A Heart-to-Heart Guide for Nutritional Therapists
by Tanya Borowski, Head of Education
Fellow nutritional therapists, let's grab a metaphorical cup of herbal tea and have an honest chat. As 2024 draws to a close, I know we're all feeling ready for a well-deserved breather. Between juggling client sessions, keeping up with the latest research, and managing our businesses, when do we actually get time to check in with ourselves? Right now is our perfect chance to cosy up with our journals and really think about what brings us joy in our practice - and yes, that includes making sure our passion for helping others translates into a thriving, profitable business!
I've been sitting here with my favourite notebook brainstorming some ideas which I'm really excited to share with you. Over the next month, while you're perhaps enjoying some well-deserved mince pies, why not mull over these thoughts? Remember, this isn't a 'must-do' checklist - it's more like a pick-and-mix of possibilities! Maybe you'll read through this and think, 'You know what? I'm actually loving my practice exactly as it is right now' - and honestly, that's fantastic too! Sometimes realising we're already exactly where we want to be is the biggest win of all. But if you're feeling that little spark of inspiration and fancy shaking things up a bit, I hope these ideas generate sparks to fly in your mind about where you and your practice could go in 2025!
Digitise Your Client Journey
Transform your client experience by implementing digital solutions that save time and improve organisation:
- Replace paper forms with digital intake questionnaires and food diaries using platforms like Practice Better or SannoHealth (others of course are available). This not only saves time but allows clients to complete documentation at their convenience while ensuring you have organised, legible records.
- Implement a client portal where clients can access their meal plans, supplement plans, and educational resources. This reduces back-and-forth emails and empowers clients to access their information whenever needed. This doesn't have to be on a CRS (Central Reservation System), you can create this via Google Drive.
Create systems that maximise the value of your consultation time and shorten writing up of the dreaded treatment plan:
Develop a library of short videos on regularly discussed conditions & topics you explain to clients, yet then feel the need to write up again to explain the why of your recommendations. These short videos can then be embedded into their bespoke treatment plan and provides a foundation that you can modify based on specific needs rather than starting from scratch each time.
Ideas of short videos:
- What is blood sugar, and what are the impacts when it’s dysregulated
- What is intestinal permeability
- Explain FODMAPs
- What is the role of stomach acid, and therefore the impact of PPI use
- Explanation of what endogenous hormone levels look like when on OCP
- What is a food intolerance vs a food sensitivity
- What is Nutrigenomics - and how nutritional therapy interplays (helps to explain to client why you are running a test)
These are just ideas…The list is endless - think about conditions or concepts you hear yourself repeating day in - day out in consultations and you really want these to “land” with your clients.
Enhance Your Revenue Streams
Diversify your income while providing additional value to clients:
Consider developing group programs that address common health concerns. This allows you to help more clients while maximising your time and creating a more accessible price point. Also consider teaming up with a fellow NT or another healthcare professional to develop a programme - it’s so much more fun working with someone else and you can split the work load and any outgoings. Some group programme ideas:-
- New year reset
- Gut health programme
- Perimenopause programme
- Teen / Tween understand your periods programme
- Feeding for Uni course
- Cookery classes; easy suppers, gluten free recipes, vegetarian and vegan recipes
Create digital products such as meal planning guides, recipe collections, or educational handouts as downloadable products on your website that can generate passive income while supporting your clients' success.
Optimise Your Marketing Strategy
Build a consistent presence that attracts your ideal clients:
- Schedule monthly content creation sessions to develop blog posts, social media content, and newsletter materials in advance. This ensures regular communication with your audience without daily content creation pressure.
- Implement an email marketing strategy with automated welcome sequences for new subscribers and regular valuable content for your list.
Invest in Professional Development
Stay current while expanding your service offerings:
- Set aside time within each month for continuing education in both clinical skills and business development.
- Consider specialised certifications or mentorship programmes that align with your interests and client base's needs.
Here at Amrita we provide at least 3 free webinars a month on a variety of topics, delivered by our supplement providers, nutritional therapists, doctors and integrative practitioners.
We also offer an on-going educational webinar series - The Roadmap Series curated and presented by me, alongside other industry experts covering a clinically relevant topic in each new session.
The Roadmap series offers the latest research paired with practical application and clinical pearls to help you grow your practice and enhance your client outcomes. Roadmap webinars are concise, to the point and I designed them to fit into your lunch break. They run on monthly Tuesdays at midday for an hour and are available for all Amrita Nutrition registered practitioners. If you can’t join the live session, they are available on the website for you to review at any time.
Finally, if you really want to immerse yourself in nutritional therapy, specialise in an area of interest and work with a cohort of colleagues consider one of the 3 incredible mentorship programmes Amrita Nutrition proudly supports.
- Robyn Puglia's 10 month Autoimmune Academy Mentorship
- Tanya Borowski’s 10 month Women's Health Mastery Mentorship
- Sandra Greenbank’s 6 month Fertility Mentorship - Email: info@fertilitynutritioncentre.org
Create Clear Boundaries
Establish systems that protect your time and energy:
- Define specific office hours for client communications, add them to your terms & conditions, and email signature and stick to them! If you email outside of your set hours, you are providing a green light for clients to do the same.
- Create a clear cancellation policy and implement it consistently.
- Block out dedicated time in your calendar for administrative tasks, client follow up notes and “me time”!
Measure Your Progress
Implement tracking systems to monitor your practice's growth:
- Set specific, measurable goals for client retention, new client acquisition, and revenue.
- Regularly review client feedback and satisfaction metrics.
- Track the effectiveness of different marketing channels and programs.
Action Steps for Implementation
- Choose two key areas from this guide to focus on in the first quarter.
- Create a timeline for implementing new systems and technologies.
- Schedule monthly reviews to assess progress and adjust strategies as needed.
- Consider working with a business coach or joining a mastermind group for accountability - we have an introductory webinar with Gwen Warren on 22nd January 2025 - sign up here.
Remember, implementing these changes doesn't have to happen all at once. Choose the areas that will have the biggest impact on your practice and start there. Small, consistent improvements can lead to significant transformation over time.
As you move into the new year, focus on creating systems that not only make your practice more efficient but also enhance the value you provide to your clients. This balanced approach will help ensure both professional success and personal satisfaction in your nutrition practice.
Always learning,
Tanya x
Head of Education