Pursuing Private Practice

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Rachelle Mallik, reproductive dietitian and founder of The Food Therapist, for a conversation about building a private practice within the reproductive health space, supporting clients through vulnerable seasons of life, and using clinical expertise to create new opportunities in business. In this episode, Rachelle shares the story behind her 20‑year journey from an IVF patient coordinator at Weill Cornell to a reproductive dietitian who now supports clients through every stage of their reproductive lifespan. Jennifer and Rachelle discuss how dietitians can provide thoughtful, ethical support while knowing when to bring in other providers, and how dietitians can grow their specialty beyond one-on-one care. Defining Reproductive Health as a Private Practice Niche (04:19) Rachelle explains why she calls herself a reproductive dietitian and how this specialty can include much more than helping clients who are actively trying to conceive. Rachelle's Path Into Fertility Nutrition (06:44) Rachelle shares how working as an IVF patient coordinator at Weill Cornell helped her understand the emotional weight of infertility and planted the seed for the work she does today. The Gap in Pregnancy Nutrition Care (09:12) Rachelle and Jennifer reflect on how little nutrition support many people receive during pregnancy and why dietitians are so needed before, during, and after pregnancy. Supporting Clients Through Infertility (11:32) Rachelle talks about the overwhelm, misinformation, guilt, and desire for control that many clients experience when navigating infertility, and how dietitians can support them with compassion and scope-aware care. Pregnancy Nutrition, Food Aversions, and Guilt (14:39) Rachelle shares common pregnancy nutrition challenges, including nausea, fatigue, food aversions, constipation, reflux, and the pressure clients feel to "eat healthy" even when eating feels hard. Jennifer reflects on her own pregnancy experience as a dietitian. Postpartum Nutrition and Whole-Person Support (17:08) Rachelle and Jennifer discuss the realities of postpartum life, including recovery, sleep deprivation, feeding a baby, body image concerns, and the lack of consistent support after birth. The Power of Multidisciplinary Care (20:15) Rachelle and Jennifer talk about why dietitians are often uniquely positioned to recognize when clients need additional support from pelvic floor physical therapists, mental health professionals, physicians, and other providers. How Rachelle Structures Her Private Practice (21:06) Rachelle explains why her practice is primarily one-on-one, how she shifted away from packages, and why pay-as-you-go sessions created more flexibility for her clients and her business. Creating Professional Resources From Clinical Experience (27:11) Rachelle talks about expanding her business beyond client care through courses, speaking opportunities, continuing education, and resources for other healthcare professionals. Scope of Practice in Reproductive Health Nutrition (31:52) Rachelle breaks down how beginner, mid-level, and advanced dietitians can approach reproductive health work while continuing to learn, refer out, and seek support when needed. Getting Started in Fertility Nutrition (36:38) Rachelle offers advice for dietitians who want to enter the fertility space, including starting with preconception clients before moving into more complex infertility care. This conversation is a reminder that reproductive health is not a narrow niche. Rachelle shows how fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, PCOS, endometriosis, lactation, and perimenopause can all live under one specialty when you understand the deeper needs of your clients. Strong private practice work is not just about knowing the science. It is also about understanding the client's lived experience, knowing when to collaborate with other providers, and continuing to grow your expertise over time. Rachelle's story is also a powerful reminder that you can expand beyond client care and into areas like supervision and professional development within your area of expertise. ✨ Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice About Rachelle: Rachelle LaCroix Mallik, MA, RDN is a dietitian and founder of The Food Therapist, a private practice specializing in fertility and women's health nutrition. With nearly 20 years of experience in reproductive health and almost a decade in private practice, Rachelle helps individuals navigate fertility, pregnancy, and other women's health concerns with evidence-based, weight-inclusive care. Rachelle is also a frequent speaker and received the Women's Health Dietetic Practice Group Excellence in Practice Award for her contributions to the field. Find Rachelle on Instagram at @rachellemallik Resources: Supervision & Case Consultation Fertility Foundations Course GLP-1s & Fertility Webinar Recording

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Megan Cremins, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer specializing in Type 1 Diabetes, for a conversation about the value of lived experience, the importance of meeting clients where they are, and how dietitians can build meaningful work in a specialty they care deeply about. Megan shares how her own diabetes diagnosis shaped the way she supports clients today, helping them move away from fear-based food rules and toward more confidence with blood sugars, technology, and real-life eating. Jennifer and Megan discuss the various ways dietitians can work in the diabetes space, the importance of community, and what it can look like to build a sustainable private practice. Megan's Personal Diagnosis Story (04:17) Megan shares the story of her type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age