The Practitioner's Journey: The Path to Success for Alternative, Holistic and Integrative Health Professionals
by Dan Clements and Tara Gignac
I have read a few books on launching a new business but I find they are rarely applicable to the unique organization of a holistic health practice. Often, only a small amount of the book can be can be used. On the lighter side, I just don’t find traditional business books interesting. That is not the case with this book. I was at once interested, engaged and intrigued. I also picked up some great ideas for my business, which is a service for holistic, alternative and Integrative (HAI) health professionals.
In this book the natural landscape is a metaphor for your business. It is divided into 4 parts: The Cave, The River, The Boulder and The Valley with an introduction and an epilogue. It works to solve four challenges faced by HAI practitioners: Why do practices fail? How do you attract new clients? Making the most of the clients you have and building a balanced and sustainable future. I found all of these topics covered comprehensibly in the book. Each part of the book works to solve the outlined challenges with numerous stories and ideas. This book can help you plot the successful development of a new business, as well as, help you manage your already busy practice.
I liked how building your business was described as a walk through nature. Since traditional business books do not hold my attention this format kept me reading. I also found it helped me remember the lessons better. I could picture in my mind the various ideas in the book because they were told using the metaphors of streams, boulders, caves and other natural features.
The tone of this book was friendly and conversational. It was like sitting with a mentor. Your mentor is at once wise, patient, and understanding. They have been there before you and now stand to pass along the lessons learned. I think the writers accurately convey that everyone gets lost, confused and has struggles whether their practice is just starting out or has been successful for a long time.
With a sense of sharing and generosity Dan Clements and Tara Gignac, ND have given to the integrative health community a great resource for HAI practitioners practice development and sustainability. They offer sound business sense with integrity.
This book should be on the reading list of every holistic, alternative and integrative schools’ reading list!
The Practitioner's Journey on Amazon.com Amazon.ca
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Sabra Way MNIMH
Editor in Chief and Founder, Galen's Watch
Galen's Watch reports on complementary and alternative medical literature that is relevant to CAM practitioners. Visit our journal watch service and see the medical journals we scan regularly.
