logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
40m 21s

Counseling Strategies That Will Change Y...

Jennifer McGurk
About this episode

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 

Want more from Pursuing Private Practice? 

🗓️ Looking to start your private practice in just 30 days? Do it with our Open For Business toolkit: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/open-for-business/

📈 Want to get 3 new clients in just 3 days? Join Marketing Bootcamp: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessplan/

🌟 Looking for the ultimate support system to build the private practice you’ve always dreamed of? Check out Business School: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/

🌍 Are you ready to lead with confidence and expand your impact? EXPAND is your path to stepping into the role of CEO: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/business-coaching/

Find us on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice

 

Up next
Aug 5
COAST: A Business Strategy When Life Comes First
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 COAST stage of business. Join them to discuss the importance of coasting as a business owner, how i ... Show More
22m 58s
Jul 29
LEAD: Hire, Manage, and Build Your Private Practice Team
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 LEAD stage of business. This stage is focused on the importance of hiring and leading a team. Hear ... Show More
23m 27s
Jul 22
GROW: What It Really Takes to Get Fully Booked on Your Terms
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 GROW stage of business. This is a stage where you'll focus on expanding your reach, refining your m ... Show More
28m 52s
Recommended Episodes
May 8
Quick Tips for Therapists: What to Do When Couples Therapy Clients Come into the Session Escalated in Their Negative Cycle
Jacqueline Wielick, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of her own private practice, Therapy by Jackie. She has a master of science in marriage and family therapy, and degrees in both psychology and sociology. With a focus on couples, relationships, attach ... Show More
4m 9s
May 2024
Quick Tips for Therapists: How to Handle Clients Who Cry Uncontrollably in Session
Emma Lauer, LCSW, author of DBT Skills for Highly Sensitive People, shares advice for how to handle clients who cry uncontrollably in session. Emma is a therapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, self-harming behaviors, and trauma. Emma is an eye movement desens ... Show More
3m 46s
Aug 2024
167. What Makes a Happy and Healthy Couple? w/ Juliana Massey
What makes a relationship truly successful? In this episode, Meg welcomes Juliana, a marriage and family therapist, to explore the dynamics of healthy couples and what inspired her to pursue this field. Juliana discusses the role of a systemic therapist in addressing common chall ... Show More
43m 44s
Jul 2024
Bad Anxiety and Mental Health Advice | Episode 297
Send in a question or comment via text.The Internet is packed with anxiety and mental health advice, but not all of it is useful or helpful.  Some of it can be harmful. This week I'm joined by Emma McAdam, the therapist behind the Therapy in a Nutshell YouTube channel, to di ... Show More
38m 19s
Jul 21
490: GLP-1’s and Eating Disorders with Dr Vanessa Scaringi and Kathryn Garland
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, we're talking about a subject that many people are curious about lately, GLP-1's the diabetes medications that are being used by non-diabetics for weight loss. Therapists need to know about these medications, because clients are exploring ... Show More
46m 38s
Jun 20
Understanding Mind-Body Pain: A Neuroplastic Approach for Mental Health Providers with Dr. David Clarke | continuing education for mental health counselors and therapists | NBCC approved | Podcourse | trauma
Purchase this Podcourse here! Neuroplastic symptoms - also known as psychophysiologic or mind-body symptoms - represent a significant portion of clinical presentations, yet they are frequently misunderstood or overlooked in both medical and mental health settings. In this informa ... Show More
53m 33s
Mar 2025
The 3 Key Ingredients For A Thriving Relationship, Practical Strategies To Manage Conflict & How To Build Deeper Relationships with Yung Pueblo #531
How much of your relationship tension comes from expectations that were never communicated? And what if changing the way you handle conflict could completely transform them? While we often dedicate countless hours to our careers, many of us never devote time to the basics of emot ... Show More
1h 56m
Jun 16
Simple Relationship Improvement Advice From The Therapy Office
Tired of trying to think your way out of overthinking?Let me show you what actually works—in less than 30 minutes.Get immediate access to a free class now.In this short therapy episode, discover how to reconnect in relationships that feel off—even when the distance feels unfixabl ... Show More
6m 2s
Jun 2024
Are Therapists Becoming Enmeshed?
This week, we talk about therapist enmeshment - what it is, how it happens, and what therapists can do to ensure they have appropriate boundaries with clients. For this conversation, we’re placing the context at the feet of the therapists and exploring how some therapy practices ... Show More
42m 5s
Aug 2024
Your Partner Is Not Your Therapist
Are you relying too much on your partner for emotional support and finding that it strains your relationship? Brendon Burchard, the world’s top high performance coach, is here to guide you on taking responsibility for your own healing journey. Discover how to cultivate self-aware ... Show More
19m 11s