Exploring Life & Business with Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD of Declet Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD.

Hi Courtney, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My path to starting Declet Designs wasn’t exactly linear. It was more like a winding road with a lot of learning curves and unexpected turns.

I actually started my career in nutrition, and over time, I found myself gravitating toward the behind-the-scenes work that helped wellness professionals grow their businesses. Things like branding, websites, and software. What started as me helping a few friends with their websites quickly turned into something bigger. I realized that many private practice owners — especially dietitians and therapists — were incredible at what they did but were totally overwhelmed by the tech side of running a business.

So, I created Declet Designs as a way to bridge that gap. I wanted to offer more than just “pretty websites,” I wanted to create strategic, accessible tools that made running a weight inclusive private practice smoother and more sustainable. My work blends design, tech, and strategy, with a focus on weight-inclusive and values-aligned businesses.

Now, I get to work with some of the most thoughtful and compassionate clinicians across the world. We build WordPress websites, shape strong brand foundations, set up systems like CRMs and automations, and support them long-term through care plans and our Clinician Crew membership. It’s been such a joy to watch so many clients gain clarity and confidence in how they show up online.

Running this studio has let me merge my creativity with a purpose. And as a neurodivergent business owner, I’ve found a way to work that honors both my clients’ needs and my own. It’s not always easy, but it’s meaningful and that’s what keeps me going.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a winding path — full of pivots, problem-solving, and a lot of learning by doing.

Entrepreneurship runs in my family. My dad’s a successful small business owner, so I grew up surrounded by that mentality of building something from scratch and figuring things out along the way. That stuck with me. Even though my background is in nutrition, and not tech or business, I’ve always had an eye for systems and strategy.

As an eating disorder dietitian and a survivor myself, I started helping other clinicians behind the scenes — untangling their tech, setting up systems, and helping them show up online in a way that felt true to their values. Eventually, that work evolved into Declet Designs.

The shift wasn’t always easy. I didn’t go to school for web development or tech strategy, so I had to build my knowledge piece by piece. I’ve taken a ton of courses, invested in mentorships with respected experts in the WordPress world, and worked hard to turn this into something solid. The imposter syndrome was real at first, but the results and the relationships kept me going.

I also had to figure out how to build a business that worked for me. I’m neurodivergent, and the typical hustle culture advice just didn’t fit. I had to create my own systems, ones that supported my brain, my energy, and my boundaries, and that took a lot of trial and error.

Of course, I faced the usual early business struggles too: inconsistent income, learning how to price and communicate my value, and finding the confidence to take up space in an industry that often overlooks providers like the ones I work with.

But all of that shaped Declet Designs into what it is today — a values-driven, six-figure business that helps weight-inclusive providers and eating disorder clinicians build sustainable, strategic online spaces that reflect who they are and the work they care deeply about.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Declet Designs (pronounced ‘deck-let’) is a strategy-driven design studio that helps private practice owners (especially eating disorder clinicians and weight-inclusive providers) create websites, systems, and marketing foundations that actually support their work, not drain their energy.

We specialize in custom WordPress websites, brand strategy, local SEO, and tech systems that help our clients show up online with more confidence and clarity. Whether it’s building a strategic website from scratch, improving local SEO to help them get found in their area, or setting up workflows and automations behind the scenes — our work is all about making the business side of things feel less overwhelming.

What sets us apart is our deep understanding of this space. I’ve worked as an eating disorder dietitian myself, and I’m a survivor, so I know how important it is to approach everything from a weight-inclusive, trauma-informed lens. Our clients know they don’t have to explain what “weight-inclusive” means or worry about templates full of salad stock photos — we get it. We build with that shared understanding and care.

Being neurodivergent has helped me build this studio around systems that are sustainable and adaptable, both for me and for my clients. A lot of people come to us burned out from tech overwhelm or DIY solutions that don’t reflect their values. We give them tools that are custom, thoughtful, and easy to maintain with no fluff and no cookie-cutter shortcuts.

The name Declet actually comes from my kids’ names, blended together. They’re my biggest “why” and a reminder of what really matters: building something meaningful, flexible, and rooted in values I care about. It felt fitting to name the business after them.

Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that clients often say, “This is the first time I’ve felt truly seen in my business.” That’s the heart of what we do. Yes, I’m proud we’ve grown to a six-figure business that supports providers all over the country and the world, but more than that, I’m proud we’ve built something that’s personal, ethical, and genuinely helpful.

At its core, Declet Designs is about helping weight-inclusive clinicians build sustainable businesses that reflect who they are and giving them the tools to do it without burning out.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I’m a huge believer in the power of networking and in niching down. Honestly, those two things are the reason Declet Designs has been successful. I think people sometimes underestimate how much of business growth is about relationships, not just marketing tactics.

My best advice? Put yourself out there. Schedule the Zoom call. Say yes to the coffee chat. Join a coworking session, even if you’re not sure what to say. So many of the best opportunities in my business have come from those casual conversations and genuine connections.

I don’t think that marketing is about selling, I think it’s about building trust and relationships. People want to work with people they know, like, and feel understood by. And when you niche down and get clear on who you help and how you help them, those connections start to click faster.

Also, don’t be afraid to learn from people who are further ahead than you. I’ve gotten so much out of reaching out to folks who are known and respected in the WordPress and online business world. Some became mentors, some became collaborators and all of them helped me grow in ways I couldn’t have done alone.

If you take the time to build real relationships and stay open to learning, your business will reflect that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://decletdesigns.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/decletdesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DecletDesigns/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyvickery/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@decletdesigns

Image Credits
Evermore Photo Co