Pursuing Private Practice

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

How To Improve Your Counseling and Retain More Clients Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Rachelle Heinemann, Therapist, Eating Disorder Expert, & Confidence Coach to talk about what dietitians need to know about counseling in private practice.

The heart of a successful private practice isn't just about providing nutrition education—it's about building strong, supportive therapeutic relationships that truly help clients heal. In this episode, we dive into what makes counseling different from education, why setting boundaries is crucial for both you and your clients, and how to navigate client ambivalence. This episode will give you key takeaways to transform your counseling strategies, create better connections with your clients, and ultimately improve retention in your private practice.

The Therapeutic Relationship: A therapeutic relationship is about creating a safe space where clients feel comfortable exploring their challenges, while the provider maintains professional boundaries and understands personal biases.
Counseling vs. Education: Counseling goes beyond simply providing information, as it requires understanding how clients receive and interpret that information, as well as addressing any resistance they may have.
Counseling Tips for Dietitians: A key tip for dietitians is recognizing that not all clients are fully invested in the counseling process, and acknowledging their ambivalence can help nurture a more effective and supportive relationship.
Boundaries in Counseling: Setting clear and consistent boundaries is essential, not only for preventing burnout in providers but also for creating a structured environment that supports clients' personal growth and accountability.

Timestamps:

03:30 Private Practice Journey: Rachelle shares how her work evolved from one-on-one therapy to podcasting to speaking and becoming a leader in her community.
05:54 Counseling and Business Success: Discussion on how strong counseling skills are essential for building a thriving private practice.
08:30 Counseling vs. Education: Rachelle explains the difference, stressing the need to understand clients' experiences and resistance to make changes.
12:18 Creating a Safe Space: The importance of acknowledging clients' ambivalence and providing a safe environment for expression.
16:13 Naming Client Feelings: Discussion on the importance of naming clients' emotions while avoiding assumptions.
23:45 Importance of Boundaries: The necessity of boundaries for both clinician well-being and client healing.
30:39 Defining Good Work: Discussion on the qualities of good counseling, including attentiveness and being human.
34:16 Tolerating Discomfort: Exploring the importance of helping clients develop resilience in uncomfortable situations.
37:10 Holding Space for Clients: Rachelle reflects on pivotal moments in counseling and the value of holding space rather than fixing problems.
39:10 Advice for Dietitians: Rachelle shares the importance of cross-education, supervision, and therapy for enhancing counseling skills.

Rachelle Heinemann is a speaker and eating disorder educator. She provides trainings for providers about eating disorders, disordered eating, body image, and effective therapy practice. She is the host of the podcast Understanding Disordered Eating. Rachelle is also a licensed mental health counselor (NY), licensed professional counselor (NJ), and certified eating disorder specialist (CEDS) in private practice. Rachelle is part of executive leadership at IAEDP NY (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals).

📱 Connect with Rachelle on her website or Instagram.

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

Counseling Strategies That Will Change Your Client Sessions Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Shawna Melbourn, a non-diet Registered Dietitian and owner of ED for RDs.

Shawna shares the journey of starting her online program, the evolution of her offerings, and the importance of human connection in counseling.

Development & Growth of ED for RDs: ED for RDs grew from a single course created during maternity leave into a robust program with diverse offerings, addressing the evolving needs of dietitians.
Feedback Guides Change: Participant surveys and focus groups provided essential insights, enabling program adjustments to better align with learner levels and preferences.
Counseling Strategies & Techniques: Shawna and Jennifer discuss building genuine connections with clients through techniques like emotional coaching and the importance of meeting clients where they are.
Personal Challenges in Counseling: Dietitians often face pressures like perfectionism and delivering measurable results, requiring a balance of empathy and self-boundaries to take care of themselves in private practice.

