In this episode of the Dietitian Success Podcast, I sit down with Shawna Melbourn, RD, CEDS-C, a certified intuitive eating counselor, eating disorder specialist, and creator of ED for RDs, to talk about her journey as a dietitian and business owner.
We dive into:
- How she learned about eating disorder care (and the mistakes she made along the way!)
- Why she decided to create a course to educate other RDs on eating disorder care
- The mixed emotions that come with running a business
- Which marketing channels have worked best for her
This one’s a must-listen for any RD thinking about working in eating disorder care, niching, scaling, or building a business that feels sustainable.
Links:
- Join our FREE dietitian community
- ED for RDs
- Follow ED for RDs on Instagram
- Follow Shawna on Facebook
- Follow Shawna on LinkedIn
Transcript Summary:
[00:00:00] Welcome & Introduction to Shawna Melbourn
- Background as a clinical RD and CEDS-C
- What her practice looks like today
[00:02:30] Shawna’s Path from Hospital to Entrepreneurship
- Working in acute care and outpatient
- Her first side hustle: coaching clients on the weekends
- Taking the leap to full-time private practice
[00:05:30] Burnout, Boundaries & Business Lessons
- Why Shawna was doing everything herself at first
- The breaking point that made her pause and reevaluate
- Learning to set limits with clients and herself
[00:09:30] Building a Team & Delegating with Intention
- When she knew it was time to hire
- How she structured her team of 10 providers
- Letting go of control and staying aligned with her values
[00:13:00] Her Marketing Strategy: Not Relying on Social Media
- How Shawna built a steady stream of referrals
- Why social media never felt like the right strategy
- Doubling down on relationships with other providers
[00:16:30] Being a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor
- How intuitive eating informs her approach
- What it adds to ED care and how clients respond
- The difference between education and real-time client work
[00:20:00] Sustainability in Eating Disorder Practice
- Why passion alone isn’t enough
- The importance of community and supervision
- How she avoids burnout with better boundaries and support
[00:24:00] Advice for RDs Interested in ED Work
- The importance of doing your own work
- Getting mentorship and training early
- How to know if this niche is the right fit for you
[00:28:00] What’s Next for Shawna
- Where she’s shifting focus now
- Building in sustainability for the long term
- Staying rooted in why she started
