We recently connected with Ashley Menke and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

I started my practice in 2018 and things were in full swing just before the pandemic hit. Some of those steps included establishing my own LLC, deciding which insurance companies I was contracting with, and the number of clients I was going to see weekly. Some of the key challenges in setting up was navigating how to contract with an insurance company, creating paperwork that was specific to my business, and setting financial boundaries (things like expected payment times, what constitutes a delinquent account, how to address sliding scale or pro bono sessions, if any, and so on.). Had I known what I know now, I would have gotten a business coach much sooner. It has been helpful to know where I want to go and have help breaking down the steps to get there. My advice would be to stay connected with your colleagues, and use a business coach that has a great reputation in the community. Though expensive, the coaching I’ve received has been worth every penny.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Getting into counseling was quite a journey. I grew up wanting to be a veterinarian but things changed during high school, and I started realizing how much I liked learning about how humans handle challenges individually and socially. Before I landed on counseling, I had been a pharmacy tech, a massage therapist, worked in state politics, and studied nursing. I figured out along the way that the common thread was the desire to help people. I decided on counseling because there’s a significant overlap between creativity and science used to support people as they work on healing. I own a growing group practice that focuses on attachment, and grief, while I also see clients that are navigating life with diagnoses of autism and ADHD. I think what sets my practice apart from others is the fact that while we are there to help during the challenging life periods, we also recognize there are parts of healing that can be fun. While there are times that therapy is hard, deep, heavy, or sad, it’s also okay to have moments where you can enjoy and celebrate healing. What makes me most proud in this field is seeing clients grow and heal. I always joke that I’m not the one in the driver’s seat, so to see them really dive in and work on themselves is incredible to witness.

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

oh, definitely. Sometimes, I wish I had figured it out sooner, but I’m also grateful for the experiences I collected along the way. cause it helped me figure out exactly what I wanted to do.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had my son in 2021 and while I loved owning a business, I knew I needed to refocus for a short period. As a result, I pivoted to becoming a w-2 employer for about a year and a half. I’m grateful for that period of time because it reinforced working for someone else was not for me. I like the independence of working for myself and wanted to get back to that as soon as possible. So, after a year and a half, I pivoted back to managing my private practice and working for myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alliedcounselingstlouis.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555181279859

Image Credits

headshots by Loria Harris from Photos by Loria.