Like many, Restorative Health Practitioner and gut-health expert Autumn Best has always had an interest in nutrition. She even enrolled in a nutrition class in college while pursuing her degree in Psychology. But, it wasn’t until experiencing her own persistent digestive issues more than a decade later that she was driven to learn more.
Fueled by her desire to fix things that aren’t working, Autumn decided to dig deep and get to the root cause of her symptoms. She started by completing the Nutritional Therapy Association’s NTP program. Two weeks after graduating in June 2020, she launched her business Crusading Wellness. Autumn enjoyed success early on, landing 10 clients in her first eight weeks. But, in working with these clients, many of whom were suffering with gut issues and acid reflux, she realized she needed more in-depth clinical training and tools to support her clients’ healing – which is where the Institute of Restorative Health came in.
“The world of food and nutrition can seem complicated and I wanted to simplify that for my clients. I wanted the ability to get super targeted in my approach and knew being able to use tools like the GI-MAP and MRT tests were key,” says Autumn. “Upon completing the Institute of Restorative Health’s Level 1 course, Mastering The Art & Science of Gastrointestinal Healing, I was able to go so much deeper. I was better positioned to educate and guide my clients, which helped them stay committed and, ultimately, get better results.”
Within a few months of successfully launching and growing her private practice, Autumn realized her fellow nutrition practitioners needed that same support and targeted approach in building their business. So, she set out to create Crusading Business, a business mentorship program in which she helps nutritional therapy professionals jumpstart their businesses. In less than 18 months, she’s gone on to help over 50 practitioners grow successful practices while continuing to serve her own clients.
When we caught up with Autumn, we asked her what advice she gives to her business mentees and the advice was so good we wanted to share it with you, too. Read on for Autumn’s tips on how to launch and grow a thriving private practice:
The right training can give you the confidence you need to sell your services: For Autumn, her NTA education was a great start but the clinical training she gained through the Institute of Restorative Health was the missing piece. “Having the ability to offer testing to clients is key to staying competitive in the market. People have come to expect data and see real results, and testing allows you to deliver that.”
Niche down: Autumn believes the old adage “If you try to help everyone, you’re going to help no one” is absolutely true. She sees so many practitioners get overwhelmed with everything they *could* do and, instead, emphasizes the importance of getting really focused on who you help and what you offer. This will not only allow you to become an expert in your specific area, but it simplifies marketing and works to attract the right type of clients to you. The result? More success, quicker.
Tell everyone what you do: Even if you’re early on in your journey, it’s important to actively promote what you do – and, yes…even if your work as a Restorative Health Practitioner is still a side hustle. Autumn remembers a time when she was juggling a sales job while starting her nutritional therapy practice – “People would ask me what I do and I’d automatically tell them I work in sales. It finally dawned on me that I won’t get clients if I don’t tell them what I do, so I quickly switched to telling people I ran a nutrition practice and talked about how I could help them”. Today, she makes sure to mention it to everyone she meets – her hair stylist, her bodyworker, the associate in the checkout line of Trader Joe’s – everyone!
Tap into the power of social media: When Autumn first started her nutritional therapy training, she didn’t have a huge following. But, she documented her training as she went through the NTA and IRH programs and, over time, built a loyal and engaged audience. Today, over 90% of her business is from Instagram. Autumn recommends developing content that educates people on symptoms that are common, but are not normal. This is also where niching down helps, because you can craft content catered to your specific audience. Last but not least, Autumn encourages practitioners to get out of their comfort zone and show their personality – “People sign-up with practitioners because of who they are as a person, people pick you because of YOU. Don’t be afraid to show them who you are,” says Autumn.
Start before you’re ready: Autumn encourages practitioners to start right away and to not let too much time slip away. “Confidence levels don’t go up the longer you wait to start,” says Autumn. Doing the actual work, meeting with clients 1:1 is where you’re going to get the confidence you need and the momentum to build off of.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help: “Being an entrepreneur can be hard,” says Autumn, “You’re going to get nine no’s and one yes – hold on to the one yes and use that as your motivation.” She recommends making a list of everything you need to do to get your business up and running and commit to completing one item on the list everyday. If you’re still struggling, find an accountability partner or hire a mentor so you can get the support you need.
