buildprivatepractice

I was nervous to record this episode of the podcast for you, and I’m never nervous to record podcasts.

I want to talk about money.

Specifically why I charge the prices I charge in my business. 

I wouldn’t say I’ve been avoiding talking about this topic, but I haven’t purposefully come out and stated my feelings about money in business yet. Lately it feels like I’ve been having this conversation more and more with the dietitians in Dietitian Business School, so that is prompting me to come on here and say: If you are a dietitian who wants to dive into the topic of money and how to charge for your work, you are welcome to join Dietitian Business School and have that conversation with us.

So let’s talk about it. I want to talk about this in a positive light and take away some of the shame that some of us feel around money and what to charge in our businesses. And as always, I want to hear your thoughts on this!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Financial privilege
• Investing and where to put your money
• Shame around money
• Making money as an act of self care

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/58

SHOW SPONSOR

I created Pursuing Private Practice: Dietitian Business School to support dietitians in building a business that makes a lasting impact on their clients’ lives.

Dietitian Business School is the Go-To Resource for like-minded dietitians who want to build a private practice and expand their business. We’ve combined the best of business coaching + supervision + self-care + accountability + community all in one. Learn more here!

Many of you have told me that you are interested in starting an online business, or at least adding a virtual component to your practice. But many of you are just unsure of how to get started doing that.

A less intimidating way to start to think of online business is just an extension of your current practice! There are so many different ways that you can dip your toes in: you could start a group program or create digital downloads or put together an online course, for example.

Lauren joined me on this episode to share her own journey starting and growing her own online business, The Food Fight Fam. She was able to turn her passions into a thriving business that is solving a problem that she cares about: connecting HAES dietetic students. We talk about the initial development of The Food Fight Fam, how it has grown, and where it’s going in the future. 

If you are an online business owner or are considering starting one, this episode is for you!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• What is The Food Fight Fam and how did it get started?
• How self-care makes you a better provider
• Listening to your gut as you build your business
• Connection and community

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/57

Want 3 new clients this week?! Join our FREE Marketing Bootcamp Challenge to learn the 3 marketing strategies you need to land 3 new clients (and keep them coming back!). Get the details and join here!

When we start our business, it is so common to think: No one is going to buy my stuff.

It can feel so hard to talk about our doubts because social media is saturated with competing businesses posting about their successes and flashing their large numbers.

Kourtney Johnson joined me for a very honest conversation today about the reality of starting a business and not finding immediate success. This episode is more of a business coaching session than a regular podcast interview, and I’m so happy about how it turned out!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Identifying the best offer for your business
• The importance of social proof
• Onboarding new clients
• Marketing efforts and how to get more eyes on your offer

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/56

The Dietitian Business Plan Roadmap is the guide that you need to start your private practice. Learn the 10 key steps you need to do in order to start your private practice with confidence. Download your FREE guide and get started today here!

Today’s topic is so important, especially if you are newer to business. 

Jenna and I are discussing niching down in your business! We talk about the pros and cons of niching down and why it can be so hard to actually do. 

Jenna shares her own business plans and talks about approaching her business as an experiment to figure out what really resonates with her. I love this perspective and think it is powerful advice for business owners at any stage in their business.

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Making the bridge between your passions and your business
• Using non-judgemental curiosity to identify your niche
• Scarcity vs. abundance 
• Creating a marketing plan that aligns with your values

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/55

This episode of the Pursuing Private Practice is very different from any episode I’ve done before! I really enjoyed having this type of conversation and hope you find a lot of value in it too.

Taylor Moser is the Operations Director here at Pursuing Private Practice! We talk about how we found each other, how our working relationship has evolved since Taylor started working with me, and how we manage all of the moving pieces of a growing online business.

When it really comes down to it, hiring someone is a process. You don’t just decide to hire someone and see everything click into place on day 1. You will have to train someone in how your business works, make sure that your personalities mesh well together, and maintain open lines of communication. Hiring someone can initially feel like a lot of work initially, but it is so worth it in the long run. 

I hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look at Pursuing Private Practice!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• How Taylor and I started working together
• What Taylor’s role looked like in the beginning and how it has grown and evolved over time
• The project management software we use to keep everything organized and on track
• Our best advice for business owners who are thinking about hiring 

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/54

I’ve really been wanting to focus more on interviewing brand new dietitians, and it was so great to get Katy’s perspective! She is currently in her dietetic internship and is in the beginning stages of starting her own business.

Katy’s dietetic internship has been very unique given the healthcare situation in the midst of the COVID pandemic. At one point she was not even allowed to enter the hospital where she is completing her internship! We talk about what she has learned from this and how she was able to still make her internship a positive experience.

We also discuss getting everything organized and setting up the foundation of starting a business. Katy is going places! I’m so excited to see what she does when she becomes an RD. 

I know that many of you are in a similar place to Katy in your business journey, and I think you will really enjoy and learn a lot from this episode!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• The difference between education and experience 
• How to prepare for starting your own private practice while you are still in school
• Giving yourself permission to transition and pivot
• Katy’s experience with bringing awareness to Intuitive Eating and HAES in school and in her internship

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/53

Let’s talk about rest.

Taking time off is something that a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with. And this seems like something that we are ashamed of! It seems like we should just love resting and taking time for ourselves.

I know that sometimes our mission can feel so BIG and we want to achieve our goals so quickly that we end up hustling all. the. time. But that’s not actually conducive to our success.

So let’s talk about it! 

Some of the topics discussed include:

• What is true rest and why do we need it?
• Rest as the foundation of self-care
• How your business will benefit from taking time off
• Pursuing Private Practice’s plan to take a break
• Tips for creating a practice of rest in your life and business

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/52

I’m so excited to invite you to Pursuing Private Practice’s new membership: Dietitian Business School! I created this membership with the goal of making it the go-to resource for building your private practice.

I am passionate about Health At Every Size and Intuitive Eating, and I think the world needs our message as dietitians now more than ever. Dietitian Business School is an amazing place where you can work on building your business and get support from a community of like-minded dietitians.

I would LOVE for you to join us!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• The three pillars of building a successful business as a dietitian entrepreneur
• The structure of Dietitian Business School, including: lessons, group calls and trainings, co-working sessions, group supervision, self-care calls, private Facebook group, group emails, AND a calendar to keep this all organized!
• The membership model explained

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/51

Jen Haefele is a member of the Pursuing Private Practice program, and I absolutely love the energy she brings to the group. This interview is a true reflection of her positive energy. She talks about her goals and dreams, and she talks about the future of her career. 

I love to talk with dietitians who are in her position - she is just beginning her journey into private practice. I tend to interview dietitians who are further along in their journeys, but I really want to start featuring more dietitians who are in the beginning stages of their businesses. It is so exciting to hear what they are doing now to build their businesses AND what their goals and dreams are for the future.

Jen has some really unique and fun ideas in her “parking lot” of ideas for the future, and I cannot wait to see what she does with her business in the coming months! 

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Jen’s numerous college degrees and what ultimately drove her to her work within Intuitive Eating.
• The most critical marketing steps to take when launching your private practice
• The challenge of dividing time between working for someone else and starting your own private practice
• Incorporating physical exercise with dietetic counseling

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/50

I had the privilege of interviewing Evelyn Tribole for this episode of the podcast. This ended up being a pretty vulnerable interview for Evelyn. She was very open and honest about her journey and the evolution of Intuitive Eating. 

One of the biggest takeaways that I hope you get from this episode is that it is okay to learn and grow and evolve and change! Even if you are an established business owner, there is still so much learning that we can do before we then take action, one of the most important steps when we learn new information.

Some of the topics discussed include:

• “When you know better, do better”
• The evolution of Intuitive Eating and writing the 4th edition
• Prioritizing family and self care
• Showing up with compassion and humility
• What’s next for Intuitive Eating?
• Diversify Dietetics Mentor Program

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/49

Clara is someone who is making such a big difference in the world through her positive message of body liberation. She is unapologetically herself as she stands up for what she believes in. I’m honored to talk with her today about her work as a dietitian and activist, and how her mission is helping to truly make this world a better place.

