In the Clinic with Camille

In today's episode, I'm delighted to interview Maria Noël Groves about her new book, Herbal Remedies for Sleep, and how the book applies to our work as clinicians. Listen in for thoughts on nervines, when to refer out v. when to try DIY or gentle sleep support, distinguishing between 'gentle' and 'strong,' and more.

Links to Maria's work & website

Branding and Website Design Isn't Easy

Many practitioners spend a lot of time, energy, and sometimes money trying to cobble together a website and professional brand as they're just starting out. 

This isn't usually the best choice. 

You do want to have a brand, but it's also important to understand that your practice will evolve in unexpected ways over the first few years.

If you spend a lot of money creating a brand and website before you've seen many clients, you'll likely need to change it all later. 

You want to be spending your time finding clients, getting the foundations of your practice set up, and actually working with clients, rather than stressing over building the perfect website yourself. 

In this episode, brand designer Lindsey Freeman (no relation!) and therapist Julie Goldberg share more about the website templates and other resources they've created specifically for service providers, as well as tips on branding and getting started with your practice. 

I highly recommend starting from a template if you're experiencing website anxiety or if you're finding that creating your website is holding up your practice.

It's affordable, it's easy (or at least easier!), and you'll be able to move on to the many other things that need to happen to get your doors open. 

Resources

In this episode, I'm joined by Carolee Horner, Linnette Johnson, and Amy Boldt, who share their experiences with forming and attending an accountability group over several years. They highlight the value of accountability groups, emphasizing how they provide support, inspiration, and a sense of community for practitioners. In this episode, you'll learn more about how accountability groups have helped them overcome challenges, redefine success, and grow both personally and professionally.

As you may know, I'm a huge fan of accountability groups. They're helpful at any stage of your career, and I truly encourage you to explore different groups and find one that resonates with your needs - or start one, if you can't find one that suits you.

Amy Boldt

Amy is a clinical herbalist and herb farmer from Westminster, MD; her practice specializes in sleep and anxiety-related disorders. She is also a registered yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner, which assist in helping her clients find relief. Amy grows many of the herbs that she uses with clients on her farm, which focuses on sustainability and protecting at-risk native medicinal plants.

Amy attended the Maryland University of Integrative Health and graduated in 2014 with a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism. She loves teaching workshops, guiding plant walks, and getting out in the woods to reconnect with nature. Her farm is on the United Plant Savers's registry as a botanical sanctuary, so when she's not working with clients she is maintaining her forest farm and homestead.

In this episode, herbalist Gina Badger joins us to discuss their experience of burnout and some strategies they've put in place to provide a bit of breathing room. Systematizing and automating processes, revamping communication policies, and clarifying language in intake forms and cancellation policies helped create more room and attend to bigger things. Gina also highlights the importance of prioritizing time and energy, as spending excessive time on emails can contribute to burnout. Towards the end of the episode, Gina shares about their upcoming offering for care workers, which includes short appointments spaced a month apart and a herbal formula to support recovery.

About Gina Badger

Gina Badger is a clinical energetic herbalist who offers care through their multidisciplinary clinic, Long Spell. Their lifework is contributing to a collective vision of holistic health care that’s equally heartfelt and irreverent, down-to-earth and visionary, gentle and rigorous.

Gina's primary herb teachers are Karyn Sanders and Sarah Holmes of the Blue Otter School of Herbal Medicine and Colleen Emery. Before pursuing herbalism as a career, they worked as a visual artist and editor for over a decade, having earned an MSc in Visual Studies from MIT (2010) and a BFA in Studio Art and Art History from Concordia University (2008).

Gina is a queer nonbinary femme of mixed Western European ancestry born in Treaty 6 territory and currently living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations (Vancouver, Canada). You can find Gina at https://longspell.com or on Instagram: @longspellclinic

Helpful Links for Practitioners

Camille shares notes about an email list experiment she's been running over the past several months. Does removing the opt-in offer/freebie lower the number of people who subscribe to her newsletter? We'll also discuss the ethics of incentives for newsletter signs ups in general, and questions to ask about your own email newsletter.

Helpful Links for Practitioners

​If you're new to clinical practice, you might be tempted to investigate common marketing techniques to help you find more clients. 

Unfortunately, many of the strategies you'll hear about won't necessarily get you the kinds of results you're looking for.

