Confessions of a Mom Who Runs a Chiropractic Clinic
By Emily Huschka
Let’s just get this out of the way:
I do not float gracefully through our chiropractic clinic with a perfectly organized clipboard and a calm, glowing vibe (if you know my sister Lindsey around the corner at Sadie Rose Boutique, I guarantee you she's got that glowy thing going on).
My desk is a disaster.
I spend most of my clinic day on my feet.
And there’s a very good chance I’m wearing baby Asher while holding a half-sweet, oat milk peppermint mocha from Gwynn’s Willamette Coffeehouse like it’s a lifeline.
Welcome to my version of life at NewLife Chiropractic.
I Don’t Get Adjusted Every Day (Does anyone?!)
People love to ask if I get adjusted every single day.
No.
I do not.
I get adjusted as needed — when something feels off, when I’m dealing with a specific issue, or when my body is clearly trying to get my attention. Chiropractic care is part of our family’s lifestyle, not a daily rulebook. Even the crunchy among us believe in listening to our bodies.
Thursdays Are My Clinic Days (Parking Stress Included)
I’m in the clinic every Thursday meeting with our team, checking in on systems, and helping keep things moving in the right direction at our family-run chiropractic clinic in Canby.
I spend most of my time connecting with our staff — usually while pacing the halls, bouncing Asher, and silently hoping there’s a decent parking spot on the street. (If you see me circling the block one too many times… no you didn’t.)
I care deeply about how our clinic feels — for our patients, our team, and our community. If I see something that would have made me as a patient feel more at home, I make sure to implement it for our patients (hello baby changing table in the bathroom!).
The Behind-the-Scenes Work No One Sees
Over the last couple of years, I spent many long nights moving our clinic from paper charting and outdated software to being nearly completely paperless — which meant transferring thousands of patient charts into our updated electronic system and digital EHR.
Not glamorous. Very necessary.
I also spent the last two years helping rebrand our practice from Hartwell Chiropractic to NewLife Chiropractic. That shift wasn’t just cosmetic — it clarified our vision, our values, and the direction of our small business as a trusted chiropractic office serving Canby families. Same morals and strong sense of community, new colors and signage.
Working With My Husband (10/10, Would Recommend)
Daniel and I absolutely love working together.
We joke that I’ve been his assistant for the entire decade we’ve been married — I just didn’t get paid for it until the last two years. He leads our family and our clinic team with integrity, heart, and a strong commitment to patient care, and I help organize his thoughts (and occasionally his lunch).
Building a business together hasn’t always been easy — but it has been incredibly meaningful.
Lunch Breaks, Inventory “Mistakes,” and People I Genuinely Love
Most clinic days include lunch from Church of Smoke — tacos are basically part of my workflow at this point.
I genuinely love people, and I truly care about our patients. Which may explain why I’m often the reason our inventory counts are off. If you’ve ever left the clinic with a product because I said, “Here, try this,” please know it came from a good place.
(And yes — I’m sorry to our front desk team if you’re reading this.)
Stepping Back (Without Stepping Away)
This year, I replaced myself as office manager with our incredible Naudia, so I could step back a bit and have more capacity for our kids.
Now my weeks look like:
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Homeschooling our four kids
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A lot of texts, emails, and phone calls with our clinic team
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One day a week in the chiropractic office
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Occasional weekend pop-ins to update the clinic aesthetic while the kids race wheely chairs down the hallways
Does a small business owner ever really clock out?
Still unclear.
At least most of my coffees are write offs...
Final Confession
I’m not perfect.
My desk is chaotic.
My inventory counts are questionable.
And I almost always have coffee in hand.
But I love this clinic. I love our team. I love our patients. And I’m endlessly grateful to get to build NewLife Chiropractic alongside my husband — serving families in the Canby community we truly adore.
Mom.
Clinic sidekick.
Baby-wearing, coffee-fueled connector of people.
That’s me.
— Emily