Timestamps:

00:34 The Importance of the Conversation: The conversation begins with an introduction to the importance of discussing the journey of a business owner, including the ups and downs, and the significance of counseling skills in private practice.
06:14 Seeking Creativity and Connection: Shawna shares her experience of feeling the need for creativity beyond private practice and the desire to connect with other dietitians, especially during the transition into motherhood.
08:13 Laying the Groundwork for a New Program: Shawna discusses the initial organization of their program, outlining the modules they wanted to include, and how they began selling it even before it was fully developed.
14:53 Adapting to Feedback: The conversation shifts to the feedback received from participants, leading to changes in the program structure, including the frequency of Q&A sessions.
19:41 Tailored Training for Diverse Learners: Shawna emphasizes the importance of tailored training for different levels of learners, highlighting the shift from a large program to smaller, more focused offerings.
23:13 Launching "ED for RDs Essentials": Announcement of the upcoming launch of "ED for RDs," a six-module program designed for early to intermediate learners, which will replace the one-year program and offer more flexible access.
25:59 The Art of Effective Delivery: Discussion on the importance of delivering information effectively to ensure client transformation and the significance of building human connections in counseling.
30:40 Normalizing Pressure in the Profession: Shawna talks about the pressure dietitians may feel to deliver results and earn their worth, normalizing these feelings within the profession.
41:38 Resources: The episode concludes with the importance of the ED for RDs website as a central hub for resources.

Shawna Melbourn is a non-diet Registered Dietitian, an Approved Supervisor through the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (CEDS-S), and a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. She has walked alongside many individuals and families while they take courageous steps toward recovery from an eating disorder.

With almost 20 years of dedicating her career to this vulnerable and rewarding population, she developed an online training course for Registered Dietitians and other healthcare providers to learn these valuable and caring tools. In ED for RDs: Eating Disorder EDucation for Registered Dietitians online courses, she shares her years of training, and clinical experience from both hospital and private practice and offers a safe place to gather non-diet, evidence-based practical knowledge.

Want to connect with Shawna?

🌐 Website: www.edforrds.com

📱 Instagram: @edforrds

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

How the Right Team Changes Everything Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, Kat Durston, the owner of Flourish Virtual Assistants, and Jordyn Springer, lead VA at Flourish and Jennifer's assistant to discuss the incredible impact the right team can have on business growth, team dynamics, and how Flourish supports dietitians.

Whether you're just starting your business or looking for ways to grow sustainably, you'll gain valuable insights from this conversation.

Flourish's Story: Kat discusses how she founded Flourish during her undergraduate studies, combining her creative background and nutrition education to support dietitians with social media and content creation.
Why Jennifer Hired Flourish: Jennifer explains that she hired Flourish because she values that they have both nutrition education and marketing skills, among other attributes.
The Importance of Delegating: Kat and Jennifer emphasize the power of delegating to a skilled team, which allows them to focus on growth.
Unconventional Dietetics Journey: Jordyn discusses how working for Flourish and Pursuing Private Practice gave her the courage and confidence to shift gears and pursue a master's degree in digital marketing rather than dietetics.
Challenges in Business: Kat reflects on the early struggles of building Flourish, from handling rejections to meeting the evolving needs of clients. Adapting has been key to Flourish's business growth.

Timestamps:

02:17 The Birth of Flourish: Kat shares the origin story of Flourish, a company that provides virtual assistant services specifically for dietitians. Jennifer expresses excitement about the growth of Flourish and the impact it has on the dietitian community.
09:49 Why Jennifer Hired Flourish: Discussion on the relationship-focused approach of dietitians versus traditional marketing strategies.
14:47 Jordyn's Role and Responsibilities: Jordyn introduces her role at Flourish and expresses her enjoyment in learning and taking on various projects.
19:42 An "Unconventional" Dietetics Journey: Jordyn shares her educational background and her decision to pivot from dietetics to a focus on marketing, pursuing her creative strengths.
28:52 The Value of Team Support: Kat and Jordyn discuss the value of having a supportive team, especially for those working from home, and how accountability plays a role in their productivity.
30:11 Navigating Business Challenges: Kat reflects on the challenges of running a business, including the need to adapt to market demands.
35:22 Future Goals and Adaptability: Kat and Jordyn discuss their goals for the future.

Kathryn (Kat) Durston is a registered dietitian based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a unique background and multiple degrees in both Art and Design and Nutrition and Dietetics. She blends her creative passion with clinical expertise to craft engaging content and impactful marketing strategies.

As the founder of Flourish Virtual Assistants, Kat has grown her marketing and media company from a college startup to a thriving 10-member team in just three years. Flourish has supported over 250 healthcare businesses with services ranging from social media management and blog writing to SEO and email marketing. In addition to her marketing work, Kat runs her own virtual private practice, Naturally Good Nutrition, specializing in functional nutrition for autoimmune conditions.

