We recently connected with Jennifer Sylvia and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Starting a practice can be daunting—and for some, it really is too much to navigate. I often liken it to spinning plates, like you’d see in a street show or circus act. It takes a certain skill to get each plate moving, and once they’re all spinning, your job becomes keeping them going—redirecting your energy constantly to maintain momentum. That image has stuck with me throughout my journey.

I began my hands-on career as a massage therapist, working for someone else. But within just three months, I realized I wanted to do things my own way—set my own schedule, craft treatment plans based on my clinical judgment, and take time with patients. The admin work was a sacrifice I was willing to make in order to do this medicine the way I felt called to.

When I later pursued my doctorate in Chinese Medicine, the transition felt natural. I had already done the work of building a foundation. The business skills I developed—through trial, error, and a lot of self-teaching—made the leap feel less overwhelming.

Learning the ins and outs of running a business is its own kind of education. The challenges are very real: navigating risk and reward, knowing when to ask for help, and recognizing when it’s more efficient to hire, trade, or barter rather than trying to do it all yourself. I taught myself how to manage my money, do my taxes, respect professional boundaries, and, most importantly, value my time.

Opening my clinic this year was a big step—it’s one thing to rent a room and only responsible for yourself, but starting a full integrative clinic is a larger commitment. I now have multiple providers, and apprenticeship, I have a business partner, I have my own patients and medicinary to run. My business partner and I took out a small startup loan and chose a credit union that offers a refund on all interest if the loan is repaid on time. It’s a small detail, but one that came from doing my research and thinking strategically about long-term growth.

If I could offer any advice, it would be this: seek out mentorship early and often. SCORE (through the SBA) and Mercy Corps both offer incredible resources for new entrepreneurs. Reach out to elders in your field or in the business world. Don’t be afraid to humble yourself and learn from others. At the same time, stay rooted in your vision and remember why you started.

For me, the “why” is clear—I love working in medicine. Yes, we all need to make a living, but every day I’m reminded that people in pain need care. That’s the heart of what I do, and the reason I keep showing up, plates spinning and all.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

How I Started My Practice

My journey into whole-body and integrative medicine began from personal experience—deeply rooted in my own healing. I’ve had migraines since I was 12, and for most of my life, nothing truly helped. When I moved from Florida to Portland in 2010, I was introduced to acupuncture and massage for the first time. With every session, I felt not only physical relief but a sense of agency—I was investing in myself and my well-being.

That shift was profound. As the migraines faded, I became more mindful, ate better, slept better, and began to truly understand that health isn’t about radical overhauls—it’s about small, steady choices made every day. That realization sparked a desire to learn more: from wandering the woods with my plant ID book to formally studying herbalism, massage, and eventually earning my doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

I now bridge massage therapy, acupuncture, and customized herbal medicine I Mae in house — offering individualized sessions, custom oils, tinctures, and true support. It’s an honor to walk beside others on their path to healing, just as others walked beside me on mine.

Most people initially come in with a pain problem, but once we peel back the layers of pain, which in in of itself is just a manifestation of something deeper, they ask if Chinese medicine and bodywork can help with other things like sleep issues, ADHD/ADD, constipation, motivation, anxiety, depression and so much more. We start to get them back into full balance and when people feel good, they move through the world with kindness and compassion.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Figure out how YOU best connect with people. For me it is in person small group style. Social media and advertisements are just not how I connect So when I moved to a new state recently and had to start over, I joined every women entrepreneurial networking group I saw and stayed with thrones whose structure best suited my personality and I talk about what I do. I am super passionate about my work and so that excitement rubs off on people and they get excited to try it!

I also have very good boundaries and so I also talk to people that I know, people at my child’s school, friends and family. With good boundaries and have those boundaries explicit up front, you can wear different hats with people and get lines crossed. With this people then refer to you like wild fire. You are good at what you do, you don’t mix business and personal time and people will trust you. Within 4 months of opening my practice in this new state I have a full schedule that is booked 2 weeks out by this method alone.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Managing a team, and keeping morale high to me is quite simple. Happy people doing what they do best creates a productive working environment. Not micromanaging but training where needed. Not boxing people in and hovering but creating wide boundaries that allow people freedom of expression and creativity and the structure to feel safe and comfortable. Creating opportunities for growth- this helps people not feel limited by their everyday tasks and projects but curious of what more they can do- what is their potential?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.louisvillenaturalhealth.com
• Instagram: @lounaturalhealth
• Facebook: Louisville Natural Health

Image Credits

Jennifer Sylvia