Pursuing Private Practice

What Worked, What Didn't, and What We're Changing in 2026

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!   Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to kick off Season 4 of the podcast. Together, they talk about the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned in 2025 and how those experiences are shaping their goals for 2026.   Jennifer shares how personal experiences shifted her perspective on business and leadership, while Courtney reflects on hitting capacity in her own company and learning how to simplify her work. They also discuss their "word of the year," what sustainable business growth really looks like, and what listeners can expect from the new season of the podcast.   Welcome to Season 4 of the Podcast (1:12) Jennifer shares why she took time between seasons to reflect on the direction of the podcast and what listeners can expect from the new season. Reflecting on 2025 and Personal Challenges (7:02) Jennifer opens up about the loss of her father-in-law and how that experience shifted her perspective on priorities, family, and running a business. Why Boundaries Are Essential in Business Ownership (9:34) Jennifer explains why protecting your time and energy is critical if you want to build a sustainable business that doesn't lead to burnout. Courtney's Business Growth and Lessons from 2025 (10:46) Courtney reflects on the biggest wins in her business, including hitting record revenue and completing more than 40 client projects in a single year. Understanding Capacity and Avoiding Burnout (18:14) Courtney shares how she realized she had reached capacity in her business and how she's restructuring her workflow to make things more sustainable. Why Revenue Doesn't Tell the Full Story of Success (15:17) Jennifer explains how her business had its lowest revenue year in a decade—but also one of its most profitable and sustainable years. Simplifying Your Business Model (21:15) Jennifer shares why she decided to stop selling standalone toolkits and focus entirely on Business School to create deeper results for clients. The Problem With "More Information" in Business Education (23:32) Jennifer and Courtney discuss why many online courses go unfinished—and why accountability and coaching often lead to better outcomes. Courtney's Word of the Year: Simplify (27:43) Courtney talks about her focus for 2026, which includes simplifying services, standardizing systems, and learning to say "no." Jennifer's Word of the Year: Elevate (33:41) Jennifer reflects on stepping fully into her role as CEO and elevating her work, her program, and the impact she's making with clients. Redefining Success as a Business Owner (34:56) Jennifer shares how her vision for success has evolved—from chasing growth and visibility to building a business that truly supports her life. What to Expect from Season 4 of the Podcast (36:55) Jennifer reveals the theme for the new season: showcasing dietitians across specialties and highlighting the many ways private practices can be built.   From reflecting on the highs and lows of 2025 to setting intentions and goals for 2026, this conversation is full of insights, strategies, and inspiration for building a private practice that truly supports both your clients and your life.   📍 Join Pursuing Private Practice on Wednesday, March 25th at 12pm Eastern for a free workshop: From Dietitian Job to Private Practice: The Roadmap to Start, Grow, and Scale Your Nutrition Business In this live workshop, we'll talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable private practice from mindset and marketing to systems, finances, and leadership. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your practice, you'll walk away with clear next steps for growing your business. Sign up: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/private-practice-workshop/   🌟 Work with me in Business School: the program to give you everything you need to grow a sustainable, profitable nutrition private practice. You will graduate with the tools, support, and strategy for success. The next chort begins April 13th! Learn more and apply: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/   Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice   About Courtney: Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD is a multi-passionate entrepreneur in the weight-inclusive space. She's an anti-diet dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor with her own private practice, Vickery Wellness. She is also the CEO of Declet Designs, her website and branding studio for weight-inclusive businesses.   She has a double dose of knowledge, with bachelor's degrees in political science and dietetics, plus a Master's degree in Foods & Nutrition from the University of Georgia (and still teaches an undergraduate course there). Her career journey includes working as a Director of Corporate Health Services & Community Outreach, clinical dietitian, managing group fitness programs and community health programs, and roles in healthcare administration and corporate health. She's even stepped in as the Interim Director of the Dietetic Internship at the University of Georgia.   At home, Courtney shares life with her husband of 15 years (they've been together since high school!), two kids, a dog named Oliver, and two kitty cats, Finnick and Calliope. She is the perfect blend of Enneagram 1 determination and a laid-back coffee shop aficionado. When she's not helping therapists and dietitians rock their brands and websites, you can catch her chilling at a coffee shop, sipping tea, or spending time with her awesome family.   Her passion for blending her love for weight-inclusive care with her knack for web and branding design makes her your friendly expert in dietetics and web design.   Find Courtney on Instagram at @decletdesigns.

