Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!

Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to talk about the START stage of business, the time where you transition from setting up your private practice to seeing your first clients. We'll explore the emotions, challenges, and action steps involved in this stage, focusing on the importance of developing strong counseling skills and effective customer service strategies.

Whether you're just starting to see clients in your private practice or looking to refine your counseling approach, this episode offers valuable insights and resources to help you keep clients coming back.

1. Characteristics of Dietitians in the START Stage: Highlights the experience of working with dietitians and the importance of counseling skills.
2. Thoughts and Feelings in the START Stage: Discusses the excitement, overwhelm, and hopefulness experienced by dietitians in this stage.
3. Challenges in the START Stage: Identifies selling services and customer service as key challenges for dietitians.
4. Requirements to Move Forward: Stresses the need for strong counseling skills and forming therapeutic alliances.
5. Celebrating the START Stage: Encourages recognizing the importance of work and passion in fueling business growth.

By understanding the unique dynamics and realistic expectations of the START stage, you'll be better equipped to counsel clients and make an impact with your business.

Timestamps:

• 04:49 START Stage of Business: Explanation of the transition from SET UP to START stage, focusing on seeing first clients.
• 05:49 Counseling Skills and Client Retention: Emphasis on developing counseling skills to retain clients and build therapeutic relationships.
• 08:28 Challenges in the START Stage: Discussion of common feelings and challenges, including selling services and managing customer service.
• 13:12 Ideal Clients and Business Growth: Encouragement to experiment with different client types to identify ideal clients.
• 14:08 Counseling Skills Toolkit: Announcement of an upcoming Counseling Skills Toolkit focusing on counseling and customer service. Join the waitlist today.
• 15:31 Celebrating the START Stage: Recognition of the significance of the START stage in feeling fulfilled as a dietitian.

Navigating the START stage is not just about getting clients. It's about becoming a confident, capable counselor for your clients, which is the foundation of your private practice.

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:

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📧 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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