📲 Find Flourish on Instagram @flourishva

📩 Want to work with Flourish? Contact the team here.

Jordyn Springer is the lead virtual assistant at Flourish, where she has been a key team member for over 1.5 years. During her time at Flourish, she has collaborated with more than 30 dietitians and B2B professionals, delivering exceptional support and expertise. Through Flourish, she works with Jennifer on the Pursuing Private Practice team. With a bachelor's degree in dietetics, Jordyn is now expanding her skills by pursuing a master's degree in digital marketing, blending her nutrition background with creative marketing strategies to make an even greater impact.

💬 Interested in chatting with Jordyn? Connect with her on LinkedIn!

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

My "Weird" Word of the Year & 2024 Reflections Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Courtney Vickery, the owner of Declet Designs to discuss the highs and lows of 2025 and what's ahead.

Whether you're just starting your private practice or have been a CEO for years, you'll relate to Jennifer and Courtney's reflections on the past year.

Reflection on the Past Year: Courtney and Jennifer discuss the highs and lows of Pursuing Private Practice in 2024. There were significant highs such as the revamp of Business School, and there were plenty of lows like the disappointing outcome of the fall cohort of EXPAND which received 0 applications.
2025 Word of the Year: Jennifer shares her word of the year for 2025 - content. For her, it doesn't mean that she's settling. It means that she's settled. In a world where we constantly chase an ever-moving finish line, she's decided that this year, she's already arrived.
Team Dynamics and Changes: Courtney and Jennifer talk about transitions within their teams, which leads to a period of adjustment that takes time.
The Future of the Pursuing Private Practice Podcast: The podcast will now feature biweekly episodes, focusing primarily on dietitian business owners. Topics will focus on themes in Business School, such as navigating challenges in private practice and implementing effective business strategies.

Timestamps:

03:54 Podcast Goals: The goal of the podcast is to inspire business owners to persevere through challenges and take up space.
06:30 Word of the Year: Jennifer shares her word of the year, "content," and what it means for 2025.
17:00 Revamping Business School: Discussion of the revamping of the business school and the challenges faced in the past year.
22:39 New Consulting Options: Introduction of new consulting options for clients, including 1:1 business consulting and VIP days, allowing for more personalized support.
26:46 Shift to Bi-Weekly Episodes: Announcement of a shift to bi-weekly podcast episodes to allow for richer conversations and better planning.
35:10 Plans for 2025: Jennifer shares plans for 2025, focusing on content creation and potential new offerings, while also emphasizing the importance of boundaries and team effort.
38:32 Closing Remarks: Encouraging listeners to rate, review, and provide topic requests for future episodes.

Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD is a multi-passionate entrepreneur in the weight-inclusive space. She's an anti-diet dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor with her own private practice, Vickery Wellness. She is also the CEO of Declet Designs, her website and branding studio for weight-inclusive businesses.

She has a double dose of knowledge, with bachelor's degrees in political science and dietetics, plus a Master's degree in Foods & Nutrition from the University of Georgia (and still teaches an undergraduate course there). Her passion for blending her love for weight-inclusive care with her knack for web and branding design makes her your friendly expert in dietetics and web design.

Find Courtney on Instagram at @decletdesigns

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

BONUS: Hiring, Team Management, and Leadership Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to a bonus episode of the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

In this podcast episode, Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, answers questions about hiring and leadership in business. Topics include hiring your first team member, the interview process, the difference between employee and contractor positions, the importance of setting clear expectations and communication, and the complexities of team dynamics in private practice. This episode is full of action steps for you to embrace leadership in your business.

00:04:30 - CEO Time and Job Descriptions

The significance of scheduling CEO time to evaluate business operations. Discussion about the different steps to create a job description for a virtual assistant based on tasks needed, outcomes, and budget.

00:09:42 - Paying Team Members

Comparison of hiring a virtual assistant versus a dietitian, focusing on roles and revenue generation. Insights on how to determine fair pay for dietitians based on expertise and business finances.

00:17:45 - Employee vs. Contractor Differences

Explains the differences between hiring W-2 employees and W-9 contractors, focusing on supervision and responsibilities.

