I spend a lot of time talking and thinking about how we find and connect with clients. One of the hardest things about being an herbalist is that most folks don't have a pre-existing framework covering what it means or looks like to work with a clinical herbalist. If you're a nutritionist who works outside of what most people think a nutritionist does (weight loss, meal plans, or muscle gain, often), you may experience the same thing.
This means many of us are fumbling for words when asked to explain what we do. Which is awkward.
My first and best piece of advice is to answer in words that you'd use when talking to a casual acquaintance. Can you truly imagine yourself saying that you "help people seek balance and find optimal health by connecting with nature" when chatting with your friend's partner at a potluck? It's just not how people talk, and it doesn't lead to connection and further conversation.
Instead, think about how someone not familiar with our field might understand what it means to be an herbalist. What's something they can grab onto? Something that fits into their pre-existing framework?
For example: "I'm an herbalist. I work 1:1 with people who've been through the medical wringer and still don't feel any better," or "I'm a nutritionist. I mostly work with people who start going through perimenopause and realize that their bodies no longer tolerate the foods that used to feel okay."
If you'd like to dive into this in more detail, come to my workshop today on how to describe what you do. We'll mostly focus on what to say when the topic comes up in casual conversation. If there's time, we'll touch on written descriptions for your website or bios as well. I don't have firm answers for you, but I do have some suggestions, questions, and prompts that may help.
The class is today (Thursday) from 12-1 pm ET. Free if you'll share the workshop online or invite a friend who doesn't already know about my work (this helps me out so very much), or $25 if you'd rather just pay without extra fuss. It will be recorded, but I recommend coming live if you can make it.
Take care,
Camille
p.s. I recorded a podcast episode recently about the challenges of promoting your work when it feels like the world is on fire.