This episode is unique in that we made a mistake in the first recording of the episode, and rather than editing it out we decided to leave it in and model how we are still continuing to grow and evolve ourselves. Activism work is messy, and we aren’t always going to get it right. You will hear the episode wrap up like it is done, and then we will come back on one more time to identify our mistake and have a short conversation around it.

Some of the topics discussed include:

• How cultural and personal beliefs affect our health perspective
• The need for “unlearning” what has been assumed to be true, and learning what real health and nutrition can look like for people from various backgrounds
• Recognizing the difference between good intention and actual impact on others
• How making mistakes is an opportunity to learn and grow

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/48

I’m so thrilled to bring this episode to you today, for a couple of reasons.

Bri and I talk about how she works with her clients to improve their body image. This is an area of client work where many clinicians feel inadequate, and it’s so helpful to hear Bri’s take on this.

We also talk about Bri’s unique business journey. Her journey is so interesting because it’s almost like she accidentally grew her business, which is a really great thing! She is so passionate about her mission and the work that she does. She works with clients and clinicians, and she shares the whole story of how her business came together and how she took the very scary steps of making herself visible to create group programs and offerings for professionals. 

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Bri’s personal journey to embracing Health At Every Size and the meaning of “healthy”
• The evolution of Bri’s business from her start as an eating disorder coach, to turning her passion into practice as a body image coach
• Unlearning the belief that weight is directly tied to wellness

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/47

I’m flying solo today to talk about a topic that is near and dear to my heart and something that I’ve been thinking about so much lately: transitions.

This conversation feels vulnerable to share, but it’s my hope that by sharing my own thoughts and feelings during this time, it will give you permission to accept these feelings as they come up for you too.

I think transitions are necessary in business. But it can feel scary to talk about because as business owners, we are “supposed to” have all of the answers and know what’s best for our business. It can feel like we’re supposed to be ON all of the time and not necessarily allowed to make transitions.

But our situation is always changing, and our business needs to fit into our life - not the other way around. No business is going to be “successful” if the business doesn’t fit into the business owner’s life.

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Moving out of our private practice building after 9 years
• The necessity of transitions
• Different kinds of transitions in business and life

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/46

Did you know you don’t have to have clinical experience before opening up a private practice?!

In today’s episode of the Pursuing Private Practice Podcast, Alex Raymond and I have a really honest conversation about clinical experience. Clinical experience is completely different from the experience of owning and running a private practice. 

So many internship preceptors preach to their interns that clinical experience is a requirement for becoming a successful dietitian, and this just isn’t true if you want to run a private practice. 

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Alex’s story of deciding not to get clinical experience
• Starting out in private practice
• Growing as a counselor
• Running a private practice as a partnership

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/45

In this episode, Robyn Goldberg and I are deep diving into the process of writing and publishing a book, and we focus specifically on the business aspect of this amazing endeavor.

Robyn recently released a book, The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones. The book is awesome, and while I’m so excited for everyone to hear more about the book itself, we also talk about the process of writing a book as a business opportunity. 

The book is just the tip of the iceberg for Robyn. She has so many incredible ideas about marketing a book and getting the message out, and she shares about what she wants her life to look like in the future.

I hope this episode will inspire you to start thinking big, too! What if you put your heart and soul into a project like this? What would that look like? What could it do for your business? How could it support your mission?

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Making the decision to write a book
• The book writing process
• Self-publishing vs. working with a publisher
• Marketing her book during the pandemic

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/44

This is Elyse’s second appearance on the Pursuing Private Podcast, and I could not be more excited to welcome her back! We are celebrating the release of the 4th edition of Intuitive Eating.

We talk about so many different aspects of Intuitive Eating in this episode. If you haven’t listened to her first episode on the podcast, The Evolution of Intuitive Eating, I encourage you to do that! That episode discusses how Intuitive Eating has evolved and gives reason to why the 4th edition of the book was so necessary.

