EMBER Practice Architecture: Building with Intention Kindling Newsletter

EMBER

for the business side of your calling. 

 

 

And by “business,” we don’t mean empire built on hustle—we mean a world building, creative container. A living, breathing space rooted in your values, your vision, and the change you can see your work making.

 

 

You had me at world building.

Hey! I see you out there.

Working hard, holding a bunch of big ideas, and wondering how you're supposed to make things happen while tending to work that requires your consistent emotional attunement. 

Good news: You're in good company.   

Welcome to EMBER!

You’ve already done the hard part—showing up, learning, evolving, and holding space for others again and again. But when imposter syndrome or comparison sneak in, it can feel like you’re still falling short. The coaching world hasn’t always made room for us. And being brilliant at your craft? It didn’t come with a business manual.

The helping fields are long overdue for innovation—especially the kind that considers the caretakers.

For too long, therapists, coaches, and healing professionals have worked harder to make their businesses work —without the structural support, financial sustainability, or creative freedom we crave.

 That’s why EMBER exists.


To offer strategy and solidarity.
To help you build a business that’s not just ethical and effective

—but livable, expansive, and deeply yours.

 

You had me at session after session.

SOUND FAMILIAR?

  • You want to do and build new things (courses, workshops, retreats, etc) in your work and you don't know how. 

  • You’re holding big dreams but have real-life constraints.

  • You’re over the noise of hustle culture and rigid business advice.

  • Overwhelmed by day-to-day: “I’m swamped with client work and have zero bandwidth to grow.”

  • Worried about authenticity: “I want to share my message without losing my voice or facing judgment.”

  • You want your business to be aligned, ethical, and sustainable.  

✨IMAGINE IF...

  • You had diversified income and strong boundaries. (the kind, as Prentis Hemphill describes, that allow you to love others and yourself)
  • You felt supported as you experiment and build.
  • You knew what to focus on (and what to let go of).
  • You had a strategic plan and a nervous system-friendly pace.
  • You got to be well-resourced and well-compensated.
 

So… What Is EMBER?

EMBER is a mentorship community, an evolving training center, and a strategic business incubator —built specifically for service providers, creatives, care workers who want a business that sustains and holds them. EMBER is built for the accidental entrepreneur—those of us who never set out to run a business but found ourselves wearing every hat. This program helps you:

 

Whether you’re stabilizing your private practice, launching a new offer (like a group, course, or consult package), or stepping into a bigger version of your work—EMBER meets you with information, support & ideas until you are holding it on your own.

 

Inside EMBER, we blend strategy, inner work, and an implementation process.

You don’t just need a business plan.

You need one that fits who you are and how you want to work. that designs with flexibility so your work can evolve as your life changes.

You will learn to blend strategy with self-awareness. Combine clear action steps with simple daily practices that protect your energy.

We want you to expand your impact.

 

The Shift EMBER Helps You Make:

From "barely sustainable" → to a practice with breathing room
You'll build income streams that don't require staying fully booked to survive.

From "apologizing for my rates" → to confident pricing
You'll know what you're worth and be able to communicate it clearly.

From "visibility feels gross" → to authentic connection
You'll market in ways that feel aligned with your values, not sales-y or extractive.

From "stuck in survival mode" → to long-term thinking
You'll have a flexible plan you can actually follow (not another rigid strategy you'll abandon).

From "doing this alone is exhausting" → to supported and accountable
You'll have a community of practitioners who get it and support to implement what you're learning.

 

How EMBER is different:

 

🧭 It’s a curriculum, but not just a course.

You’ll get access to a living, adaptive body of curriculum and training on money to marketing, imposter complex to being in the public eye, creating your work in new forms and making sure others know about it. This isn’t static content—it moves with you & answers your immediate questions - offering  what you practically need. It's one thing to learn how to build a program and it becomes sustainable when you do the inner work needed to keep it going.

 

🔥 It’s not just about learning—it’s about doing.

I don't want you to buy another course you don't have time for. In EMBER you stay as long as you need  You will join a space that comes with co-working sessions, focused feedback, and a process created by a seasoned therapist and curriculum creator that will move you through the learning process in an intentional way. 

EMBER gives you structured time to actually work on your business, not just think about it. You will have a ergular place to bring your questions, ideas and frustrating stuckness.

 

🌀 It moves with your life and your energy.

