What I Do and Why I Do It
Back when I opened my nutritional therapy practice in 2019, I drafted a three-part blog series about what nutritional therapy actually is and what a client could expect during the process. A lot of that content is still relevant, so I encourage you to check those out: part 1, part 2, and part 3.
But in a lot of ways, the structure and big-picture view of the practice has changed — as one might imagine — with the crazy world that 2020 was.
Not only that, but the clients I worked with since opening my doors have really helped me learn a lot about the best ways to support them; I didn’t know what I didn’t know, until I knew it.
For the most part, 2020 only improved the nutritional therapy process. First off:
What’s still the same:
I still offer free, 15-minute complimentary consult calls for you and I to get to know each other better. These are designed for you, the client, to give me a synopsis of what’s going on with you and what goals you have for your health, and it’s also designed for me to explain what we would do in nutritional therapy so that you know whether or not this route is the right one for you.
I’m still not here to just tell you what to do or eat. I’ll definitely provide cooking methods and recipes if you ask or need them, but I’m not just going to write you a meal plan and send you on your way. That’s not what nutritional therapy is for. What it IS for is providing you the insight and tools you need to eventually NOT need ME anymore. That’s right — I want you to have it SO figured out, and be SO confident in your abilities, that I can discharge you from my services when you’re done.
I still request you submit the intake paperwork ahead of time by at least 24 hours, preferably more. It takes more behind-the-scenes work on my part than most people realize. In order for me to provide you with the best experience, I need time to review your forms.
I still work a different and separate day job, full-time, so the hours of operation for Nutritional Foundations are still the same — weeknights and all-day on weekends. See my contact page for availability.
I still do not have a formal office location outside of my home, however, since working virtually this year, that’s been a benefit to all. I do have a home office setup conducive to client work should we go back to doing sessions in-person.
The structure of visits is still exactly the same — we’ll continue to go over the forms and progress toward your goals as we’ve always done.
The protocol I provide you will still include external links, references, food swaps, etc. — I’ll continue giving you as much value as possible, depending on your goals.
What’s changed?
First of all, my client portal has changed. I was using Practice Better for a long time but found that, unless I have 100+ clients at all times, the cost was not worthwhile. Instead, I now use a system called Honeybook. Clients can inquire about my services in that portal by filling out a contact form to get the conversation started.
I haven’t been meeting with clients in-person, for obvious reasons. This has actually worked out for the best, because neither of us needs to commute anywhere, spend any extra time or money (in a coffee shop or restaurant, for example), and doesn’t require the client to come into my office. We do Zoom video calls for all sessions and it’s been working great — we maximize our effectiveness with this method!
The paperwork — everything is digital now, unless you request a PDF copy of anything.
The Disclaimer & Client Agreement is signed electronically and has added information for anyone looking to seek services with me who doesn’t live in my state.
I no longer send out an Initial Interview Form. It turns out that this takes clients forever to complete and I end up asking follow-up questions to this anyway, so I cover a lot of this information in real-time during the initial consultation. Yay for less work on your end!
The Food & Mood Journal is now sent via Google Sheets for easy mobile access and editing. I don’t want you to have to remember or write down what you ate at a later time when the info is less accurate or useful.
The NAQ is a form submitted to you electronically in Honeybook. Yay!
Pricing and pricing structure.
Believe it or not, I was undercharging on purpose (starting at $35/hr when it should’ve, and could’ve, been more), because I was afraid people wouldn’t book if the price was much higher. However, all this did was make clients not take the process as seriously, because they had less at stake; clients would meet for a few sessions and then give up because they didn’t have much invested. The perceived value was low, when the real value was high.
I’m still undercharging compared to others in the same field in my area, however the stakes are a little higher now, because if you’re going to commit, I want you to really commit — to put in the work and invest in yourself the way you deserve to. Nothing makes people show up better for themselves than with money on the line. You value your money, as you should; therefore you should value where it goes. Beyond all that, money is a renewable resource. Your health isn’t. You can’t enjoy your money if you’re not healthy.
I now work in visit packages instead of by the hour. I found that structuring the visit schedule this way worked better for clients and helped keep them accountable to both themselves and the process. Plus, paying for the entire package up front helped clients not give up on themselves, since they already paid for X amount of visits. The packages are either three or six months long, and visits are scheduled every three weeks.
I don’t send “welcome materials” anymore. Through our email/phone correspondence and the client portal Honeybook, you’ll get all the information you need, like what’s included in each package, the prices of everything, and the forms you’ll need.
I still offer Functional Clinical Assessments, however have not done so during the pandemic era. As the big picture of our region’s health improves, I will begin offering these again. These appointments are hands-on, in-person supplement testing strategies that help show where you might be deficient in vitamins or minerals. If you have questions about this process, feel free to contact me.
What getting started will look like:
Reach out to me — either through my contact form, email, phone, etc.
We’ll have a complimentary consult to make sure working together is best for you.
You’ll decide on a 3-month or 6-month program. (Whether or not to include the FCA is up to you.)
Once you make your selection, I will send you a proposal from Honeybook that includes your package details, invoice, and Disclaimer & Client Agreement.
Once this is signed, sealed, delivered — we can schedule your initial consultation!
Every couple of weeks, I will check-in with you via email.
Every three weeks, we will have a follow-up appointment, until your package is completed.
Got questions? Reach out to me! I’m happy to clarify.
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