Book Review: The Practitioner’s Journey- The Path to Success for Holistic, Alternative & Integrative Health Professionals

Stacie Deyglio, ND

The splendor of a harmonic unison between 2 intelligent professionals yielded an exceptional book focused on 2 very important words—practice success—within the integrative, holistic, or alternative health practice. For the coauthors, writer Dan Clements and Tara Gignac, ND, the guidelines to practice success have been bathed in experience, learning from genuine mistakes and good sound decision making: “[S]uccess is the practice we dream of as students and covet as practitioners. It’s a place where you help others find health and are healthy yourself. The job of this book is to show you the way there” (p 10).

The wisdom of the book is found not only within its physical pages but also in the voices, stories, and peppered guidance of contributors on the compendium Web site. Both are valuable resources that can support any practitioner in his or her transformation out of struggling situations normally encountered in private practice, including the labor involved in finding more clients, being overwhelmed with demands of a busy practice, and addressing the “stuck” feelings that are common within the routine daily grind. “Simply offering ‘chiropractic’ or ‘acupuncture’ or ‘massage’ or ‘holistic nutrition’ is not enough to build and sustain success in the long run. You need to discover your difference, your beacon that can attract and hold clients” (p 49) is a brilliant seed of thought, one of many found within the book that holds limitless transformative potential for the reader.

The Practitioner’s Journey is artfully partitioned into 4 parts and includes an epilogue and afterward. The heart of the book focuses on 4 elements comprising the true sustenance the reader will hone in for. This includes effective knowledge of the core subjects of solving the mystery why practices fail, attracting new clients, getting the most from your client base, and finding balance and building a sustainable career. As wisely written by the authors, “when you add more to your time—your ability to think and strategize and your ability to assume some risk, for example—you become something more than just a health care practitioner. You become a provider of value, someone who infuses all aspects of your practice with intelligence, passion and wisdom. You become someone who, in return, is rewarded” (p 258).

Kudos that the Web site is keenly and abundantly free for viewing, along with the author’s generous contact availability. The Practitioner’s Journey is a highly recommended book for every private practice professional! The ideas found in the book are limitless, as is the potential success that resides in any abundant private practice.

Stacie Deyglio, ND received her baccalaureate degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the College of Mt. St. Vincent in New York. Her personal health issues paved the way to discovering naturopathic medicine in 1999. Resonating with the philosophy and principles of naturopathic medicine, Dr Deyglio graduated from the University of Bridgeport, College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2003. As a medical student, she was involved in student government, fundraising and the generation of two successful student-run health fairs. Dr Deyglio’s interests include relating integrative therapeutics to the health of pediatric and geriatric populations. Currently residing in Phoenix, Dr Deyglio is an avid bookworm, and is actively creating her practice.