Tier options allow you to increase or decrease support based on your current capacity. No hustle, no hype. Just meaningful momentum.

 

💬 It comes with community—and not just any community.

These are people who understand the emotional labor of service-based work. Who care about nuance, consent, equity, and ethics. Who know that business is deeply relational.

You felt held, seen, and supported—while experimenting, innovating, and making more space for creativity and income in your work.

 

THE EMBER FRAMEWORK is a necessary combination of:

 

🔥 Inner Work – Address internal narratives, doubts, and blocks


🔥 Strategic Work – Build offers, income plans, systems, and visibility that fit your life

"Similar to discovering Body Trust, EMBER is the training I didn’t know I needed—paced for my heart, soul, and brain. It’s changing how I relate to my business, offering practical tools I can implement while honoring my timing and process.

The 1:1 sessions have been nice to have a deep dive into my personal business, and I also feel that the structure of the calls has allowed me to feel I get my needs met there as well. Being in a group of entrepreneurs, that has now become a supportive community, ignites something in me that I didn't consider before. Knowing that they all deeply care about similar things to me exponentially increases the alchemical impact for me.

Yes, it felt like a big investment—most things in business do. But I’m 1000% glad I made it. EMBER gave me the momentum to finally say: I am a small business owner, I deserve to earn sustainably, and I have something valuable to offer. That was the ember I needed to catch fire.”

-Virginia Newman, MS, RD, The Radical Dietitian

What is the EMBER Curriculum?

The EMBER Curriculum isn't some rigid course or overwhelming content dump—it’s thoughtfully built and continuously evolving, Because you deserve support that’s just as emotionally tuned-in and strategically sharp as the work you do.

Inside EMBER, you'll find 10 modules of exploratory and practical trainings crafted to meet you exactly where you’re at—whether you're working to smooth out the bumps in your existing business or preparing to grow and refine. Topics include:

  • Intentional earning and adding other income streams

  • A deep dive into the complexity of pricing

  • Burnout prevention, boundaries & capacity mapping

  • Visibility that feels genuine—not performative

  • Taking new ideas - groups, workshops, consultation, intensives, from idea to plan

  • Sustainable business planning tailored to your strengths and energy

  • Navigating credibility, feedback, and the challenge of being seen

  • Practice for sharing your work in a way that sounds like you (not some salesy script)

  • Marketing - whether you want off or on social media 

     

Why This Matters to Me

This isn't just another program—it’s personal. One of my strengths is blending real-world strategy with grounded, human support. I don’t ask you to put on a mask or pretend things are fine when they’re not. I offer tools, ideas, and support that actually help—while also making room for the emotions, doubt, and complexity that come with building something meaningful.

I created EMBER because our fields are overdue for fresh thinking. Helping professionals deserve to bring their skills into spaces that recognize their full humanity and lived experience. You have more agency than you may realize. And I want you to know what’s possible when you build your business with intention and care—while honoring your capacity and well-being.

Community makes a difference. When we come together, we interrupt the isolation that so many business owners feel. We get unstuck, bounce ideas, and build momentum we couldn’t access alone. This kind of connection is powerful. Visibility, support, and collaboration shift things in real time—and I want that for you.

I want you to experience more creativity, more alignment, and more ease in shaping a business that actually works for you and the people you serve.it’s deeply personal. One of my love languages is being practically helpful: offering real tools, actionable ideas, and meaningful support that genuinely moves the needle. I created EMBER because our fields need innovation, fresh thinking, and fewer barriers. Helping professionals deserve to feel proud and excited about their work, knowing they have the power to shape how their business evolves—they are the true experts.

Ember participants tell me this work has been transformational. That they showed up overwhelmed and are now walking forward with clarity and direction. That Ember helped them start building a business that can take care of them—through life's changes, not just when things are stable.

 

People come to EMBER thinking...

  • I have too many ideas and not enough information to know what to do with them.

  • I'm not sure I'm a real business owner.

  • I believe I am doing meaningful work—but I don't know to to tell other people about it.

  • I want to grow, but not at the cost of my values, capacity, or creativity. I'm not sure I have time for more.

  • I know something needs to shift eventually—I don't think I can keep this up for 20 years.

RAVE Reviews

 

"Ember was the guidance and support I needed to make entrepreneurship do-able and real instead of lofty and scary. "

-Joan Pugh, Psy.D

 

 

"EMBER is the most useful online course I've taken, hands down. It's well organized and it makes sense. I now have the confidence to really use my Body Trust certification!"