Leading a Business That Lets You Live Your Life

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! This episode wraps up Season 3 of the podcast. We'll be back for Season 4 this fall! Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Hannah Turnbull, founder of NourishED Colorado, a group practice specializing in eating disorders, and a business coach at Values Driven Group. Hannah shares her journey of building and leading a thriving group practice, the challenges and rewards of managing a team, and her bold decision to step away for an 18-week sabbatical. Together, they dive into leadership, company culture, burnout, and what it really takes to create a sustainable business that supports both clients and clinicians.  This conversation is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom for any dietitian or business owner who wants to step fully into leadership while still honoring their own life outside of work. Shift Toward Coaching & Leadership Development: During the pandemic, Hannah began coaching other owners, earned a master's in organizational leadership, and identified leadership skills as the "secret sauce" for practice success. Planning a Sabbatical: Burnout triggers, delegating responsibilities to trusted leaders, writing exhaustive SOPs, securing a line of credit, and announcing the break to the team. Post‑Sabbatical Structure & Work‑Life Balance: Implemented "No‑Work Wednesdays," a four‑day work week, and strict time‑batching across multiple projects. Leadership Philosophy & Lessons Learned: Advocates detaching from outcomes, modeling balance, viewing the business as an asset, and "rolling out the red carpet" for departing staff.   Hannah's story is a powerful reminder that leading well means trusting your team, setting boundaries, and creating a business that fuels your life - not the other way around. Timestamps:  00:01 Opening & Why People Matter: Jennifer sets the tone, explaining that hiring is both the most rewarding and the hardest part of running a group practice. 02:36 Guest Introduction – Hannah Turnbull: Founder of Nourished Colorado (9 dietitians) and Values-Driven Group (business coaching), plus co-host of the Weight Inclusive Innovators podcast. 04:08 Career Origins: From hospital dietitian to the "Healthy Annie" blog, a move to Denver via Craigslist, and the launch of her first private-practice space. 06:15 Growth & Pandemic Pivot: Rapid expansion to 8-10 clinicians, a swift shift to fully virtual during COVID, and quarterly hiring cycles. 09:30 Burnout & Sabbatical Decision: After completing her master's and maxing out her coaching load, Hannah realizes she can no longer over-perform without harming herself. 10:50 Preparing to Step Away: She hands off clinical duties, delegates supervision, and navigates key leadership turnover while already planning a 2025 sabbatical. 12:06 Team Trust & SOP Creation: Hannah explains how she documented detailed standard operating procedures to ensure the practice would run without her. 15:00 Life on Sabbatical: Hannah discovers the power of a structured, work-free period before returning in January 2025. 18:15 Company Culture Deep-Dive: Emphasizes companionship, hybrid office use, purposeful all-hands meetings, retreats, and balancing fun activities against cost. 21:00 Transparency & Financial Sharing: Shares mission, vision, client flow, and payroll ratios (~75% payroll) while keeping full profit-and-loss details private to build trust without overwhelm. 24:32 Retention & Career Pathing: Discusses the typical 2-3-year clinician tenure, encourages honest conversations about growth, and promotes "red-carpet" exits to maintain goodwill. 27:41 Practical Sabbatical Prep: Recommends a trusted interim (e.g., finance expert), comprehensive SOPs for every task, and a line-of-credit cash-flow safety net. 34:20 Leadership Philosophy: Advocates consent-based hiring, mutual choice to stay, evolving roles, and "rolling out the red carpet" for departing staff as brand ambassadors. 41:38 Sabbatical Reflection: Stepping away forces detachment from outcomes, clarifies personal values, and reinforces a sustainable work-life balance. 51:00 Final Takeaways: Trust the team, rely on SOPs, adopt the "It's not that serious" mantra, and schedule regular breaks to ensure longevity.   Whether you're dreaming of building a team, navigating leadership challenges, or simply craving more balance, this episode will leave you with the clarity and courage to create a business that truly supports the life you want to live. Hannah Turnbull is a multi-passionate clinician entrepreneur. She founded NourishED Colorado, a dietitian group practice specializing in eating disorders and weight-inclusive care, and is a business coach at Values Driven Group, where she helps clinicians build thriving, values-aligned group practices. As co-host of the Weight Inclusive Innovators podcast, she shares insights on business, leadership, and finances. A lifelong learner, she's often found nose-deep in a leadership or finance book.   Want more from Pursuing Private Practice?  🧠 Feeling overwhelmed trying to build your team? The Lead Your Team Toolkit helps you hire, manage, and lead with confidence. Take up space as the CEO you're meant to be. 👥 Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Hire Your Next Team Member is a free training that walks you through the first steps of hiring support for your business. 🌟 Looking for the ultimate support system to build the private practice you've always dreamed of? Check out Business School: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice  

Fractional Practice Management for Group Practice Owners

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Charlie Golighlty, founder of Group Practice Partner, a fractional practice management partner for strategic, mission-aligned support. Charlie shares why so many solo clinicians and group-practice owners feel like they're juggling too many hats and constantly putting out fires, and how bringing in someone who understands both the clinical world and the language of business can transform that chaos into clarity. If you've ever felt burnt out in the day-to-day business operations and are ready to step back, see the bigger picture, and make intentional moves for your business, this episode is for you. The Realities of Running a Private or Group Practice: Exploration of the overwhelming multitasking, emotional attachment, and common pain points that practice owners face daily. Introducing Fractional Practice Management: A part-time, on-demand practice manager service that keeps operations running smoothly during leaves or breaks. The Three Core Pillars of a Healthy Business: Discussion on services (bones), systems (muscles), and energy (gut/heart) as essential, interlocking components. Routine Business Check-Ins: The speakers recommend semiannual full reviews and mentorship input aligned with personal life cycles for sustained balance. Recurring Themes Across the Business: A conversation on boundaries, burnout, and visibility as recurring challenges that need intentional focus.   This episode is for you if you're looking for actionable strategies, fresh perspectives, and practical next steps you can use to create a business that supports both your mission and your life. Timestamps:  02:31 Charlie's Background: From an eating‑disorder dietitian to a B2B educator, Charlie brings many years of private‑practice experience to group‑practice consulting. 03:51 Why Group Practices Struggle: Accidental "boss" status, rapid scaling, and lack of business foundations leave many dietitians overwhelmed. 07:07 Boundaries & Sustainability: Charging enough, protecting personal time, and building a profitable practice are essential for long‑term success. 08:15 Three‑Pillar Framework: Services (bones), Systems (muscles), and Energy (heart/gut) must stay balanced for a healthy business. 17:20 Assessment Categories: Finances, hiring/onboarding, operations, contractor vs. employee, burnout, and general support guide the audit. 24:25 Coasting as Strategy: Deliberate "coasting" periods let owners rest while a well‑oiled machine runs smoothly, often with a temporary CEO. 29:06 Emotional Validation: Feeling uneasy about taking a break is normal; you deserve rest and sustainable success.   Whether you're running a solo practice or managing a growing team, this conversation will leave you inspired, better equipped, and ready to make confident decisions for the future of your business. Charlie Golightly supports the visionaries behind group practices by acting as the integrator - the person who brings it all together. Through fractional practice management, they help human-centered teams get the nitty gritty details done with clarity, sustainability, and care. Whether its reimagining your systems, putting out administrative fires, or supporting your team while you take a leave, Charlie has your back. Learn more about their services and get your free Business Vitality Assessment at GroupPracticePartner.com.   Want more from Pursuing Private Practice?  🧠 Feeling overwhelmed trying to build your team? The Lead Your Team Toolkit helps you hire, manage, and lead with confidence. Take up space as the CEO you're meant to be. 👥 Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Hire Your Next Team Member is a free training that walks you through the first steps of hiring support for your business. 🌟 Looking for the ultimate support system to build the private practice you've always dreamed of? Check out Business School: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice  

