Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Brimhall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
Establishing a practice is rewarding work. I have enjoyed each step and continue to take steps to grow and expand my business. However, getting started can feel like an overwhelming effort. When I started looking for advice on how to go about it, I quickly realized that everyone has an opinion on how to start a business! The internet is piled high with endless articles, blogs, books, and quick tips that claim to make the business-building experience faster and easier. There are business advisors ready to tell you what to do and how to make the most money. I also found that other people in my field wanted to tell me what they did and what kind of shortcuts they found that I could consider. As a result, the challenge for me was staying focused on my goals for my practice.
I didn’t realize how much information I would need to sift through to find what I wanted, and I made some mistakes. Sometimes, I allowed business experts to tell me what my goals should be or how I should reach those goals. Because their advice didn’t align with what I wanted for my business and for my family, I began to struggle with getting clients and establishing myself. I also made the mistake of comparing what I was doing to what others were doing. This is fine when looking for some direction or fresh ideas, but at the beginning stage I was in, it was somewhat discouraging and caused me to question myself and what I wanted for my practice. To combat the bombardment of information, I finally realized that I needed to keep things simple. I decided to physically write down on paper what it was I wanted for my business and how I wanted to achieve it. I decided to ignore advice that conflicted with my plan.
I can offer one example of how the simple effort of writing down my goals helped me identify the tasks that would get my business up and running. The primary method I wanted to use to build my client base was word-of-mouth referrals. I wanted natural, organic referrals to build clientele. This is still the way my business grows. It is shocking to some to learn this about me, but here it is: I am not a social media user. No matter how many people told me I needed social media accounts to be successful and get noticed, I was not going to use that avenue. It’s wonderful for plenty of folks, but it just isn’t for me. I want personal referrals. I want clients who are already searching for services like mine. I don’t want to spend my time convincing folks that they need what I’m offering. Too often, the social media avenue is there to influence people. It’s there to take advantage of the power of suggestion and to get folks to click on links and buttons. I appreciate that social media has its advantages. I don’t slight anyone who uses it, as it’s a full-time job to keep the content updated and relevant. However, I had to embrace who I am, and social media is not for me. I want my time to go to listening to clients, to helping support their path to health, and to getting better at my craft.
Recognizing that I did not want to spend time on social media for my business is just one way that I faced the challenge of staying focused on my goals. I dismissed the business advice that told me to setup social accounts and manage daily or weekly posts. I knew that I wanted to build my business by offering services that folks want to tell their friends about! It’s almost silly how simple this sounds as I write it, but when you want to see your business succeed, it’s easy to get trapped in the effort to do as much as you can and take all the advice you can.
If you’re a young professional considering your own practice, remember to stay true to what you want your business to look like. Set goals that align with your philosophy and your personal way of thinking. The real work that goes into establishing a practice will never change. You need hard work, honesty, dedication, and an organized plan. Anyone can tell you that. Only you can decide what your goals are and how you want to reach them. Stick to your goals and your plan, and you will be successful. The more you listen to others and allow yourself to be steered in other directions, the more time will be wasted on avenues that you didn’t really want to pursue in the first place.
Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a Practical Homeopath offering homeopathic consultations and education that supports clients in their path to health. Homeopathy is a natural medicine that has been in use for over 200 years. It is used throughout most of the world, with the WHO citing 170 member states using traditional medicine, which includes homeopathy, at the time of its report in 2019. The report noted that the number of countries using traditional and complimentary medicine is likely higher than 170 member states, as the report only included member states that had formal policies and regulations regarding traditional medicine.
