The Dietitian Business Podcast

Why isn’t my private practice growing? | Coaching

When your private practice feels slow, unpredictable, or stuck at the same client load month after month, it’s easy to spiral into self-doubt. “Am I doing a terrible job? Is this as good as it’s going to get? What am I missing?” That’s exactly what Adina — a highly experienced dietitian with 20 years in the field — brought to this business coaching session. And in this raw, honest conversation, we dig into the real reasons her referrals, retention, and caseload haven’t matched the quality of her work. This episode pulls back the curtain on what actually drives a profitable, steady private practice — and spoiler: it’s usually not “more marketing.” What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 1. Retention Before Marketing Adina was seeing only 3–6 clients per week — and had never examined her retention data. We explored why client return rates matter more than any new referral source, how to calculate retention inside Simple Practice, and what counseling shifts can extend a client’s lifespan in care. 2. Why Referrals Aren’t Coming In Despite years of postcards, snail mail, coffees, handouts, and networking, every effort produced the same outcome: small trickles of referrals but nothing consistent. We dug into the foundational questions: * Is the messaging landing? * Are services clear? * Are conversations addressing true pain points? * Does the value come across to doctors and clients? When every tactic fails to move the needle, it’s not your effort — it’s the underlying message. 3. The Client Experience Drives Everything If current clients aren’t referring and aren’t completing many sessions, something inside the session needs refining. We discuss what makes a session feel valuable enough that: * Clients naturally return, * Clients tell their friends, * And doctors confidently refer. 4. The Power of Being Shadowed Most solo dietitians have never been observed during a session. We break down why shadowing is one of the most transformative tools for growth — offering perspective, counseling refinements, and clarity on blind spots that affect both retention and referrals. 5. Anonymous Surveys That Tell the Truth Adina had sent occasional feedback forms in the past, but nothing systematic. We outline exactly how to send a true anonymous client experience survey, incentivize responses, gather honest insights, and turn feedback into action. 6. Moving From “I Think…” to “I KNOW.” This is where the transformation begins. Adina often said: “I think clients like sessions,” “I think messaging is fine,” “I think I’m doing okay.” But CEOs don’t rely on guesses — they rely on KPIs. We explore how tracking retention, referrals, session averages, and patterns shifts you into confidently knowing what’s working and what’s not. 7. Why Business Coaching & Supervision Have ROI Supervision isn’t an expense — it’s an investment. $200 in shadowing can turn a one-time client into a $1,000+ long-term client. We break down exactly how that ROI works when done intentionally. Practical Actions You Can Take: * Audit your retention numbers * Shadow or be shadowed by a trusted dietitian or supervisor * Send a 2-minute anonymous survey to all current clients * Track weekly KPIs: referrals, retention, cancellations, new vs. returning clients * Rework your messaging so providers and clients instantly understand your value * Align your counseling flow with what supports long-term engagement

