Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Miller.
Ashley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My start in mental health was in 2016 at Crawford County Mental Health. It was truly meaningful to begin by serving the community I grew up in, but I was eager for new professional challenges.
I moved to the Kansas City area in 2018 and took a leadership role as the Manager of Crisis & Access Services at Wyandot Center. I got to apply my existing crisis management expertise while gaining essential experience in administrative leadership and building systems. Even though I was learning a lot, I really missed the heart of the work—being a therapist.
After some personal challenges, I intentionally stepped back into clinical practice, focusing on in-home therapy.
The Leap to Finer Things Therapy
When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, it actually provided the push I needed to start my own practice, Finer Things Therapy. Since in-home visits weren’t safe anymore, I quickly realized people were desperate for accessible, in-person connection. So, I got creative. To keep seeing clients face-to-face safely, I built a plexiglass dome where I would sit, six feet away. It was unconventional, but it showed me what dedication and resourcefulness can achieve when the need is high.
The practice started small, just me, but it began to grow organically. In 2022, my husband—also a therapist—joined me, and we teamed up to expand. We’re now a thriving group practice with two additional therapists and an intern. My husband and I recently moved to Charleston, SC, but we continue to run our original practice in Olathe, KS, primarily virtually. This shift has also allowed us to establish a fully virtual presence here in South Carolina, which is an exciting new chapter for us both.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
”Smooth” is definitely not the word I’d use, but every difficult moment has been a chance to learn and innovate.
My biggest challenge happened right as I launched Finer Things Therapy during the pandemic. The struggle was navigating the financial and clinical uncertainty of a brand new business while trying to maintain deep, therapeutic connection during a crisis. My solution, which was frankly a bit unorthodox, was to build that plexiglass dome. It was a ton of work, but it was a testament to how adaptable and committed I am to making sure my clients get the care they need, no matter the circumstances.
A different kind of struggle came later with managing growth and our relocation. Moving from having an office offering in-person services in Olathe to dividing a team of four across two states was a huge administrative shift.
The challenge was setting up effective systems for a hybrid practice and ensuring our clinical quality remained consistent across virtual and in-person sessions. We’ve tackled that by putting strong administrative foundations in place, allowing me to focus on leadership and supporting my team while delivering consistent care across state lines. Every bump has ultimately strengthened the practice.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What We Do and Specialize In
Our core service is individual therapy, but what truly defines us is the breadth and depth of our team’s expertise:
Couples Therapy is a key focus for us. Both Chad and I offer specialized support to couples, helping them improve communication, heal relational wounds, and build stronger partnerships.
My own clinical focus is in Attachment-Focused Therapy, specializing in Relationships and Self-Empowerment. I help people work through common struggles like perfectionism, people-pleasing, boundary-setting, and building truly fulfilling connections.
Our team offers diverse, specialized care. Chad and Malia both offer EMDR and focus on trauma work, and are also excellent with adults navigating anxiety and major life transitions.
We prioritize accessibility: Monica is a Spanish-speaking therapist who provides excellent care to adults and older kids, and our intern, Laura, is a Board-Certified Music Therapist who focuses on anxiety, depression, and self-empowerment.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is the crucial difference between coping and creating.
For a long time, especially when I was navigating personal challenges or dealing with the early chaos of the pandemic, my focus was simply on coping—on surviving the week or managing the crisis right in front of me.
Launching Finer Things Therapy and facing down that initial challenge with the plexiglass dome really crystallized things for me. It showed me that true resilience isn’t just about weathering the storm; it’s about innovating during the storm to build something better.
The lesson became: You can’t just cope your way to a life you love; you have to be proactive and intentional about creating it.
This philosophy now defines my practice and my approach with clients. It shifted my focus from symptom management to deep self-empowerment—we don’t just treat anxiety; we teach you how to build a life where anxiety has less room to grow.
Ultimately, the biggest lesson has been embracing intentionality—in my business decisions, in my personal life, and in how I approach therapy. It’s what allowed me to grow from a solo clinician in a dome to a multi-state group practice.
Pricing:
- We charge $130/ session and we do accept most insurance plans.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.finerthingstherapy.com
- Instagram: @FinerThingsTherapy
