
Episode #12
When Your Health Changes Your Career: Endometriosis, Burnout, and Private Practice
Welcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast! Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Lindsay Stenovec, Registered Dietitian and Clinical Supervisor, for a conversation about the clinical complexities of endometriosis, how dietitians can best support their clients, and what it looks like to navigate burnout, career pivots, and build a sustainable private practice. In this episode, Lindsay shares what she has learned through her own diagnosis and treatment, and how dietitians can bring more informed, compassionate care to clients with endometriosis. Jennifer and Lindsay also have a real conversation about burnout, honoring your capacity, transferring your existing skills into a new niche, and building a business differently the next time around. When a Diagnosis Changes Your Career (03:55) Lindsay shares how her endometriosis diagnosis led her to close her private practice, step away from dietetics, and give herself time before deciding what came next. Understanding Endometriosis as a Full-Body Chronic Disease (06:20) Lindsay explains what endometriosis is, the wide range of symptoms it can cause, and why a diagnosis often takes years. Why Community Care Matters in Endometriosis (13:11) Lindsay reflects on how sharing experiences can help people recognize symptoms, advocate for themselves, and find better care. Nutrition Considerations for Endometriosis (20:19) Lindsay discusses nutrition considerations for endometriosis, commonly co-occurring conditions, and why recommendations need to be individualized. When Food Fear and Symptom Management Overlap (24:40) Jennifer and Lindsay unpack low FODMAP diets, gluten fears, and the nuance of supporting clients whose food restrictions may be rooted in very real symptoms. Endometriosis, Eating Disorders, and Grief Around Food (27:31) Jennifer and Lindsay explore how chronic illness can alter someone's relationship with food and why eating disorder counseling skills can be especially valuable when supporting clients with endometriosis. Supporting Clients Before and After Endometriosis Surgery (31:57) Lindsay explains excision surgery and how dietitians can support nourishment, GI symptoms, and healing before and after surgery. Taking Burnout Seriously Enough to Let Your Career Change (40:16) Lindsay describes the burnout that followed after closing her longtime practice and why she gave herself permission not to rush her return to work. Building a Practice Around Client Care and Your Capacity (43:25) Lindsay shares how she is designing her next chapter around what best serves her clients while also creating a sustainable way to work with chronic illness. Lindsay reminds us how powerful it can be to listen closely, believe what clients are telling you about their bodies, recognize patterns that deserve further exploration, and know when to connect someone with additional support. Sometimes excellent care isn't about having every answer. It's about being curious, staying within your scope, and helping clients feel less alone while they navigate something incredibly complex. Lindsay's story is also a reminder that your business and career can and should evolve alongside your life, and that the experience and skills you've built don't disappear simply because you choose a different direction. Sponsor: ✨ Business School is designed to guide you through every stage of building a private practice: getting set up, seeing your first clients, growing until you're fully booked, hiring a team, expanding your offers—and even learning how to coast when needed. Inside, you'll follow a step-by-step curriculum with the flexibility to choose the path that fits your current stage of business and life. You'll get access to advanced toolkits, templates, and systems for business topics like marketing and finances, but also for counseling skills and client support. Beyond the curriculum, you're supported by personalized 1:1 coaching, weekly office hours, and monthly themes that address the real challenges of private practice. The program keeps you moving forward with built-in accountability that builds resilience and confidence so you feel like a legit business owner. Learn more and apply here: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/ Connect with Pursuing Private Practice: Instagram: @pursuing.private.practice Email: Contact Us Free Resources For Dietitians at Any Stage of Business: The Ultimate Checklist to Start Your Private Practice ✨ Free Training: Get Clients Now 3-Day Challenge Free Workshop: Hire Your Next Team Member The Pursuing Private Practice Blog ️ The Pursuing Private Practice Podcast About Lindsay: Lindsay Stenovec has spent nearly two decades in rooms where people finally say the thing they've never said out loud. As a Registered Dietitian specializing in eating disorders, women's health, and now endometriosis, she's learned that feeling seen and heard isn't a soft add-on to good care — it's where healing actually begins. She's built a group practice, led teams, supervised clinicians, and navigated her own complicated health journey along the way. These days, she works at the intersection of endometriosis, gut health, and whole-person nutrition — for patients who are tired of being dismissed, and for the clinicians who want to do better by them. Connect with Lindsay: Website Instagram: @lindsaystenovec_rd Resources from Lindsay: Substack