Currently, Autumn’s 1:1 private practice and business mentoring offerings have reached capacity. But, she’s eager to help more people heal and is exploring new ways of offering support to serve those in need. “I’m excited about all the potential – in helping more people heal and in helping practitioners work smarter, not harder,” says Autumn.
Are you interested in taking your business to the next level like Autumn did? If so, be sure to apply for our Level 1 class – Mastering the Art & Science of Gastrointestinal Healing. With the right tools, you’ll have the confidence you need to build a thriving practice and get your clients life-changing results.
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Autumn Best is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Restorative Health Practitioner, and business mentor. To learn more about Autumn’s private practice and business mentorship program, visit Crusading Wellness. You can also find Autumn on Instagram @pilatesandpapaya.
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FAQ
These frequently asked questions expand on the key business and clinical-practice concepts discussed in this article to help practitioners apply them with greater confidence.
Who is this article most relevant for?
This article is most relevant for nutrition practitioners who are building or growing a private practice. It is especially applicable to practitioners who want greater clinical confidence, clearer positioning, and practical strategies for attracting and supporting clients.
What are the most important factors in building a thriving restorative health practice?
Building a thriving practice requires both strong clinical skills and effective business strategies. According to Autumn Best’s experience, important factors include advanced clinical training, developing a niche, consistently promoting your services, creating educational content, taking action before you feel completely ready, and seeking mentorship when needed.
Why is advanced clinical training important for practitioner confidence?
Advanced clinical training can increase practitioner confidence by providing more targeted clinical tools and approaches. Autumn explains that additional education helped her better educate and guide clients, which supported client commitment and improved outcomes.
How can advanced clinical training improve client results?
Advanced clinical training can help practitioners develop more targeted approaches to client care. Autumn found that expanding her clinical education allowed her to better educate clients and guide them through the healing process, helping clients stay committed and achieve better results.
Why do diagnostic tools matter in restorative health practice?
Diagnostic tools can help practitioners provide more targeted recommendations and demonstrate measurable information to clients. Autumn notes that offering tools such as GI-MAP and MRT testing helped her remain competitive while meeting clients’ growing expectation for data-driven care.
Why should nutrition practitioners choose a niche?
Choosing a niche helps practitioners become recognized experts in a specific area while simplifying their marketing efforts. According to Autumn, focusing on a defined audience makes it easier to attract the right clients and build a successful practice more quickly.
How can practitioners attract more clients when starting a private practice?
Consistently talking about your practice and educating your audience can help attract new clients. Autumn recommends sharing what you do with everyone you meet, creating educational content, and clearly communicating who you help.
How does social media help grow a nutrition practice?
Social media can help practitioners build trust by consistently educating their audience and sharing their expertise. Autumn documented her training journey, created educational content around common symptoms, and showed her personality, which ultimately became the primary source of new business for her practice.
What type of educational content should practitioners share on social media?
Educational content should help people understand symptoms that may be common but are not necessarily normal. Autumn recommends creating content specifically for your chosen niche so it speaks directly to your ideal audience.
Should practitioners wait until they feel confident before seeing clients?
No. Autumn believes confidence grows through experience rather than waiting. Working directly with clients provides practical experience that builds both confidence and momentum over time.
How can mentorship help practitioners build a successful business?
Mentorship can provide accountability, guidance, and support during the challenges of building a practice. Autumn recommends finding an accountability partner or mentor if you’re struggling to make progress or stay focused on your business goals.
What daily habits can help practitioners build momentum in their business?
Consistent daily action helps create long-term business growth. Autumn recommends making a list of everything needed to launch or grow your practice and completing at least one task every day to steadily move your business forward.
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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.
