It may seem like a strange time to write about client compliance as our attention is focused on the virus spreading across the globe. We are living through some trying and fearful times right now and it might be difficult to concentrate on your business. I get it – all of us are entirely focused on protecting our loved ones and watching the statistics unfold around the world.
In spite of that, or maybe as a result, you may be in need of a distraction. Or maybe you simply need a reminder that in the not-too-distant future, we’ll all be able to return to the normalcy we so crave. Until then, stay safe and healthy!
Client Compliance. Research indicates it’s one of the biggest stumbling blocks for holistic health practitioners. Keeping clients motivated and engaged long enough to complete their healing process is a challenge we all face and if we don’t know how to do that, our clients aren’t going to experience profound healing. And when clients aren’t happy with their results, they certainly won’t refer their friends and family to us.
As practitioners, we know that true healing is indeed a process that takes time – it doesn’t happen overnight. An effective protocol is typically three months, which means it’s our job to keep a client actively engaged for a full 12 weeks. In a culture that expects immediate gratification and magic bullets, this presents a huge challenge. And we ask A LOT of our clients – from making a complete dietary overhaul to ingesting a list of supplements, incorporating more movement into their lives, practicing better stress management, and improving their sleep… it’s a lot.
On the client side, we know that excitement for a new project rarely lasts longer than a few weeks. And that means our client’s enthusiasm begins to wane. You all know what I’m talking about – that point where they’re fed up with following a restrictive diet and taking fistfuls of supplements. They miss their favorite treats and are tired of following our instructions to the letter. It’s right around this point, when they hit that inevitable speed bump – that’s when they consider bailing on us.
What’s really interesting about this timing is that it typically occurs right when they start to feel better. They think they’re done and don’t need us any longer. Now, we know that’s not the case. We know that when symptoms start to clear, the client is actually only about halfway there. But if we haven’t set them up to understand this from the get go, we’ll lose them. And of course, when they go back to their old ways and stop the supplements prematurely, they’ll inevitably feel awful again and guess who they’re going to blame? You!
From a practitioner’s perspective, we, of course, think it’s all their fault. We gave them the best protocol – they just couldn’t stick it out, right? But here’s the painful truth: when clients jump ship, it’s 100% on US. We failed them, not the other way around. We didn’t properly set them up for success.
Margaret and I have years of personal experience with this scenario and have worked together to formulate several foolproof ways to keep our clients engaged throughout their entire protocol. These simple strategies – some done prior to starting with the client, some at the onset, and other techniques used during the process – will help you help them. Happy clients = Successful practitioners.
Please join us later today at 4pm PST as we share these strategies in a webinar we’re calling “Client Compliance: How To Crack The Code For This Clinical Dealbreaker”. Click here.
In health and wholeness,
Anne and Margaret
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FAQ
These frequently asked questions expand on the key concepts in this article and provide additional context for practitioners seeking to improve client compliance and long-term outcomes.
What is client compliance, and why is it important in functional and holistic healthcare?
Client compliance refers to a client’s ability to consistently follow their recommended care plan. It is essential because sustained engagement allows clients to complete the healing process, achieve better outcomes, and become more likely to refer others to your practice.
Why is client compliance considered a major challenge for holistic health practitioners?
Research cited in the article identifies client compliance as one of the biggest challenges practitioners face. Keeping clients motivated over the course of a multi-month protocol can be difficult, particularly when significant lifestyle changes are required.
How long should practitioners expect a typical healing protocol to last?
The article explains that an effective protocol typically lasts about three months, or 12 weeks. Practitioners should prepare clients for this timeline from the beginning so they understand that meaningful healing takes time.
Why do clients often struggle to stay engaged throughout a healing protocol?
Many clients lose enthusiasm after the first few weeks because lifestyle changes require sustained effort. Dietary changes, supplements, movement, stress management, and sleep improvements can become overwhelming over time.
Why do clients often stop their protocol when they start feeling better?
Clients may mistake early symptom improvement for complete healing. According to the article, symptom relief often occurs when clients are only about halfway through the healing process.
What happens when clients stop their protocol too early?
Ending a protocol prematurely can lead clients to return to old habits before the healing process is complete. As symptoms return, clients may mistakenly believe the protocol was ineffective rather than recognizing they stopped too soon.
How can practitioners help clients stay committed through the full healing process?
Setting expectations early is one of the most important strategies described in the article. When clients understand that healing is gradual and requires completing the full protocol, they are more likely to remain engaged.
What expectations should practitioners establish before beginning a protocol?
Practitioners should explain that:
- Healing is a process rather than an overnight event.
- Symptom improvement does not necessarily mean healing is complete.
- Completing the full protocol is an important part of achieving lasting results.
Who is ultimately responsible when clients fail to complete their protocol?
The article argues that practitioners should view client dropout as their responsibility rather than the client’s. If expectations and support are not established effectively from the beginning, clients are less likely to stay engaged through the full protocol.
How does client compliance affect practice growth?
Client compliance influences both clinical outcomes and business success. Clients who experience successful results are more likely to be satisfied with their care and refer friends and family to the practice.
Why is setting expectations considered a clinical strategy rather than simply a communication skill?
The article presents expectation-setting as an essential part of supporting successful outcomes. Helping clients understand the healing timeline and anticipated challenges can improve adherence throughout the protocol.
When should practitioners begin implementing compliance strategies?
The article explains that compliance strategies should begin before the client starts care, continue at the onset of the protocol, and remain part of the practitioner-client relationship throughout the healing process.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margaret Floyd Barry, FNTP MRHP is owner and Executive Director of the Institute of Restorative Health. She’s a functional nutritionist, author, speaker, educator, and real food advocate. Through years of experience working with the most complex client cases, including reversing her own autoimmune condition, Margaret uses a powerful system for restoring health by addressing the root cause of illness.
Today, Margaret teaches fellow practitioners the same proven system she uses to get her clients life-changing results through the Institute of Restorative Health – a two-year comprehensive functional nutrition certification program for qualified health professionals. Margaret also runs Restorative Corporate Wellness, a team of Restorative Health Practitioners facilitating health transformations with corporate clients. She is the author of Eat Naked and its follow-up cookbook The Naked Foods Cookbook. She’s also the host of the Clinician’s Corner podcast, where she interviews some of the world’s top experts in the fields of functional health and nutrition.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Fischer Silva’s journey in the field of functional nutrition over the last 23 years began in a functional medicine practice, where she learned the power of objective testing. From there she opened her own business, A New Leaf Nutrition, where she built a wait-list distance practice. Anne has taught nutrition courses in Washington, Hawaii, and California, and hosted a radio show, “Health-Wise”, for 3 years. She helped develop the original curriculum for the Nutritional Therapy Association, was a lead instructor with NTA for 8 years, and she continues to lecture nationally on a variety of health topics. Anne founded the Institute of Restorative Health in 2013 with the sole purpose of training other nutrition professionals how to address complex issues with their clients and achieve the same stellar results she gets in her practice.
The core principles Anne built the Institute of Restorative Health upon are the importance of nutrient-dense foods and balancing biochemistry. From there, she looks for the deeper underlying issues by utilizing a variety of testing techniques and customized healing methods to restore optimal function and health.
Anne received her certification in functional nutrition from Advanced Integrated Medical Institute in Washington, DC in 2000 and she is a Master Restorative Health Practitioner and Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.
*In 2022, Anne decided to pursue new and different aspects of holistic wellness and left the Institute of Restorative Health in the hands of her dear friend and business partner, Margaret Floyd Barry.