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 it can be a strategic and intentional phase, and the benefits it brings to personal and professional life.  When you're a business owner, the need to COAST can come up at any time, sometimes planned, and sometimes unplanned. Whether you think you'll be coasting anytime soon or not, this episode will leave you feeling confident when it's your time to COAST.  COAST Stage of Business: Coasting is defined as an intentional phase in business, often necessary during personal life events. Boundaries and Self-Care in the COAST Stage: Emphasizes the importance of evolving boundaries and prioritizing self-care during coasting. Personal Development and Self-Understanding: Business ownership offers opportunities for personal growth and understanding one's strengths and weaknesses. Saying No and Identity as a Business Owner: Discusses the power of saying no and balancing personal identity with business responsibilities. Motherhood and Coasting: Highlights how motherhood and family responsibilities necessitate coasting in business.   This conversation will help you see coasting not as a setback, but as a strategic way to build a sustainable business and life. Timestamps:  00:38 Podcast Series Details: The series will explore the five stages of business, emphasizing personalized roadmaps for success. 01:53 Resources and Toolkits: Highlights available resources and toolkits for different stages of business, including upcoming releases. 04:23 COAST Stage of Business: Introduction to the COAST stage, emphasizing its importance and intentional nature in business management. 05:55 Reasons for Coasting: Lists various reasons for coasting, such as personal health and life events, validating its necessity. 06:43 Defining Coasting: Clarifies that coasting involves intentional management, not inactivity, similar to intuitive eating misconceptions. 08:50 Boundaries and Self-Care: Discusses evolving boundaries and prioritizing self-care during the coasting stage of business. 13:01 Learning About Yourself: Highlights the importance of understanding personal strengths and weaknesses through assessments. 14:12 Saying No and Personal Development: Explains the power of saying no to prioritize personal life and shares personal growth experiences. 16:14 Motherhood and Coasting: Discusses how motherhood and family responsibilities necessitate coasting in business. 18:35 Mindset Shift and Diet Culture: Encourages rejecting societal pressures in business and diet culture, advocating for personal success definitions.   This conversation is a reminder that coasting can be part of growth, and it's an essential step in a business that works for your life, not against it.    🧑‍💻Want more from Pursuing Private Practice?  Sign up for the Business School Mastermind waitlist!  🧠 Feeling overwhelmed trying to build your team? The Lead Your Team Toolkit helps you hire, manage, and lead with confidence. Whether it's your first hire or your fifth, you'll get clear steps, templates, and support to grow your business without burnout. Take up space as the CEO you're meant to be. Enroll now. 👥 Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Hire Your Next Team Member is a free training that walks you through the first steps of hiring support for your business. You'll learn how to plan your team structure, write clear job descriptions, and lead with confidence, without the overwhelm. Start building the support you need. Sign up for the free workshop today. 📱 Find us on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice

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 insights on how dietitians can step into leadership roles, overcome the fear of hiring, and build a sustainable business.  Whether you already have a team, are ready to hire, or may want to hire in the future, this episode is for you.  Introduction to the LEAD Stage: Learn why hiring is essential for expanding your business without compromising self-care and boundaries. New Resources for Hiring and Leading: Discover a free guide and upcoming Team Toolkit to assist in the hiring and leadership process. Challenges and Solutions in the LEAD Stage: Explore common fears in hiring and strategies for building a strong company culture. Combining Business School and the EXPAND Curriculum: The new Business School Mastermind will support dietitians in the LEAD stage of business as well as dietitians starting and growing. Celebrating Success in the LEAD Stage: Emphasize the importance of focusing on your strengths and achieving business sustainability. Tune in to gain the tools, mindset shifts, and practical strategies you need to confidently LEAD your business to the next level. Timestamps:  00:28 Free Guide and Team Toolkit: Two resources are highlighted: a free guide for hiring preparation and an upcoming Team Toolkit for the hiring process. 01:37 Podcast Series Introduction: Jennifer introduces the podcast series focused on the five stages of business: SET UP, START, GROW, LEAD, and COAST. 02:24 Resources for Different Business Stages: Various resources are available for different stages of business, including toolkits for marketing, finances, and team building. 03:56 Business School Mastermind Program: The Business School Mastermind program is introduced as a comprehensive support system for dietitians. 05:46 LEAD Stage of Business Discussion: Jennifer and Courtney discuss the LEAD stage of business, emphasizing the necessity of hiring to avoid burnout. 08:53 Challenges and Mindset in the LEAD Stage: Insights from the EXPAND program highlight challenges in hiring and leadership, focusing on building company culture. 18:24 Skills and Requirements for the LEAD Stage: Key skills for moving forward include hiring, training, managing, and leading a team effectively. 21:03 Celebrating the LEAD Stage: The celebration involves stepping into one's zone of genius and delegating tasks to maintain business sustainability. This conversation will leave you feeling empowered to build the team you need, so you can lead with confidence, protect your energy, and grow a sustainable practice.  🧠 Feeling overwhelmed trying to build your team? The Lead Your Team Toolkit helps you hire, manage, and lead with confidence. Whether it's your first hire or your fifth, you'll get clear steps, templates, and support to grow your business without burnout. Take up space as the CEO you're meant to be. Enroll now. 👥 Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Hire Your Next Team Member is a free training that walks you through the first steps of hiring support for your business. You'll learn how to plan your team structure, write clear job descriptions, and lead with confidence, without the overwhelm. Start building the support you need. Sign up for the free workshop today. 📱 Find us on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice