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:

✨ Business School is designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner.

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

✨ Free Training: Get Clients Now 3-Day Challenge

👯 Free Workshop: Hire Your Next Team Member

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