How a Dietitian Built a Values Based Private Practice | Coaching

In this week’s private coaching session, Maggy sits down with Jonathan Yuhas of Yuhas Nutrition, a dietitian in Syracuse, NY, who is navigating a challenge many early-stage private practice owners face: balancing a part-time job, growing a caseload, managing administrative work, and trying to honor the values that matter most, especially family and flexibility. Jonathan specializes in CKD and diabetes care, receives strong referrals from nephrology groups, and is building a lean, insurance-based practice. But with growth comes new questions: How do you work on your business instead of constantly working in it? How do you organize your time without burning out? How do you maintain a meaningful personal life while still growing? This coaching session explores how to build a practice that supports your life instead of taking it over. What We Cover: Working On vs. In Your Business We discuss how easy it is for solo dietitians to get stuck in task mode—charting, billing, scheduling, and emailing—and how to carve out intentional weekly time to think strategically and move the business forward. Deep Work That Drives Growth Using Cal Newport’s deep work principles, Maggy helps Jonathan identify how even one protected hour each week can improve systems, efficiency, marketing, organization, and long-term planning. Values-Based Decision Making Jonathan shares that family and flexibility are core values. Maggy walks through how identifying your values (using Brene Brown’s values framework) can guide your schedule, working hours, telehealth days, and overall structure of your private practice. A More Effective To-Do List Jonathan’s to-do list feels scattered and overwhelming. Together, we restructure it using a high, medium, and low priority system: • High priority: needs to be done within 24–48 hours • Medium priority: should be completed within a week • Low priority: no deadline, low consequence Maggy also explains how integrating Google Tasks with your calendar can reduce mental load and prevent constant task-switching. Time Blocking and Weekly Reflection We emphasize the importance of setting aside a weekly reflection block to review goals, evaluate workflow, examine systems, and determine what needs improvement. Jonathan realizes he has been so busy working that he has not had time to think about the bigger picture. Considering Hiring and Delegation Jonathan wonders whether bringing on administrative help makes sense. Maggy explains when hiring is beneficial, how to evaluate return on investment, which tasks are appropriate to delegate, and why staying lean or scaling up are both valid paths depending on your goals. Long-Term Vision for a CKD Specialty Jonathan shares his interest in building group programs, cooking demos, structured telehealth days, and more efficient systems. This episode breaks down how to move toward that future without sacrificing boundaries or personal wellbeing. Key Takeaways • Your values should shape your schedule and workflow. • Deep work is essential for meaningful business growth. • Time blocking reduces overwhelm and increases efficiency. • A structured to-do list helps conserve energy and focus. • Delegation can increase profitability and decrease frustration. • Private practice should support your real life, not compete with it. Connect With Jonathan YuhasNutrition.com [http://YuhasNutrition.com] Listen to the Full Episode Stream this episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

How to Grow Your Dietitian Practice with Confidence | Guest Interview

In this episode of The Dietitian Business Podcast, host Maggy Doherty, registered dietitian and business coach, sits down with Dr. Joyce Faraj-Ardura, PhD, RDN, founder of Nutrition Counseling Academy, to explore how dietitians can bridge the gap between nutrition education and behavior change. If you’ve ever wondered why some clients “know what to do but don’t do it,” this conversation will change the way you think about counseling forever. Joyce shares her journey from tenure-track professor and clinical nutrition manager to successful entrepreneur and educator. After years in academia, she realized that dietitians needed something missing from their formal education — the art of communication, connection, and motivational interviewing. That realization led her to create Nutrition Counseling Academy, a space for dietitians and health professionals to master behavior-change psychology and grow their impact in private practice. Maggy and Joyce discuss the mindset shifts that come with leaving the safety of academia to build a business that aligns with purpose and family. Joyce opens up about the burnout that pushed her to ask, “If I had five years left to live, would I still be doing this?” That single question sparked a reinvention: from professor to business owner, from educator to coach. Together, they unpack the skills every dietitian entrepreneur needs — empathy, motivational interviewing, reflective listening, and the ability to create a client-centered session that leads to real, lasting change. Joyce reveals how her programs help dietitians move from educator to coach, teaching them to prioritize connection over content and empowerment over handouts. You’ll learn: * The difference between nutrition education and nutrition counseling — and why confusing the two stalls progress * How to avoid overwhelming clients with too much information or too many goals * Simple strategies to shift sessions toward collaboration and confidence-building * How to market and grow your practice authentically through storytelling and connection * Why feedback, reflection, and mentorship are essential to professional growth Joyce also pulls back the curtain on the AI-based software she uses to help dietitians review their counseling sessions for tone, open-ended questioning, and motivational interviewing skill development — a powerful tool that turns self-reflection into measurable growth. Maggy and Joyce dig into the business side of being a dietitian, from building a program that sells to understanding demand before you create. They discuss why “trial and error” is really “trial and correction,” how to find your niche, and why marketing for dietitians is less about selling and more about storytelling. If you’re a private practice dietitian looking to scale, refine your counseling approach, or reignite your passion for helping clients, this episode will inspire you to look beyond the meal plan and into the mindset of behavior change. Key Takeaways: * Build a client-centered practice through behavior change coaching * Combine science + soul for deeper impact Use storytelling and connection as your strongest marketing tools * Evolve your counseling skills to stand out in the saturated wellness space * Continue learning to create a sustainable, scalable business model 🎧 Listen in as Maggy Doherty and Dr. Joyce Faraj-Ardura redefine what it means to be a dietitian in private practice — not just a provider of information, but a true partner in transformation.