-Amy Frost

"This is a gentle way to get into your business more whether just starting out or growing. Hilary gives you some great tools to work through at your own pace. I've been able to push the start of my business further into reality even while I still have a way to go."

-Melanie Drake

Choose Your Path

Whether you want to move at your own pace or join a cohort that keeps you supported and accountable, there's an option for you.

EMBER Cohort, March 2026

(enrolling now)

The EMBER Cohort is a 6-month container for therapists, coaches, dietitians, and care professionals who are ready to move from survival mode to sustainability—where your practice supports your income AND your life.

What's Included:

Everything in DIY EMBER, plus:

6 Months of Live Support (March - August 2026)

đź“ž 2 Monthly Live Calls (150 minutes of support each month)

  • Teaching Call (2nd Tuesday, 75 min) - Deep dives into EMBER curriculum topics with structured teaching responsive to what the cohort needs
  • Q&A Call (3rd Friday, 75 min) - Hot seat coaching, troubleshooting, real-time feedback

đź’¬ Dedicated Office Hours (Twice weekly, async)

  • Post questions anytime in our private Kajabi community
  • I respond every Tuesday and Friday with detailed text answers or short video explanations
  • Support between calls without adding more meetings to your calendar

đź‘Ą Differentiated Practitioner Spaces

  • New Practitioners space (0-2 years in private practice)
  • Established Practice Transitions space (3+ years, navigating growth or change)
  • Self-select into the space that fits where you are

đź“š Clear Module Progression We move through all 10 EMBER modules together with a structured release schedule. You'll always know "where we are" in the curriculum, with built-in accountability to keep you moving forward (even when life happens).

🎥 Access to All Call Recordings Can't make a call live? All recordings available within 24 hours in the community.

🔄 After the Cohort Ends You keep lifetime access to all EMBER modules and resources. If you want ongoing community and live support, you can join the monthly membership for $135/month .

Module Progression:

Months 1-2 (March-April): Business Vision & Narratives, Capacity & Boundaries, Nervous System, Identity

Months 3-4 (May-June): Visibility & Alignment, Conflict & Feedback, Money & Scarcity, Income Streams

Months 5-6 (July-August): Growth Planning, Marketing, Integration & Completion

"I'm not sure I have the energy for a community right now..."

I get it. Maybe you imagining another toxic positivity space full of "crushing it" culture and performative enthusiasm.

That's not what this is.

What the EMBER Community is NOT:

❌ Not a "rah rah" hustle space
You won't find "rise and grind" energy, pressure to post your wins, or shame about rest. We normalize struggle, uncertainty, and the messy middle.

❌ Not spiritually bypassing or coach-y
No toxic positivity. No "just manifest it" or "your mindset is the problem." We talk about real structural constraints, systemic issues, and the actual obstacles you're facing—not just your "limiting beliefs."

❌ Not values-misaligned
Everyone here is explicitly anti-diet, weight-inclusive, and committed to liberation-oriented work. You won't have to educate people about basic values or defend your approach to care.

❌ Not performative or salesy
No one is pitching their services to each other. No MLM energy. No pressure to be "on" or perform success. You can show up struggling and it's completely fine.

❌ Not clique-y or exclusive
No in-groups or cool kids table. New practitioners and established practitioners both have space. Introverts and people who mostly lurk are completely welcome.

❌ Not another obligation
You don't have to participate in the community to get value from the cohort. The live calls and office hours are the core—community is supplemental. Some people are very active, some people rarely post. Both are fine.

What the EMBER Community IS:

âś… Values-aligned and vetted
Everyone here does liberation-oriented, consent-based, anti-oppression work. You're among people who share your foundational commitments.

âś… Structurally aware
We talk about capitalism, the gendered political economy of care work, fee-for-service models, insurance systems, and how these shape your work. We don't blame individuals for systemic problems.

âś… Honest about the hard parts
People share real struggles: pricing fears, visibility anxiety, imposter complex, capacity limits, money stress. The support is grounded, not glossy.

âś… Practically helpful
The questions are specific: "How did you price your group?" "What do you say when someone asks for a sliding scale?" "How do you handle no-shows?" The answers are useful.

âś… Low-pressure
You can participate as much or as little as feels right. Post questions, read others' threads, or just lurk. All valid.

