Hi, how are you?
If you are having some time away from your practice this summer, I hope you are enjoying some rest and relaxation.
I’m looking forward to a week away so I’m putting some finishing touches to my plans for the autumn before I go. 🍁
This photo is of the pile of books I’ve been reading recently.
Mindful thoughts for makers by Ellie Beck
This lovely pocket-sized book explores how making can be a tool for mindfulness. Time spent on cases and preparing remedies is an enjoyable opportunity to find ‘flow’. This book has opened my eyes to opportunities for more mindfulness in my practice.Unmistakeable by Srinivas Rao
I get something new out of this motivating book each time I reread it. Part memoir and part how-to guide, Rao explains how learning to surf (age 30) helped him to leave his unhappy corporate career. Surfing also gave him the tools to see failure and struggle as part of the journey of discovering his new vocation.Radical Remedies by Brittany Ducham and Alana Gabrielle
This beautiful book is a modern, holistic, herbal guide to physical, mental and emotional well-being. Lots of wisdom on ways to make more time for self-care.
Dates for your autumn diary 🍁
1. Inspiration and motivation for September
Free webinar
Thursday 2nd September, 9am - 10am
(The first Thursday of the month is normally a ‘subscribers only’ webinar but for this one everyone is welcome!)
2. Interview with Shann Jones founder and gut health expert at Chuckling Goat
Free webinar
Wednesday 8th September, 11am - 11.45am
(Guest interview with myself and Shann)
3. Money Wisdom for Homeopaths
£40 (early bird)
Wednesday 6th October 9.30am - 2.30pm
As homeopaths we offer and give a valuable service and we deserve to earn a living from what we do.
This online workshop is a deep dive into this important topic.
Note: this is only available to watch live, there isn’t a ‘watch later’ option, so if you know you would like to take part, please save the date.
4. Homeopathy for women in their 40s and 50s
£30 (early bird)
Wednesday 17th November 9.30am - 2.30pm
You’ll notice I’m not calling this ‘homeopathy for perimenopause and menopause’ though I will be covering these topics.
These decades have deeper themes for many women. It’s a time when we are faced with a coming to terms with roles and identities that may not have been what we hoped for around motherhood, relationships, career and many more.
There’s much more to working with women in their 40s and 50s than simply balancing hormones.
How my practice has changed since the pandemic
Before I share how things have changed in the last couple of years I want to go back to how it was when I started out.
When I graduated from homeopathy school 14 years ago I was willing to work with pretty much anyone.
People booked in via reception at my clinic and I didn’t know anything about them until our first appointment together.
I was fine with that at the time.
That was kind of how things were back then.
Some people had a lot of questions at the first appointment, which I guess I hadn’t expected.
Discovery Calls
So, when I set up my first booking system I added in a Discovery Call option to see what would happen.
It was so popular I realised this simple change had helped me be busier with enquiries, pretty much overnight.
Sometimes I had a ‘no show’ for the discovery call, but that was better than a ‘no show’ for an actual appointment.
Anyway, that was six years ago.
Changes in the first six months of the pandemic
During the first six months of the pandemic I made quite a few adjustments.
I moved to my own office instead of working from two clinic spaces.
All consultations moved online via FaceTime or Google Duo (not Zoom - that’s another story).
I offered low-cost remedies to clients who experienced loss of income due to the pandemic.
I set up a new three step system for new clients. First consult 90 mins, second consult 60 mins, further follow ups 45 mins.
I introduced a 30 minute consult for long-standing clients with ‘straight-forward’ or ‘acute’ cases.
Changes in enquiries since the start of the pandemic
Over the last year I’ve seen a new pattern of enquiries.
I receive many more enquiries for conditions that I’ve not treated previously.
This has been a tough call.
On the one hand, these are things that I feel fairly sure homeopathy can treat.
On the other hand, I ask myself whether I want to treat it?
I’ve also noticed more enquiries with issues that are complex and multi-layered.
In these cases I know that homeopathy can help, but that it’s going to take time and patience.
Lots of clients start off with enthusiasm, but it takes a lot of my energy to support and reassure them when things go more slowly than they would like.
I’ve started to think about things more from my side of things.
Do I have the time and energy to support this person?
Will this person be enjoyable to work with or will they be draining?
Changes to my Discovery Call process
With all of the above in mind, I’ve spent time reflecting on my Discovery Call process, and I’ve taken several steps to refine it.
I already had a booking question on the form where people book their discovery call. ‘Please tell me what you are looking for help with and details of current and past medication’.
Now, when I receive an email notification that someone has booked a discovery call I start to apply my internal ‘filters’.
If they want help with something that I have experience with, or something that seems straight-forward, I simply send more information about what to expect from homeopathy, details about my fees, posting, and my client therapist agreement.
If they want help with something that I haven’t treated before, I now decline as it takes too much time and energy when I work with a new condition outside of my area of experience. I sometimes refer on to a colleague instead. ‘Thank you for your enquiry. I am very sorry to let you know this is outside my area of expertise, so I’m not able to offer you treatment. This means I will need to cancel our call.’
If their case seems complex and I know it will take a lot of time and patience, I write back explaining that their treatment would be at least a year. I want to ‘weed out’ people who are looking for a quick fix. ‘If this is not what you expected or hoped to hear, then please feel free to cancel the discovery call.’
How about you?
Has your practice changed since the start of the pandemic?
Have you made any adjustments to your consultations, fees, systems or processes?
You can leave a comment here and I promise to reply. 🙋🏼♀️
In the next newsletter I will also share a link for the free webinar in September where you can ask questions about any issues in your practice.
Brain food
The unpaid labour of female founders
This is an excellent, thought-provoking long read about the impact of social media on female businesses. “Playing the role of a brand ambassador… means blending the private and public and blurring the lines between sharing what you’re building and sharing your very Being.”5 top tips for a kick-ass start up
Tim Ferriss is an original thinker when it comes to work. This is a short article with five concepts that are worth your time.Why do you see what you see on Instagram?
A friendly and very clear video by Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram. If you feel you’re trying really hard on Instagram but not getting in front of new people, watch this to find out why.How to bullet journal – the absolute ultimate guide
I love Kendra from the Lazy Genius, and I can’t believe I missed her brilliant guide to bullet journalling. Photos of inside her journal and everything!Yoast SEO summer school
If you already know your way around blogging and you are on Wordpress, this is a very cool free course on SEO. Thanks to Margrit Schreier for spotting this.Not too late to join Neal’s Yard
Their summer joining offer is still here. Being part of Neal’s Yard is very worthwhile if you love the products and want to share them.
Thank you, as always, for reading.
I’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday 25th August.
If you’d like to download the free August planner you can do that here.
Here’s hoping we get some more sunshine!🍦
Tracy
Dear Tracy
I’m always grateful and excited to receive your Newsletter ,thank you for this topic ,throughout these months I have adapted a very similar filtration process,at first, I felt guilty...after reading your reflections ,I know, I made the right decision/s,the better I feel within myself the better I am able to serve my patients .Enjoy your break .
In gratitude
Maria
Hi Tracy: I always enjoy your Newsletters, they are so relevant to homeopathy and to us as business people. I love that you consider what works for you and aren't afraid to be honest and direct with possible new patients. Who to take on is something I've been reflecting on recently. I've had some complex cases where I've had to spend a considerable amount of time looking at my books which has been draining. I'm looking at how to correct that and move forward, over the Summer whilst on a break...enjoy yours x