00:21:23 - Marketing Job Positions and the Interview Process

Strategies for marketing job openings effectively to attract the right candidates for your business. Advice on conducting interviews and assessing candidates' problem-solving skills and fit for the role.

00:30:06 - Setting Expectations for Retention

The importance of setting clear expectations for team members regarding client sessions and communication, including hiring and managing team members effectively.

00:35:21 - Job Descriptions for VAs and Interviewing Candidates

Explores the necessity of having a job description when hiring a virtual assistant to ensure clarity of roles and expectations. Highlights the importance of asking the right interview questions to avoid bad hires.

00:38:54 - Addressing Performance Issues and Conflicts of Interest for Team Members Starting a Practice

Discusses strategies for addressing performance issues with associates, including setting clear goals and expectations. Explains how to manage situations when associates wish to start their own private practices.

00:46:27 - Client Retention and Building Business Assets

Emphasizes the importance of client care during transitions when associates leave, allowing clients to choose their path. Discusses the importance of creating intellectual property and business assets to sustain a practice.

00:49:19 - Pay Structures for Employees and Leadership Support

Explores different pay structures for employees in group practices, including hourly rates and fee splits. Encourages business owners to seek support and build leadership skills to create sustainable practices.

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

Pivoting Your CEO Role with Stefani Reinold and Lindsay Stenovec Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! This is our last episode of Season 2.

Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and her two business best friends, Dr. Stefani Reinold and Lindsay Stenovec, as they discuss the business changes and evolving their CEO roles.

Join the conversation to hear about:

Business Transitions Are Inevitable: Jennifer, Stefani, and Lindsay share experiences of embracing change to their "job descriptions", team transitions, and the impact of personal and professional shifts on business decisions.
Factors for Business Decision-Making and Shifting Priorities: It's important to reflect on the evolving priorities and boundaries in business over time. Jennifer, Stefani, and Lindsay explore how financial security, family boundaries, and personal capacity have influenced business decisions and transitions.
Perception vs. Reality in Business: Being CEO is not without its challenges. Business perception has been heavily influenced by skewed online representation of business ownership.
Recognizing Burnout Triggers: Jennifer, Stefani, and Lindsay talk about how they recognize burnout triggers and how to take personal accountability in business.
Emotional Elements in Business: Navigating transitions and responsibilities as an entrepreneur can be very emotional. Gain insight into personal growth and emotional regulation in business ownership.

The key takeaway? Fully stepping into your CEO role gives you freedom and autonomy. While this is a privilege, it can also be a burden. Finding business friends to support you through your entrepreneurial journey is essential for your well-being.

Dr. Stefani Reinold is a board-certified psychiatrist, author of the book Let Your Heart Out, podcast host, military wife, and mother of 4. She is the founder of Wholehearted Psychiatry, an integrative, holistic psychiatry practice in Dripping Springs, TX. She is passionate about normalizing mental health struggles, sharing antidotes to hustle culture, and encouraging individuals to live out their unique purpose. When she is not breaking the mold for traditional psychiatrists, you can find her spreading mom life truth bombs, talking business strategy, embracing her infinite Pinterest failures, or living out her minimalist, organized life fantasies in her perfectly imperfect home in Austin, Texas.

Find Stefani on Instagram @stefanireinoldmd

Lindsay Stenovec is the owner of Nutrition Instincts, Inc – a group practice in San Diego, CA specializing in eating and feeding disorders. She enjoys offering supervision to dietitians in individual and group settings and has spent 13+ years working with people experiencing eating disorders, the intersection of disordered eating, and pregnancy/postpartum and child feeding challenges. Lindsay is passionate about supporting dietitians so that they feel grounded in their collaborative work with clients, can hold space for healing, and maintain a sustainable career. She is currently navigating a business transition in deciding to close Nutrition Instincts this summer to make space for professional supervision services, consulting projects, and speaking engagements.

Find Lindsay Stenovec on Instagram @lindsaystenovec_rd

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

Scale Your Business Using Technology with Stephanie Hofhenke Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Stephanie Hofhenke, the CEO of String Marketing, to discuss an update on technology as a business owner.

