Anne, the IRH instructor team, and I spent last weekend in Portland, OR at the Nutritional Therapy Association’s annual conference (so lovely to meet some of you there!) and one of the questions that came up several times at the event is:
“When do I know enough to get out there and actually help clients?”
This particular issue is one that both new and even more seasoned practitioners grapple with.
We addressed this quickly at the event, but it got me pondering this on a deeper level and I want to share some additional thoughts on the matter. And, as with any truth, it’s not black and white.
First off, if you have successfully graduated from some kind of formal nutrition (or other related) training, then yes, you do know enough to help clients. You don’t need to have all the answers (that’s impossible anyhow so can we let that one go right now?) All you need is to be one step ahead of your clients and resourceful: you know where to find the answers you don’t have at your fingertips.
Now, this can be intimidating in the age of “Dr Google” – the majority of our clients are more informed than ever – but here’s the thing, what you DO have that your clients don’t have is a framework. There’s an overwhelming amount of information out there about health, diets, what to eat and what not to eat. What’s in short supply, however, is an accessible, systematic framework that provides structure and context for that information. And that’s exactly what you have been given with your training. With a viable framework, you’re able to understand the information that’s out there in a whole new way. Granted, if you’re a new practitioner you might be a little green at this, but with practice you’ll get better and better at it, and the best way to practice is to get out there and get some clients!
Does this mean that you won’t benefit by pursuing continuing education? Of course not! Continuing to uplevel our knowledge, enhance our skills, hone our craft… that’s the journey of becoming outstanding, no matter what the profession. But that doesn’t mean you “need” another course / certification / training / program in order to get out there and make a difference (And that might seem a rather odd thing for us to say, since we provide advanced education.)
It’s helpful to think of the evolution of the practitioner herself. (I’m putting this in the feminine because, let’s face it, most of us in this field are female. Sorry guys.)
Stage 1: The fresh graduate
Eyes wide open, eager to heal the world, a little stunned that her training is over, and ready to get out there and change lives, the fresh graduate is both totally excited and often utterly overwhelmed. To overgeneralize, we see two types of new graduate: the “let me dive in and figure this out” type, who wants to practice what she’s learned before adding more training to the mix; and the “I want to know All. The. Things.” type, who’s appetite for learning has been whetted and who can’t wait to learn more.
There’s no right or wrong way here – it’s a matter of personality. So what type of grad are you? Continuing education might be something to put on hold for the moment, or you might be ready to find the program that provides the next layer of tools to really knock it out of the park with even more complicated clients.
Word of warning here: either way, don’t be that practitioner who never actually sees clients in the name of “learning more.” The SINGLE best way to learn is to get out there and start working with clients, so whether you do this alongside advanced training or dive in immediately on its own, get out there and work with people!
Stage 2: The seasoned but stuck practitioner
This was me for a good 4-5 years before I found the Institute of Restorative Health. I was good at what I did – I got great results with many of my clients – but they’d plateau and I’d get stuck. I just couldn’t figure out what to do with them from there. Or, there were the clients I desperately wanted to help – the ones who’d been to ALL the practitioners, tried ALL the diets, and were taking ALL the supplements and who still felt like garbage – they left me completely stumped. I had no idea how to help them, and it broke my heart to have to refer them on to someone else.
Lots of practitioners are in this same boat – good at what they do, but getting stuck. And that’s natural, right? We are only as good as the toolkit we’ve built for ourselves. In this context, continuing education is about finding the training that’s going to help you get unstuck. What set of tools / knowledge do you need to help sort out your challenging client cases?
Stage 3: Seeking mastery
This is where it gets really fun. You’ve been practicing for a while, you’ve found your niche, you’re known for what you do, and you’re crushing it. You’ve found your “Zone of Genius”[LINK], as Anne wrote about a few months ago. You’re digging into nuances of the work now, and filling in any last gaps of information and understanding.
To truly master something, you plot out everything you need to know and the skills you need to hone for your particular niche and to be truly exceptional as a practitioner, speaker, expert, and authority. In this context, continuing education is very specifically about mastering your craft and seeking excellence.
If you’ve been paying attention here, you’ll notice there’s a theme: continuing education isn’t just about learning for learning’s sake. There’s always an end in mind. This is something Anne and I talked about from the stage at the conference in the context of our clients’ health journey and our own self-care, but it also applies to decisions about how you invest your time and money into your personal and professional evolution and growth.
And so: At what stage are you in your practice? Are you freshly graduated? Are you seasoned but stuck? Or are you seeking mastery? What is your goal for the type of continuing education you need?
Answer that, and all your decisions for what to do next will be clear.
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FAQ
These frequently asked questions expand on the key concepts in this article and provide additional guidance for practitioners navigating different stages of professional growth.
How do I know if I’m ready to start seeing nutrition clients?
If you’ve successfully completed formal nutrition or related training, you likely know enough to begin helping clients. You don’t need to have every answer before starting your practice. What matters is having a solid clinical framework and the ability to find reliable answers when new questions arise.
Do practitioners need to know everything before working with clients?
No. It’s unrealistic for any practitioner to have every answer. The goal is to be one step ahead of your clients, use your training to apply a structured framework, and continue developing your knowledge through experience.
What gives trained practitioners an advantage over information found online?
A clinical framework is what separates practitioner knowledge from general health information online. While clients may have access to large amounts of information, practitioners are trained to organize, interpret, and apply that information within a systematic approach.
Why is having a clinical framework more valuable than memorizing information?
A framework provides structure for clinical decision-making. Rather than relying on isolated facts, practitioners can evaluate information within a consistent system, making it easier to understand client presentations and determine appropriate next steps.
Is continuing education necessary before starting a practice?
Not necessarily. Continuing education can strengthen your skills, but it is not always required before you begin working with clients. The article emphasizes that practical experience with real clients is often the most valuable teacher.
What is the biggest mistake new practitioners make?
One common mistake is delaying client work while waiting to learn “everything.” According to the article, the best way to build confidence and clinical skill is to begin working with clients while continuing to learn over time.
What are the different stages of practitioner development?
The article describes three broad stages of professional growth:
- The fresh graduate
- The seasoned but stuck practitioner
- The practitioner seeking mastery
Each stage has different educational needs and goals, making the purpose of continuing education different throughout a career.
How do I know when continuing education is the right next step?
Continuing education is most valuable when it serves a clear purpose. Rather than accumulating certifications, practitioners should choose education that helps them solve current challenges, develop new skills, or move toward specific professional goals.
Why do experienced practitioners sometimes feel stuck with complex client cases?
Experienced practitioners may eventually encounter clients whose cases exceed the tools they’ve developed so far. The article suggests that this is a natural stage of professional growth and often signals the need for targeted education that expands a practitioner’s clinical toolkit.
How should practitioners choose a continuing education program?
The best continuing education aligns with your current stage of practice and your professional goals. Instead of taking courses simply to gain more knowledge, select programs that address the specific skills or challenges you want to improve.
What does seeking mastery look like as a practitioner?
Seeking mastery means intentionally refining expertise within a chosen niche. At this stage, continuing education focuses on developing advanced skills, filling knowledge gaps, and becoming exceptional as a practitioner, educator, or authority in your field.
How can practitioners make better decisions about professional development?
Start by identifying where you are in your professional journey and what outcome you’re trying to achieve. When continuing education is guided by a clear purpose rather than learning for its own sake, decisions about investing time and resources become much clearer.
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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.