five and reflects on how challenging it was to grow up managing blood sugars, food, insulin, and confidence. Becoming the Dietitian She Needed as a Kid (06:51) Megan explains how her own health journey helped her realize that she wanted to support others with type 1 diabetes in a more empowering, compassionate way. Moving Beyond Fear-Based Diabetes Advice (08:46) Jennifer and Megan discuss how type 1 diabetes care has often been shaped by food fear and restriction, and why a balanced, flexible approach can better support clients. Helping Clients Build Flexibility and Confidence (11:07) Megan explains common client pain points, and Jennifer reflects on how powerful it is for clients to have a provider who can help them experiment with food, blood sugars, and technology without fear. Supporting Clients Through Life Transitions (15:11) Megan talks about the importance of extra support during major transitions like pregnancy, college, perimenopause, and other life changes that can affect blood sugars. Building a Practice With Multiple Offers (16:39) Megan walks through the evolution of her business, including her group program, one-on-one work, insurance-based practice, recipe club, and brand partnerships. Finding a Sustainable Business Model (20:21) Megan reflects on how her mix of offers helps her feel balanced, and Jennifer shares how business owners can continue evolving their boundaries, services, and definitions of success. Understanding Scope in the Diabetes Space (24:52) Jennifer and Megan discuss the different layers of diabetes care, including type 1, type 2, insulin resistance, insulin use, medications, pumps, CGMs, and the importance of understanding each client's actual needs. Growing Through Community, Social Media, and Consistency (33:58) Megan reflects on how building an online presence, connecting with the type 1 diabetes community, and staying consistent helped open doors for brand partnerships and speaking opportunities. Advice for Dietitians Entering the Type 1 Space (38:21) Megan offers advice to dietitians interested in this niche, and emphasizes getting involved in the type 1 community both online and in person. Megan's story offers a roadmap for turning personal challenges into professional triumphs. She turned her lived experience into a sustainable, purpose-driven practice, helping clients navigate their own Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis with more ease. This episode focuses on both the client experience and the business decisions that come when running a practice, and offers inspiration for dietitians looking to start their own practice, grow their audience, or gain more knowledge about diabetes care. ✨ Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice About Megan: Meg Cremins is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer who has lived with Type 1 Diabetes since 1999 and Celiac Disease since 2010. Her private practice is dedicated to helping women with T1D feel more confident with food, health, and life! Her passion for helping others with T1D comes from her own experience of struggling with T1D management for many years and eventually finding a way to feel more supported and in control. Now, she helps others build that same sense of freedom in their own lives with T1D. She loves running marathons, yoga, traveling around the world with her husband, reading romantasy books, and nailing a pizza bolus. Find Megan on Instagram at @megtypeone.

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Sharon McCaskill, a private practice dietitian, whose own family's journey with celiac disease sparked a career shift and a mission to support others navigating the gluten‑free world. In this episode, they go beyond the basics of celiac disease and talk about what it actually looks like for clients navigating this diagnosis in real life. Sharon shares her perspective as a dietitian specializing in celiac disease, walking through both the clinical realities and the lived experience of her clients. Jennifer reflects on the role dietitians play in bridging that gap, not just through education, but through support, advocacy, and helping clients feel understood as they figure out what this diagnosis means for their lives. The Moment That Changed Sharon's Career (02:11) Sharon shares how watching a dietitian support her husband's health inspired her to go back to school. What Dietitians Do That Doctors Can't (06:33) Jennifer highlights that a diagnosis is just the beginning, and Sharon expands on this by explaining how dietitians help clients actually live their diagnosis through personalized support and problem-solving. Why So Many Clients Feel Dismissed Before Diagnosis (10:15) Sharon shares that many clients spend years searching for answers before being diagnosed with celiac. Jennifer acknowledges how frustrating and invalidating that experience can feel within the healthcare system. The Symptoms Aren't Always Obvious (12:16) Sharon explains that celiac does not always present with GI symptoms. She walks through how it can show up as fatigue, anemia, bone loss, or skin issues, which often leads to it being overlooked. The Hardest Part Isn't the Diagnosis (13:27) Jennifer reflects on how overwhelming the transition can be after diagnosis. Sharon shares that going gluten-free in real life is complex, emotional, and requires constant decision-making. What's Actually Happening in the Body (15:50) Sharon explains the autoimmune response behind celiac disease and how gluten triggers the immune system to damage the small intestine, even when symptoms are not obvious. Why Even a Little Gluten Matters (18:00) Sharon emphasizes that even small exposures can lead to internal damage and long-term health risks. Jennifer reinforces that this goes beyond just how someone feels in the moment. Is Gluten-Free Actually