Episode Highlights:

Trends in Technology for Entrepreneurs: Stephanie goes through trends in technology, mindset shifts, and how setting up an EMR can help business owners save time, money, and energy.
Challenges and Benefits of Technology: Stephanie and Jennifer emphasize the importance of creating an experience for your clients to keep them coming back. There are so many benefits in setting up technology systems as a way of customer service, but it can be challenging for business owners who aren't "tech-savvy".
The Evolution of String Marketing with String Connect: Stephanie shares the development process of the String Connect product, emphasizing the customer-driven approach, addressing client needs, and streamlining marketing activities for practitioners.

The key takeaway? Leveraging technology to streamline your business processes can change your life as a business owner.

Stephanie Hofhenke is the founder of STRING Marketing, a digital agency that has focused on serving dietitians for 14 years. Stephanie and her team of experts are passionate about helping practitioners elevate their practice and master their marketing. She leads a growing team with branding, marketing, and website experience. Together they have worked with over 400 practitioners and have launched even more websites. They build websites that attract millions of unique visitors per year. She has a sincere appreciation for the work that dietitians and healthcare professionals do to impact the world. Her knowledge of the unique challenges practitioners face has been compiled into a remarkably effective toolkit that helps practitioners across the country take their business marketing challenges head-on.

Find out more about STRING Connect.

Find STRING Marketing on Instagram @stringmarketing

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

Design Your CEO Role To Transform Your Life Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice Podcast!

Join Jennifer & Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, as they define what it means to be a CEO. They share personal experiences of how their CEO roles have changed and discuss delegation, team support, and the importance of mentorship and coaching.

Join the conversation as they discuss:

Importance of Self-Care and Boundaries: Boundaries will evolve and change according to your passions, market, and strengths. They discuss the evolution of their CEO job descriptions and how their CEO role has changed through the different stages of business.
Taking Care of Your Team and Getting Support: Team members are valuable assets to any company. Jennifer and Courtney stress the need for any business owner to prioritize their own well-being while leading a team.
Creating Space for CEO Time: CEO Time is not what you think! It's a mix of data and intuition to make business strategy decisions for the company's vision.
Run Your Home Like a CEO: Running a home like a CEO means understanding the big picture of your home, creating systems, delegating tasks, and getting support for your life (just as much as your business!)

Use the exercise outlined in this podcast episode to create your ideal CEO job description!

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business:

🍎 The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice

Systems for Motherhood and Home Life with Heather Rudalavage Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Heather Rudalavage, the owner of Intuitive Nutrition, to discuss various systems in motherhood and home.

Join the conversation to learn more about:

The Intersection of Parenthood and Private Practice: Heather and Jennifer discuss the intersection of parenthood and private practice, and how many private practice professionals desire a flexible lifestyle to balance work and family.
The Importance of Running Your Home Like a CEO: Heather emphasizes the importance of running your home like a CEO with examples of systems, tips, and ways to integrate life and work for business owners at every stage of business.
Business Growth and Redefining Success: All business owners go through business growth, burnout, and then must redefine success on their terms. The conversation explores the different definitions of success and the factors that contribute to personal fulfillment and achievement in business: schedule, boundaries, money, impact, and flexibility are all "worth" the hard work.
Lessons from Parenting and Business Ownership: Heather and Jennifer discuss the lessons learned from parenting and business ownership, emphasizing the similarities in long-term commitment, adaptability, and the ongoing journey of growth and development. Heather shares personal experiences of parenting and the transition to adulthood with her children. The conversation reflects on the different stages of parenting and the impact of family dynamics on personal and professional growth.

Reflect on what systems are helpful for you in running your home like a CEO.

Heather Rudalavage is an anti-diet, weight-neutral Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and Certified Body Trust Coach in the Philadelphia area. She is the founder of Intuitive Nutrition. She has spent the last 10+ years helping women achieve their health goals with compassion, empathy, and a dash of humor! She is married to her high school sweetheart and mom to 3 teenagers. She enjoys spending time outdoors, knitting, and reading. She loves meeting new people and has traveled to 20 countries. She is currently about halfway through writing her first novel.

Find Heather on Instagram at @antidiet.heather

Sponsor:

Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

Connect with Pursuing Private Practice:

🎉 Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice

📧 Email: Contact Us

Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business: