. Confirm with the BCNS and your supervisor that the setting and your supervision arrangement meet requirements.

  2. How do I find a free clinic that needs a nutritionist?

    1. Start with local free and community clinics, senior centers, and nonprofits, and ask how they'd work with a CNS candidate. Our panelists share their own approaches in the video.

  3. Do I need a supervisor to work at a free clinic?

    1. Yes. Our CNS supervision program pairs you with a supervisor, and you can find a placement or build your own client base.

  4. How many hours do I need for the CNS credential?

    1. 1,000 supervised practice experience hours, along with a master's degree and passing the board exam. See our FAQ page for more.


Additional resources to review when looking for clients:



Want to build your hours with experienced mentors? Our CNS supervision program pairs you with one of our 7 supervisors, who bring 100 years of combined experience. Get hands-on feedback on completing your SPE requirements, building a nutrition practice, and developing your clinical skills. Learn more about CNS supervision.


Do you want to work with us?  Apply to our Mentorship Program.



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