âś… Actually supportive
When someone shares a struggle, the responses are empathetic, not advice-bombing. People hold space for complexity and uncertainty.

The Community Format:

It's asynchronous (not live chat chaos):

  • You post questions when you have them
  • People respond when they have capacity
  • No expectation of real-time engagement

It's organized into clear spaces:

  • Office Hours spaces (where I respond twice weekly)
  • General community (peer support)
  • Announcements (important updates)

It's optional:

  • The cohort works even if you never post in the community
  • Some people are very active, some people never post
  • Both get tremendous value from the program

Investment:

Early Bird (Feb 2-15): $1797
Regular (Feb 16-28): $2197

Payment plans available (6 or 9 monthly installments)

Enrollment Period: February 2-28, 2026
Cohort Begins: March 1, 2026
Cohort Ends: August 31, 2026

This cohort is for you if:

âś“ You're fully booked but still anxious about money
âś“ You have ideas for groups, workshops, or programs but don't know how to build them
âś“ You want to reduce your caseload without your income collapsing
âś“ You know you need structure and accountability to actually implement
âś“ You value community with practitioners at similar stages

Join the March Cohort →

 

EMBER DIY (Self-Paced)

For self-directed learners who want the curriculum without live support

Get lifetime access to the full EMBER curriculum and work through it on your own timeline.

What's Included:

âś“ Lifetime access to all 10 EMBER modules
âś“ Tools, templates, and integration worksheets
âś“ All bonus resources (125 Ways to Market without Social Media, Capacity Mapping, Resistance Toolkit, and more)
âś“ Move through the content on your own schedule
✓ No community or live calls—just the tools you need

Investment:

$1,110 payable over 5 months

Available anytime (not cohort-dependent)

This is for you if:

âś“ You're self-directed and will complete a course on your own
âś“ You don't need live support or community accountability
âś“ You want to move at your own pace
âś“ $1,297 is your budget right now

Get DIY EMBER →

Not Sure Which Option?

  • Want structure, accountability, and ongoing support? → Cohort
  • Self-directed and prefer to work independently? → DIY
  • Still deciding? [Schedule a quick call] with me to talk it through

Tools and Bonuses in EMBER 

TO MAKE YOUR LIFE (AND BUSINESS) EASIER

✨

Practical Business Tools

Plug-and-play resources that support implementation, save time, and reduce decision fatigue. 

Examples:

  • Offer Model Comparison Table 

  • Intentional Earning Planner 

  • Marketing Without Social Media (125 Ideas) 

❤️

Emotional + Reflective Resources

Tools for navigating the internal and relational work of business-building—because clarity, boundaries, and care matter.

Examples:

  • Capacity Mapping Worksheet 

  • Moral Injury + Burnout Mini-Training 

  • Messaging Planning worksheet  

🛠️ Templates + Integration Supports

Helps you put strategy into motion with customizable tools you can use in real time.

Examples:

  • Funnels + Sequences Workbook

  • Visibility Integration Worksheet 

  • Business Systems, Pathways + Processes Doc 

EMBER Cohort

What's Included:

âś“ 24 Live Group Calls (2 per month)

  • Teaching Call: 2nd Tuesday, 75 min

  • Q&A Call: 3rd Friday, 75 min

âś“ Dedicated Office Hours

  • Post questions anytime

  • I respond Tuesdays & Fridays

âś“ Private Community

  • Differentiated practitioner spaces

  • Peer support & accountability

âś“ Clear Module Progression

  • Move through all 10 modules together

  • Built-in pacing

âś“ Lifetime Curriculum Access

  • Keep all materials forever

  • Option to continue with monthly/annual membership after

$1797 payable over 6 or 9 months

Join the cohort

EMBER DIY

Self-Paced Learning

Curriculum Only: Learn at Your Own Pace

What's Included:

âś“ All 10 EMBER Modules

  • Lifetime access

âś“ Tools & Templates

  • Integration worksheets

  • Bonus resources

âś“ Complete Curriculum

  • 125 Ways to Market without Social Media

  • Capacity Mapping

  • Resistance Toolkit

  • And more

âś“ Self-Directed

  • No live calls

  • No community

  • Just the content

$1110 payable over 5 months

Sign me up!

Not sure? Going back and forth? EMBER is a fit if..


