We were lucky to catch up with Gretchen Spetz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Gretchen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
After my oldest daughter was born, I took a 12 hour per week outpatient nutrition position at the local hospital. It was a great gig for a new mama – minimal hours and I got to work with patients who had diabetes. I loved the clients, the job was flexible, but there was no opportunity for professional growth. When I returned from maternity leave after my second child, I was informed that my follow up appointments had been shortened to 20 minutes. This limited the efficacy of my practice. It typically takes 5-10 minutes for a patient to check in and get weighed, leaving only 10-15 minutes to explore and discuss their habits and mindset around food.
I knew I could do it better.
I created my private practice, The Functional Kitchen in January 2018. I rented space from a chiropractor and saw clients for 1/2 day per week. By May 2018, I had matched the income I made at the hospital, had several satisfied clients, and proved to myself that I truly could do better for my clients and myself. I quit my hospital job, and haven’t looked back!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Gretchen Spetz, and I am a registered dietitian and the owner of the virtual private practice, The Functional Kitchen. I have over a decade of clinical experience working with clients who have diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and autoimmune conditions.
I use a functional nutrition approach to help my clients identify the diet- and lifestyle-related root causes of their health conditions and symptoms. I firmly believe that a holistic approach is about addressing diet, sleep, movement, stress management, and mindset. I form a partnership with my clients – they are driving the car, and I am the navigator throughout this phase of their health journey! We work together to build habits that are evidence-based and make sense for the individual client.
In addition to 1:1 dietitian nutrition coaching, The Functional Kitchen has small group programs and monthly master classes on a wide range of food and lifestyle topics. Our flagship group program, Rebirth, is for women looking to walk out of burnout by learning how to cultivate sustainable habits and regulate their nervous system more effectively.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy I use for growing my clientele is a three-fold approach. First and foremost, my team and I provide an excellent service that facilitates client success! We get a lot of referrals from former clients. Second, we use email and social media marketing. We send out a weekly e-newsletter full of valuable content in addition to selling our programs. We show up almost daily on social media. Our Instagram is a resource for free functional nutrition content that is fun and informative. Our third strategy is showing up as authentically as we can. We talk about our setbacks and do not over-curate our posts. We want anyone considering being a part of “our world” to feel like our approach to nutrition is approachable and realistic!
Any advice for managing a team?
I have two part-time dietitians that work for me. The key to managing a team is communication. We have standing biweekly meetings for the team. I also have 1:1 meeting with each team member once a week. We openly discuss expectations and how to ensure that job responsibilities fit seamlessly into the person’s work life. When there are problems, I urge my dietitians to communicate with me. True collaboration and maintaining a culture where cultivating an ideal work-life flow is highly valued are key for maintaining high morale.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.functionalkitchennutrition.com
- Instagram: @functionalkitchennutrition
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Functional-Kitchen/100049261240079/