I found homeopathy in my effort to help my son with his autistic-like behavior issues. The issues were mild compared to children I have observed who greatly suffer from autism, yet the barriers he experienced negatively affected his quality of life. He struggled to talk to other children, which inhibited friendships. He had intense fears that prevented his enjoyment of going for walks or to the park. School was challenging, as his need to move about interfered with focus. While I knew he needed something to help with these issues, I was not willing to administer conventional drugs that could have adverse side effects and create new issues for him. Then, in a random conversation, a dear friend mentioned homeopathy to me, and I began researching. Shortly after, my son started taking a homeopathic medicine and within a couple of weeks, I saw marked shifts in behavior. Within months, I watched him engage with friends and play together. It was an emotional experience, and I was hooked. I knew I had to share homeopathy with others.
Since the success I experienced with my son, I have passionately pursued the study of homeopathy. I began attending study groups on the subject. I completed a rigorous certification program in Practical Homeopathy in 2024. Now, I am nearing the completion of a mastery certification in Practical Homeopathy that I expect to complete in December of 2025. My practice, Appalachian Homeopathy, was official in 2024 and though it is still new and growing, I have seen clients for myriad issues including mobility issues from car accidents, arthritis, eczema, viruses, migraines, depression, autism, sports injuries, diabetes, acne, gut issues, and more.
I chose the name, Appalachian Homeopathy, because it represents my East Tennessee roots as well as my current home in Maryland. The Appalachian mountains of Tennessee have long been known for natural medicine, with the art of herbalism being a prized part of Appalachian history. Though homeopathy is different from herbalism, I still wanted to give a nod to this cultural history when I selected a name for my business. When clients meet with me, I want them to have the warmth and assurance that comes with Tennessee culture and the confidence and trust that my educational background and work ethic will support them as they look for symptom relief.
During a client consultation, which meets via video conference, I listen carefully to the client and hear all he or she has to say. I take detailed notes regarding clients’ primary concerns and pay attention to what it is that interferes with their daily lives. After the consultation, I review the notes and offer advice and suggestions about which homeopathic medicines may be suitable. I want people to know that I am available to clients, and I work hard to support them via text message, email, and phone for any questions or concerns. Homeopathy has provided a safe, reliable method of medicine that keeps my family healthy, and my goal is to share it with others so that they, too, can enjoy the benefits of natural health.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In my life, I have made the choice to pivot on several occasions. The most dramatic change I have made in my past was leaving my career as a college lecturer to stay home with my son. Each day I left for work, I tried to remind myself that I had the ideal setup to be a working mom. When I couldn’t be at home, my husband could be there. The times we needed childcare were minimal, at only about two hours a day. Yet, there was a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach each time I left my son and headed to what I thought was my lifelong career in higher education.
I knew I didn’t want to work away from home anymore, but all I knew was a career-oriented lifestyle. When I began my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to see it through to a terminal degree. But what was I supposed to do if I didn’t have a job? A career? A resume? Published articles? Quitting was a terrifying prospect. While my son stood on the patio and watched me back down our driveway to leave for work, once again, I looked up and saw him clearly. A sweet, round, 20 month old boy with one blue eye peering out at me between the slats of our worn fence. The sunlight sparkled back at me from the sad tear that was running down his cheek. That was it. That tear was the pivot moment. I was sick to my stomach. I could not leave my own baby anymore. I called my husband on the way to work and told him I had to put in my resignation. He graciously supported me and said that my being home was more important than the money. Living just south of Baltimore, nothing is cheap! But he didn’t flinch, and neither did I.
We pivoted. We pivoted real big. Within two months, I was home to stay and working as a full-time mommy instead of full-time college professor. Describing it as hard or challenging is an understatement. However, the rewards from being home and owning my job as a mom have been limitless. Now, having pivoted yet again to taking on a new craft in homeopathy, I know that pivoting isn’t easy. It requires gumption and acceptance of living the unknown. I love every minute!
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy I have used for growing my clientele is to do excellent work. I apply myself and see to it that the client gets results. Whether clients are meeting with me for private consults or taking my classes, they experience success. Because the client has success, he or she naturally talks about it, spreading the word about my business. So far, this has been more effective than distributing flyers, setting up booths at business expos, or offering information at local businesses. I hope to continue applying myself and seeing my client base grow.
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