​In this episode, I share a story about a marketing expert who recommended working scarcity into your marketing to fill up your one-on-one practice. In this case, someone I know wound up saying they had only have a limited number of spots available, even ​that wasn't the case. 

While this might seem like a ​reasonable way to encourage people to sign up, it's not a good foundation to build from.

​Starting a relationship with deception is never a good idea. You don't want to build your ​relationship with a new client on a lie, even if the client will never know the truth. 

Secondly, pushing people to sign up when they're not ready can cause a natural pushback, which can lead to them feeling manipulated or skeptical.

Even if they do decide to work with you, they're entering the relationship in a different position than if they had made the decision on their own.

Instead of pushing people, give them the space and let them know the options for working with you, including when and how they can sign up when they're ready.

​It might take longer to build your practice this way, but ​winding up with a practice build on solid values and strong relationships is worth it. 

​If you feel that deadlines are helpful for your clientele, ​play around with how you can incorporate them authentically, without making it feel like it's their last opportunity to work with you or that they'll be missing out if they don't sign up now.

​I hope these ideas are helpful as you plan out how to find new clients for your practice

Why bother to show up when you can watch the recording? 

Today, I'm sharing a simple yet often overlooked strategy for building your visibility and relationships within your community.

Finding clients and getting the word out about your practice can be a real challenge, especially when you're just starting out. It's easy to find yourself stressing over sending cold outreach emails to other practitioners or spending lots of time on social media in the hopes of building your referral network.

But there's another option that can make a huge difference: just show up for programs and classes that you're already interested in or signed up for.

What do I mean by "just show up"?

Here's an example:

If you sign up for a training or a webinar, don't just watch the recording later on at 2x speed. (Yes, I am guilty of this sometimes myself 😂).

Show up to the live sessions and participate actively in the chat or forum. Turn your camera on if you can. Engage with the presenter and/or the other attendees. Ask questions, share your thoughts and ideas, and be visible.

Instead of thinking of this merely as a way to obtain information or knowledge, understand that it is also an opportunity to build community. 

When you are actively present at these kinds of events, you start to become known as an individual. People can get a sense for who you are, how you engage with people, and what work you do. When they feel comfortable with you, they are more likely to work with you personally and to refer clients who are a good fit.  

But Camille, I'm too busy! I can't show up live. 

Of course. I get it. You can't show up to everything.

Here's my advice: choose wisely and don't sign up for 100 things.  

Only sign up for the things you're truly interested in and know you can make time for. Put them in your calendar and make them a priority. And when you do show up, be present and engaged. 

Here's something you can do even if you can't attend live (or when there isn't a live option):

This is an easy one that surprisingly few people do: follow-up.

After the session or training, send a thank-you email to the presenter or other attendees you connected with. Take the initiative to stay in touch periodically.

This same idea applies for non-event situations. If someone's newsletter is a bright spot in your day, hit reply and let them know. Podcast episode blew you away? Leave a 5-star review. Cool YouTube video that answered your question perfectly? Give it a thumbs up and leave a kind comment. Using what you learned from a specific teacher every day? Email them to say hi and thank them, even if it's been 15 years. 

You can easily make someone's day by doing these things, and it really does go a long way toward building relationships and community, which are at the core of a thriving practice. 

The short version

Your presence matters. Signing up for classes, events, newsletters, videos, etc is not only about extracting information but also presents an opportunity to build relationships. Use it. 

Helpful Links for Practitioners

As I was preparing for a lecture on ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), I came across a case report sharing information about a women who went to the ER with tachycardia, palpitations and other symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Her TSH was almost absent, while T4 and T3 were within normal limits. The doctors there ruled out other causes and eventually determined that she had been taking ashwagandha root extract daily instead of her regular thyroid medication for approximately 2 years after a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. They suspected this might be causing her hyperthyroid symptoms. She was asked to discontinue the ashwagandha root, and at two follow-ups her TSH began to rise, while her T3 and T4 started dropping, suggesting a return to her hypothyroid state. The physicians suspected that she was in the early stages of hyperthyroidism when she presented in the ER, due to her T3 and T4 being WNL.

I honor of the equinox today, I'm sharing the spring dreaming and planning workshop I led recently. I highly recommend a seasonal planning process rather than an annual one. I hope you enjoy! I'd love to hear how your planning goes and what your intention will be for the upcoming season 🌼

This podcast episode is in response to a question from Phoebe, who asked if I could share the books I most often use in my clinical work. 