Healthier? (25:34) Jennifer brings up the influence of diet culture, and Sharon explains that gluten-free is not automatically healthier. She shares that many gluten-free products are lower in nutrients and fiber. Building a Practice That Meets Clients Where They Are (28:59) Jennifer transitions into Sharon's business model, and Sharon shares how she primarily works one-on-one while also creating resources like meal plans and courses for clients who need more accessible options. You Don't Need to Be an Expert, But You Do Need to Care (33:33) Sharon encourages dietitians to respect the complexity of celiac, even if they are not specialists. Jennifer reflects on how powerful it is when providers support both the emotional and practical sides of care. The Real Takeaway for Dietitians (41:59) Jennifer closes by reinforcing that a dietitian's role goes beyond giving a food list. She highlights how important it is to help clients navigate the full experience of living with celiac in a sustainable and empowering way. Whether you're a dietitian wanting to better support clients with celiac disease or thinking about how to grow your expertise within your private practice, this episode offers a deeper look at what's often missed. It's a conversation grounded in both clinical insight and real-life experience, with practical takeaways to help you think differently about care, advocacy, and what it truly means to support someone beyond the diagnosis. ✨ Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice About Sharon: Sharon McCaskill is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in celiac nutrition, gluten-free living, and general nutrition. She helps clients build confidence around food through practical, evidence-based strategies that support both health and quality of life. Sharon works through an intuitive eating lens, helping people care for their health and manage chronic conditions in a way that feels supportive, realistic, and free from rigid food rules. She is passionate about making nutrition care accessible, supportive, and realistic for everyday life. Find Sharon on Instagram at @realfoodwithsharon. Noteworthy Resource: The Helpful Gluten-Free Site

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Nicole Randazzo, founder of Bettr Full, a virtual practice with a focus on helping clients navigate nutrition both with and without GLP-1 medications. In this episode, they unpack everything dietitians need to know about GLP-1 medications, how to support clients through both weight loss and weight-inclusive counseling, and practical strategies that dietitians at any career stage can use when working with clients. Nicole shares her expertise as a dietitian specializing in GLP-1s, highlighting client results, challenging side effects, and the importance of seeing a dietitian for support. Jennifer brings a weight-inclusive view to the conversation, emphasizing the role of counseling, body image, and holding space for complex, individualized care. Together, they explore the complexities of GLP-1 medications and highlight the essential role dietitians play in supporting clients beyond the prescription. 04:52 – How Nicole built a GLP-1-focused practice Nicole shares her path from diabetes education to bariatrics to recognizing a major gap in nutrition support—and building her niche around it. 06:43 – Why dietitian referrals should be standard A strong stance: every GLP-1 prescription should come with dietitian referrals for ongoing, proactive support. 09:28 – Breaking down what GLP-1 actually does They explain how these medications impact hunger, digestion, and blood sugar—and why they've expanded beyond diabetes care. 14:22 – Navigating different philosophies A real conversation about weight-inclusive and weight-loss approaches—and how both show up in client care. 16:26 – What clients are really struggling with From food noise and appetite shifts to fear of muscle loss and years of dieting, they unpack the real-life challenges clients bring in. 20:05 – The realities of being on (and coming off) GLP-1s Side effects, plateaus, insurance changes, and what happens when medication isn't accessible anymore. 22:12 – Shifting the focus beyond weight A powerful reframe: looking at labs, energy, sleep, and overall health instead of just the scale. 24:36 – Why dietitians are more important than ever The relationship, personalization, and long-term care dietitians provide can't be replaced by quick fixes or AI tools. 28:27 – The risks + how dietitians support safely They talk through side effects, under-eating, and how tailored nutrition strategies make a huge difference. 31:00 – Blending approaches in a real-world way Using weight-inclusive care to reduce shame, while still applying structure when it supports the client. 34:07 – Advice for dietitians at every stage Whether you're new or advanced, there's a place for you in this work—and a way to keep growing your skillset. 35:00 – Knowing your stance and your limits Self-awareness matters: understanding your philosophy and when to refer out. 37:00 – Staying open as the field evolves GLP-1s aren't going anywhere—this is an opportunity to stay curious and continue learning. Without personalized and skilled nutrition support, clients taking GLP-1 medications aren't able to accurately navigate challenges, including changes in hunger, digestion, and metabolism, and risk inadequate protein intake and disordered eating. Dietitians can turn these challenges into opportunities for deeper client relationships, providing client-centered, compassionate care. This episode breaks down the pros and cons of GLP-1 medications, and is helpful whether you're just starting to build your counseling foundation or are a seasoned dietitian. ✨ Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice About Nicole: Nicole Randazzo is the founder of Bettr Full, a virtual private practice with a focus on helping clients navigate nutrition both with and without GLP-1 medications. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Nicole specializes in weight management and blood sugar support, with a focus on helping clients navigate nutrition both with and without GLP-1 medications. Her approach combines evidence-based nutrition with behavior change and a full-body perspective. She helps clients better understand their eating habits, their relationship with food, and how to build sustainable routines that support their health long-term. She works with individuals who are looking for realistic, individualized guidance—whether that's improving blood sugar, enhancing lab markers, supporting weight loss, improving quality of life, or building a more supportive and balanced mindset around food. Find Nicole on Instagram at @bettrfull

Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Fiona Sutherland, founder of The Mindful Dietitian and an experienced supervisor of dietitians. Together, they explore why supervision is often the missing piece in a dietitian's career, how it can evolve into a meaningful and sustainable business offering, and what it really looks like at every stage of professional growth. Jennifer shares how supervision became essential to her long-term sustainability—helping her build stronger boundaries in business while also deepening her clinical skills to better support clients. Fiona reflects on how using supervision as a space to process the emotional weight that can linger after sessions made clinical work feel more sustainable. She also talks about how supervision isn't about evaluation, but about support, reflection, and connection. Together, they expand the definition of supervision beyond clinical oversight into something much more human-centered that supports emotional wellbeing, strengthens confidence, and holds space for ongoing support. Why Supervision Matters for All (1:28) Jennifer makes the case for why supervision should be a standard part of every dietitian's career, not just in eating disorders. A New Way to Understand Supervision (6:09) Fiona introduces a grounded, meaningful definition of supervision that expands beyond oversight and invites dietitians to see it as true professional support. Three Supervision Formats Explained (9:18) Fiona walks through the different types of supervision and how to decide which format is right for you. Student vs Professional Supervision (10:38) Fiona unpacks the difference between student supervision and professional supervision, and why that distinction matters more than you may think. Discovering the Need for Support (16:10) Fiona shares how discovering supervision through mental health colleagues led her to realize just how much she needed that kind of support. Inside a Supervision Session (20:02) Jennifer paints a picture of what really happens inside a supervision session and why it's so impactful. Burnout, Isolation, and Support (27:00) Fiona dives into the common challenges dietitians face (like burnout, isolation, and decision fatigue) and how supervision can help navigate them. Supervision Beyond Eating Disorders (32:55) Jennifer touches on why supervision is valuable across all specialties, even when the work doesn't seem "complex" on the surface. How to Choose the Right Supervision Fit (41:33) Fiona explains what supervision looks like in real life and how to find the right structure and support for your needs. Levels of Supervision Based on Your Career Stage (47:33) Fiona breaks down the three stages of supervision so you can identify where you are and what kind of support will help you grow. Becoming a Supervisor + Final Takeaways (1:01:04) What makes a great supervisor, how to step into this role, and why supervision is a lifelong support system for sustainable practice. Supervision can transform your growth as a dietitian, and this conversation between Jennifer and Fiona breaks it down in ways that are practical and inspiring. Tune in to discover the supervision tools, insights, and strategies that can elevate your practice today. ✨ Business School is a comprehensive 6-month program designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Find Pursuing Private Practice on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice About Fiona: Fiona Sutherland is an advanced sports dietitian, yoga teacher and clinical supervisor from Naarm (Melbourne), Australia. She is the founder of The Mindful Dietitian, a professional community committed to thoughtful, equitable, and trauma-informed care. This community aims to help health professionals to practice with reflection, integrity, and steadiness as they care for others — and themselves. Fiona has contributed to the development and delivery of education and training to hundreds of dietitians worldwide from undergraduate training through to an extensive array of live and online professional courses on eating disorders, body image, trauma-informed care and supervision for dietitians, all driven by a vision for every dietitian being more sustained and supported in our work. In her professional consultancy, Fiona partners with teams and organizations to provide tailored education, training, and organizational development to promote ethical, reflective, and sustainable practice at every level. Additionally, she teaches Masters-level dietetics courses, mentoring the next generation of practitioners to think critically, lead with integrity, and engage in courageous, reflective practice. Noteworthy Resources: 1. Dietitian Supervision Resources Australia and International (DSRAi) 2. New Supervision Research: Professional supervision in dietetics: A comprehensive, narrative literature review (Crow et al, 2025) Find Fiona on Instagram at @the.mindfuldietitian