What I Wish I Knew Before Hiring a Dietitian | Coaching

Welcome to The Dietitian Business Podcast, where we help private practice dietitians turn their side hustles into thriving, sustainable businesses. In this episode, host Maggy Doherty, registered dietitian and business coach, invites Tara Durden, owner of Nutrition Thyme, for a deep-dive coaching session on hiring, onboarding, and scaling a team as a dietitian entrepreneur. If you’re a dietitian in private practice ready to hire your first employee or take the leap into a group practice, this episode is packed with step-by-step strategy and mindset shifts. Maggy and Tara walk through everything from creating an onboarding checklist to defining your practice values, training new hires, and building structure into your EMR and client flow. Tara shares her journey from clinical dietitian to private practice owner, revealing how motherhood, flexibility, and purpose shaped her career path. What began as a side gig—posting recipes on Instagram and seeing clients after long shifts in the hospital—grew into a full-time business now expanding with multiple dietitians on staff. Together, Maggy and Tara explore the mindset and systems behind scaling while keeping your business aligned with your life. 💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * How to confidently hire and onboard your first dietitian employee * Step-by-step training and onboarding workflows using Practice Better and Gusto * Building a company culture through mission, values, and communication systems * Creating checklists, templates, and protocols that streamline your practice * How to transition from seeing clients full-time to leading a team of dietitians * Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship in a growing business * Maggy’s framework for scaling from a team of one to 40 dietitians Tara’s story reflects what so many dietitian entrepreneurs experience: starting small, wearing every hat, and realizing that true growth requires structure, leadership, and delegation. You’ll hear actionable coaching moments about training new team members, organizing your onboarding process, and learning when to step back so your team can thrive. Maggy brings years of experience helping registered dietitians scale their businesses sustainably—with systems that save time, protect your energy, and strengthen your mission. Whether you’re ready to expand beyond solo practice, hire your first team member, or optimize your onboarding process, this conversation gives you the clarity and confidence to scale with purpose. If you’ve ever wondered how to: * Turn your solo practice into a group practice, * Build an onboarding system that sets your team up for success, * Manage EMR training, documentation, and HR with ease, * Balance motherhood and business ownership without burnout — Then this episode is your roadmap to growth. 🔗 Connect & Resources * Learn more about Maggy’s coaching at maggythedietitian.com * Follow Tara’s journey at Nutrition Thyme on Instagram * Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full video on YouTube 🎙️ About The Show: The Dietitian Business Podcast blends business coaching for dietitians, marketing strategy, and real-life success stories from RDs who’ve built thriving private practices. Hosted by Maggy Doherty, this show helps you scale your business, strengthen your leadership, and create a life and career that work together.

She Grew from Solo Dietitian to Group Practice Owner

In this episode of The Dietitian Business Podcast, Maggy Doherty welcomes Janna, a fellow Texas-based dietitian entrepreneur who grew her private practice from a solo venture to a thriving team of five. Janna shares candidly about the early days of launching right before the pandemic, the reality of wearing too many hats, and the hard lessons that shaped her leadership journey. From financial pressures and difficult hires to building systems and learning to say no, Jana opens up about what it takes to grow a sustainable business as a registered dietitian. Maggy and Janna also dive into the myth that “growth makes things easier.” Instead, they reveal how problems evolve as your practice expands—and why personal growth is just as important as professional development. They discuss the role of company culture, how to maintain brand identity during growth, and why client retention is the backbone of long-term success. Whether you’re just starting your private practice or managing a growing team, this conversation is filled with real-world lessons, encouragement, and strategies you can apply today. 🎧 Listen in to learn: * How to balance client care with leadership responsibilities * The biggest lessons that come from challenges, not easy wins * Practical strategies for teaching retention to your team * Why boundaries are essential for sustainable growth * How culture and values shape the client experience This is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at practice ownership, designed to help dietitian entrepreneurs grow with clarity and confidence.