We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashlea Clark. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashlea below.

Hi Ashlea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

Running a business can feel like terrifying endeavor. There are so many ins and outs that it can easily feel overwhelming. Then throw in a little bit of familial business trauma from your childhood, the scarcity complex, imposter syndrome with a sprinkle of social anxiety and you have the perfect recipe for stress. My practice has been open a year now and I am just starting to feel like I kind-of know what I am doing somedays. Despite all of the cringy things I feel daily about running a business, I would not turn back.

As a chiropractor, I feel competent in my “doctor” skills, as a business owner I am barely a novice. In my profession we are not taught how to start or run an office; and the one or two classes we get are given when we are focused on our clinic life, full class load and passing our board exams. After working as an associate physician in an established practice I finally decided that what I was doing was not aligning (pun intended) with the reason I chose my profession. So after 6 years I finally made the leap.

Now I have been open a year, and what a year it has been. I have grown so much as a person, learned a ton and am grateful for all the wonderful connections that have been made. There is still stress of course, but with practice (and a kick butt therapist) I have learned better ways to manage it and set healthy boundaries which is key for any woman in business. Every day has its own challenges but each one has helped me to know myself better, listen more and most importantly slow down. As you begin to find your footing and start trusting yourself more the path will begin to clear. There are days when I feel like I am on top of the world, kick ass business woman making the world a better place, while other days I questions every action, motive, goal and conversation. Yet when I reflect on where I began just a year ago, wow has everything become easier. There is still lots of work and growth to do, but it helps me to feel capable of achieving my dream practice, at least for the moment.

The only thing I wish I had done differently, is start sooner. If you are looking to begin your own practice do not let fear and the feelings it induces prevent you from taking that first step. It isn’t easy, it can be very tiring, stressful and scary; but it is absolutely worth it. Taking good care of yourself is vital, you must make the space to do this. And when advice or opinions are given take only that which suites you and leave the rest behind. And above all else, know that you are capable of anything you put your energy into, don’t wait to get started and once you start don’t give up!

Ashlea, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am your neighborhood pro-vaxx, mask-wearing, body inclusive, pro-choice chiropractor. My goal is to create a safe and healing environment for all humans to receive chiropractic care. A chiropractic session at The Alignment Studio consists of a 30 minute session where I use a combination of hands-on muscle techniques, cupping, manual manipulation, physiotherapy modalities, assisted stretching and therapeutic exercises to treat and prevent musculoskeletal complaints. The focus of care is not only on addressing symptoms but in finding the root cause of the problem, correcting it and teaching ways to prevent it from coming back. Additionally, in my office we also consider the mental health and stress components that affect the body and the corresponding pain responses.

I pride myself on being authentic and transparent with my clients, explaining to them in detail about what we are doing, the purpose behind my methods, and tailoring each care plan to the client, not the other way around. I also believe that chiropractic care should be affordable to all; preventative care and living as pain-free as possible should not be a luxury. Having some type of pain is so normalized, many clients say the same things regarding their pain, such as that their daily pain is “only” a 5/10 on the pain scale or my favorite “well, I mean, it’s not incapacitating”. We have been conditioned to only seek care when we are suffering or in dire circumstances often due to financial fear, medical trauma and experiences of being dismissed or not taken seriously. We deserve better that that. My healthcare philosophy is that all care should be individualized, based on trust as well as being back by research and focused education. It should also be safe, kind, and affordable.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Absolutely. I think chiropractic care is magical. Like all types of care (medications, surgery. physical therapy) I respect that it does not work for everyone; but when it does work and significantly change someone’s quality of life, often to their own surprise, there are no words to describe it other than magical.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of mouth has been by far the most effective. When we hear of something a trusted friend or family member recommends it means far more than a flyer, ad or email.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.drashlea.com
• Instagram: @thealignment_studio