✅ You’re ready to expand in alignment with your values—not hustle culture
âś… You want to feel more confident, visible, and financially supported
✅ You’re tired of figuring it all out alone

✅ You value inclusion, liberation and social justice.
âś… You want sustainable income, an adaptive business, and more time for life

❌ Not for you if you promote weight loss or anti-fat bias  (If you're looking to become weight-inclusive in your work, we recommend Body Trust® training.)

BY THE WAY...

WHO am I?

Hi, I’m Hilary Kinavey. 

With 25 years of experience building and sustaining a thriving private practice as a therapist, I understand the unique challenges of creating a business centered on emotional connection and well-being. Through my practice, I saw opportunities for more community-centered, impactful ways to serve clients. This inspired me to co-found the Center for Body Trust with Dana Sturtevant, where I learned firsthand what it takes to build something innovative and meaningful through long-term collaboration with a business partner within the context of a growing community.

Along the way, I’ve also been an adjunct professor, landed a book deal with a carefully crafted proposal, and shared my work on the TEDx stage. I’ve co-created a year-long professional certification program, written volumes of course curriculum, served as a counseling supervisor, and provided healthcare and organizational consulting—all with a commitment to relational, justice driven work.

I’ve learned to enjoy public speaking, been on more podcasts than I can count, and co-host The Body Trust Podcast with Sirius Bonner and Dana Sturtevant. But most importantly, I know what it’s like to navigate the ups and downs of running a business that’s not just about success, but about making a real impact without sacrificing yourself in the process.

I imagine you might have some questions!

✨ This is what is possible in EMBER...

 

âś“ A Business Model That Actually Works for You
Design a practice that supports your needs, goals, and energy — not one that drains you. You’ll clarify what sustainability looks like for you, and you’ll build from there.
✓ Offers That Reflect Your Purpose and Genius
Create or refine services, groups, programs, or consulting offers that are built from your magic — not just what the market says is trending.
✓ Messaging That Resonates (and Converts)
Learn how to speak to your people in a way that’s honest, emotionally intelligent, and effective — so your work lands with the people who need it.
✓ Aligned Pricing and Financial Strategy
You’ll stop guessing and start pricing from a place of clarity, intention, and enoughness. Together, we untangle money stories and build real financial structure.
✓ Expanded Visibility Without the Burnout
Find ways to be seen that feel sustainable, ethical, and spacious. No more performing. Just resonance.
✓ Strategic Rhythm + Practical Implementation
It’s not just theory — you’ll take consistent action with built-in time to actually work on your business, with co-working, mentorship, and structure to move forward.
✓ Tools for the Emotional Labor of Entrepreneurship
We center boundaries, capacity, grief, and nervous system care because business building is personal and systemic. You don’t have to ignore your feelings to be strategic.
✓ A Thoughtful, Smart Plan for What’s Next
You’ll leave with a clear, customized plan — not just a to-do list. One that grows with you.
✓ A Community That Gets It
No “crush it” culture, no toxic positivity. Just thoughtful, talented people walking similar paths — people who will normalize, reflect, and celebrate your growth.

Hilary brings a whole new level of support mixing her therapy and coaching skill set, holding immense space for the complexities of interpersonal and business dynamics while adding her lived business experience working from an anti-oppressive, humanistic, heart centered place. My work with her has been validating, has improved my belief in myself and business and has nudged me in the directions of structure that I get to create with her encouragement I was seeking for so many years prior to our work. I’ve also brought Hilary on to provide group consultation within my business for my employees and I can feel the shift it is creating within our organization to allow there to be vulnerability and support structures that are now growing without me holding them up all on my own. Her care has been truly transformative for my business and me individually as a leader within it.” 

-Dr. Lily Stokely, ND, One Connection Healthcare

“I've had the privilege of working with Hilary for over the past few years, and our weekly sessions are a crucial part of my work and self-care. Hilary not only supports me from a clinical standpoint but has also been instrumental in making this work sustainable and fulfilling. I often express that this work is unbelievably challenging, and Hilary truly understands that. Her ability to hold space for complex cases is remarkable, and she has also guided me in shaping the way I approach my practice, exploring avenues for growth, and tackling the inevitable burnout. With her support, my business has thrived, and I've started new projects and expanded my offerings. Without her supervision, I wouldn't be where I am today in this field.” 

 

-Aaron Flores, Men Unscripted podcast

QUESTIONS?

STILL NOT SURE HOW
this program WORKS?

BOOK A SHORT CALL