I hope you enjoy the episode and grab your own copy of the book! It’s an invaluable resource for all dietitians and I know many of our clients are eager to soak up this information too!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• How dietitians can use Intuitive Eating in their practice
• Why Intuitive Eating is a perfect fit for private practice 
• How Intuitive Eating is evolving into more courses and programs and products that other dietitians are creating
• A sneak peek into the marketing efforts of releasing the 4th edition!

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/43

Today’s guest, Kirsten Ackerman, is a member of the Pursuing Private Practice for Intuitive Eating program and has built her own thriving private practice. She is the author of the incredible book, The Intuitive Eating Plan: A Body Positive Approach to Rebuilding Your Relationship With Food.

Kirsten is a self-proclaimed multi-passionate entrepreneur. She has so many things going on in her professional life, and this podcast episode gives us a glimpse of that. On top of running her own private practice and authoring a book, she also works at a treatment center three days per week. 

It was really awesome to see how Kirsten balances having all of her different business adventures and still has a life outside of business too, which is always so important!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• The evolution of Kirsten business from working in a bariatric surgery clinic to an Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian
• The benefits of being multi-passionate 
• Kirsten’s process of writing and publishing a book

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/42

This week on the Pursuing Private Practice Podcast, I’ve decided to re-air an episode that was originally out in March with Tamara Melton titled Diversity in Dietetics. 

This issue is so important to our field. With everything going on around the United States with the Black Lives Matter movement, I really do think that we have to start talking about diversity more as providers to support the dieticians that are black in our field. We should be thinking about how we can lift them up and move forward as a profession.

As a white provider, I was silent last week. I wanted to listen and really think about how I could help our profession best move forward. One of the statistics that came across my Instagram feed was that only 2.3% of dietitians are black. I knew the statistic was low, but I honestly did not know just how low it really is. 2.3% is not okay, it’s disgraceful.

It is so important for dietitians to realize that we can have an impact in increasing the diversity in our field. I know that I want to support Diversify Dietetics in this mission, so I am so excited to re-air this episode with Tamara. She gives us so many different things to think about in this episode to help us better support dietitians of color. 

Some of the topics discussed include:

• How Diversify Dietetics is passionate about empowering students and professionals of color to help them become the leaders of the next generation in dietetics.
• Why micro-aggression and unconscious bias can create a barrier to learning and creativity for students of color in all-white learning environments.

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/41

This week’s episode topic was requested by a listener! I always assume that if someone takes the time to email me about a topic, many more of you are wondering the same thing, so I am so excited to bring you today’s episode about pivoting in your business.

Business owners usually pivot (change direction) for one of two reasons: they either want to better serve their customers and clients, or they want to better serve themselves! 

Maybe you are newly passionate about something and want to add an offer, but are worried you might confuse your audience. Or maybe you aren’t excited about your current offer any more and want to move away from it, but you don’t want to disappoint anyone. You are allowed to change your mind! People change as they gain experience, and that’s a good thing! You should never feel “stuck” in your own business.

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Common changes people make to their business
• Why someone would pivot their business
• How to make the process of pivoting your own business as smooth as possible

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/40

Melainie Rogers is someone that I have looked up to for a very long time. I was lucky enough to get to know her while I was living in New York City, even though I wasn’t necessarily practicing in the eating disorder field like I am now. 

I’ve always known about her and her treatment center and I’m just in awe of what she’s built. It’s such an honor for me to have her on the podcast.

She talks about her unique journey of going from solo dietitian in private practice to a group private practice, to actually building a treatment center that truly supports her mission to support eating disorder recovery and her clients in the best way possible. She’s also growing her virtual practice and offers a variety of online courses that are especially helpful during this COVID-19 crisis.  

Melanie has such an incredible mission for her company, I’m excited to see what’s next for her!

Some of the topics discussed include:

• Melainie’s incredible journey to CEO of BALANCE Eating Disorder Treatment Center™
• Giving ourselves permission to pivot and evolve in our businesses when we feel called to
• Shifting into a CEO mindset
• Learning to delegate to a team

For more information, visit https://www.pursuingprivatepractice.com/39