Here is a (likely incomplete!) list of the herbal books I've been calling on lately: 

You can probably tell from the episode title that, according to our current understanding, Vitex agnus-castus is not contraindicated for folks who have PCOS.

In fact, there is reason to suspect that it may be quite helpful in this situation, at least in some cases.

(Side  note, Vitex can be a tricky herb to work with and isn't for everyone -  if you are new to herbs, I highly recommend working with an herbalist  before deciding whether Vitex is a good fit for you!)

In  this episode, Jillian reflects on hearing multiple practitioners  suggest that folks with PCOS should not be using Vitex. When she went  digging around looking for a reference, she was able to find where this  information was coming from and also that the information was  corrected/updated in a more recent source.

We also get into a discussion of Vitex dosing and general strategies for incorporating this herb into protocols.

In this episode, herbalist Ruth Shelton shares more about how she created and ran a year-long program called Sacred Allies. 

In today's episode, I interview herbalist Oren Hercz about his experience developing an intermediate herbal program in partnership with Ember Peters. Oren shares how his educational work dovetails with his clinical practice, and some of the challenges that arise when creating a new program - especially one that is longer and more resource-intensive than previous offerings.

Resources

I've been using a "pay from the heart" pricing model for 2 years now. When people sign up for my Monday Mentoring program, they are offered three pricing levels and asked to chose based on which is most appropriate for their situation. All three pricing levels receive the same program. In this episode, I share a bit more about what I've learned from this model and why I plan on continuing it for the foreseeable future. 

Have you signed up for too many things? Feeling guilty about not finishing the various courses, programs, webinars, and trainings you've already got? Ready to "throw it all into the sea"? Here are my suggestions when you're using up too much brain space feeling vaguely bad about not doing all the things. 

Other episodes mentioned: 

It's episode 50! Thanks so much for your support 💓

Sometimes, a standard follow-up visit just isn't long enough. In this episode, I share a small change I've made in my follow-up offerings that allows clients to self-select the type of follow-up visit they need/want. It's working really well! There's also a bonus tip included that helps both your client and you remember how long your visit is supposed to last. I'd love to hear what you think of these tips: info@camillefreeman.com 

Helpful Links for Practitioners

Is summer feeling sluggish in your practice? Never fear. This is normal. In this episode, I've shared a few thoughts on tuning into the rhythm of your practice and moving with the flow of the season. 

Helpful Links for Practitioners

If you've ever felt badly because you have another job in addition to your work as an herbalist or nutritionist, this episode is for you. Learn why it's okay, usual, and expected for most herbalists and nutritionists to have multiple streams of income, particularly in the first few years of setting up a practice. 

Helpful Links for Practitioners

When I went into clinical practice, I realized quickly that I needed to learn a new skill set quickly: how to run a small business. Without the formal structure of school, it's hard to keep track of important information. In today's episode, I talk about how I use a practice notebook to keep track of the most important things, and why keeping a "later list" has been such an important development. Enjoy! 

Helpful Links for Practitioners

A lot of people don't realize how much tracking happens when you send an email newsletter. Although it's actually less invasive than the tracking associated with social media use/posting, it's still quite a surprise to many people who are just starting their own newsletters. In this episode, I share advice about how I think about these numbers and which ones I use to inform my writing. 

Helpful Links for Practitioners

TLDL (too long didn't listen): I didn't know until recently that hibiscus is often intercropped with peanuts, meaning that it likely is not appropriate for our clients who have severe peanut allergies. I hope this episode is helpful! If you haven't tried hibiscus tea yet - and if you aren't allergic to peanuts - give it a try this summer 🌺

Helpful Links for Practitioners

In this episode, I share a simple but effective tip that I use often with clients re: how to get in a few more servings of veggies each day. Note that in the beginning of the episode I mention wanting to get clients to 6-8 servings per day. I should have said 6-8 servings of *fruits* and veggies per day - ideally I'd love to see 6 veggies and 2 fruits or 5 veggies & 3 fruits - although with many folks we're working towards 3 veggies & 2 fruits. 

As I mentioned in the episode, I'm working on a compilation of recipes to help people prepare veggies so that they're actually tasty. Just one or two recipes per veggie, suitable for absolute beginners. Have a veggie recipe to share? Send it my way: info@camillefreeman.com 

Helpful Links for Practitioners

Do you have your own practitioner? In this episode, I share some thoughts on why I recommend having someone else on your team who does similar work to your own. It can feel quite vulnerable, and at the same time there's so much to gain when you do this.

Helpful Links for Practitioners

If you've been thinking about signing up for a popular course or program, you've likely tried Googling around to see what you can learn about it. If all you're seeing is glowing reviews - particularly if the reviews all seem strikingly similar -  you may not be getting a full picture. In today's episode, I share more about why you often can't/won't find any negative reviews for these types of programs online. 

When things start to feel out of balance, I find it helpful to evaluate whether my balance of inputs to outputs is in place. If I've been consuming too much information/content/etc then it's easy to feel overwhelmed. This can be balanced by spending more time in creative mode, making things either just for fun or producing content or materials to help my community/clients. 

Whenever I hear about a new practitioner launching an online course, I cringe a bit. It's not that I don't wish them well. Of course, I do! I'd love nothing more than to see everyone's online courses filling easily and making big changes in the world. Unfortunately, that is not usually what happens. In this episode, I share why I don't recommend that newer practitioners offer courses and programs. 

Questions? Thoughts to share? Let me know. 

February can be a hard month. For many of us, it's dark. It's gloomy. It's cold. It can be hard to keep the faith, particularly when you're new to clinical practice. Here's a short pep talk for you if you've been feeling a bit down when it comes to your practice. Hang in there. 

One of the biggest challenges when running a clinical practice is finding more clients. In today's podcast, we'll talk to clinical herbalist Oren Hercz about how he offers herb walks and classes to support his community and build his practice. Oren shares a few tips and tricks he's picked up along the way, as well as detailed information about how he structures his herb walks and classes. 

In this episode, I interview public speaking expert Megan Hamilton, who shares an easy strategy you can use to stay calm before and during a presentation. Fear of public speaking is incredibly common, and at the same time, presenting is one of the most effective ways of connecting with people in your community. Megan shares some helpful thoughts on how we can prepare for presentations beyond focusing exclusively on the content. For even more help, join us for a live, online workshop with Megan at the end of January. Details below.  

Resources

If you've had doubts about whether you can truly serve a client if you personally struggle with the issue the client is having, this episode is for you! There isn't a right answer here, but it is worth thinking about your assumptions and beliefs before you decide where to draw your own boundaries. 

For show notes and a transcript, visit the Bloom & Grow website

Helpful Links for Practitioners

At this time of year, it's tempting to spend hours planning and organizing to prepare for 2022. I've found that this approach, while fun, isn't always one that works for me in the long run. In this episode, I'll share more about why I avoid annual planning and what I do instead (hint: seasonal planning). 

In this teeny-tiny episode, I discuss how to think about quarterly taxes so that it's not quite so painful to send in those checks every few months. 

Resources Mentioned

At the beginning of my practice, I could never fathom paying as much as I am right now every month on mentoring and other programs/expenses that grow and support my practice. I've learned the hard way that it's easier to work with someone else who knows what they're doing than it is to fumble around and figure it all out on your own. I've also learned that there's an important shift that happens when you decide to push your own boundaries a bit by making a commitment to the work. In this episode, I talk more about why I work with mentors and the value I get from doing so. 

In this episode, I share a few thoughts on my understanding of the new OpenNotes rules that apply to licensed practitioners. Please note that these are not meant to be a full and comprehensive guide, but rather reflections on some changes that I have implemented in my own practice based on the rules, and my interpretation of how they apply. Please consult a lawyer before making changes or decisions about how these rules apply to your own practice!

In this episode, herbalist Lori Wroten shares a personal case study about an adverse reaction to herbs sold by a 3rd party seller on Amazon. If you have clients who purchase herbs or nutritional supplements from Amazon, it's incredibly important to provide education about the possible risks and where one can obtain supplements safely. Lori also shares how this experience led her to seek out additional training. She's now running a busy herbal practice; as a bonus, in this episode Lori shares some tips about how she's built up her practice, including one strategy that I've never heard of an herbalist using before :). 

Did you know that people who have had a hysterectomy (with ovaries intact) tend to go through menopause almost 2 years earlier than those who still have a uterus? In this episode, we'll talk about how the ovaries need the uterus to function optimally and how our various bits and pieces are - as usual - more interconnected than we had originally thought.