Hidden Gems: Meet Mariellen Rigby of Cherry Tree Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariellen Rigby.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in a small west Tennessee town. I always knew from an early age that I would have a career where I helped others. I found my way into speech-language pathology while in college after needing voice therapy for vocal nodules caused by overuse from singing. Prior to that injury, my dream was to be a performer on Broadway.

The first few years of my career were spent in medical settings. I loved the fast pace and challenge, but after becoming a mother I wanted a better work–life balance. Shortly after my first son was born, we moved to Texas. I accepted my first job over the phone, bought our house online without ever having visited Houston, and left family in Arlington, Virginia, to start a new chapter on our own.

Those early years in the public schools were challenging. I realized pretty quickly that I had a great deal to learn. Becoming a mother was the best thing that ever happened to me as a therapist—it made me a stronger clinician and a more passionate advocate for children. To this day, I operate under the motto of serving every child as I would want done for my own children. I worked in public schools for over ten years as both a campus therapist and district lead before ultimately leaving when I felt I could no longer serve children in the way they truly deserved.

Opening my own private practice was always a dream, though I wasn’t sure I would ever take the leap. My husband and my faith gave me the confidence to go for it. My husband has always been in my corner, encouraging me to believe in myself. After three and a half years, and many learning curves along the way, it has been the best decision of my career. I have had the privilege of working with incredibly resilient children and families, walking alongside them through both challenges and triumphs. The most rewarding and hardest part is when the children I work with graduate.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly it has been pretty smooth. When I worked in the public schools I worked in three different districts. Without knowing it that time in those districts and the quality of work I provided networked myself when I went out on my own.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My private practice is a solo practice where I provide direct speech and language therapy primarily to the pediatric population. I also do parent coaching, consultation services to private and public schools, and offer contract speech therapy services to surrounding school districts.

I specializes in intervention for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), articulation, motor speech disorders, analytic receptive and expressive language delays, natural language acquisition, and social skills. Individualized services begin with an evaluation that allows me to develop a comprehensive picture of the child’s abilities, challenges, and preferences. I also dedicate time to understand the family’s goals and values to ensure our therapy is meaningful and aligns with each family’s preferences and needs.​ Once therapy begins, every session combines evidence-based therapy approaches with engaging and interactive activities that for most children child led.

My favorite thing about my location is that it’s next to the beautiful Stevenson park in Friendswood which allows for therapy once a month to be held outside. Stevenson park is accessible for all children regardless of their disability. It also has communication boards throughout that allows for my AAC users to have access to communication without carrying their device when they want to run around and play.

I think what sets me apart from others is my authenticity. Professionally and personally I have always been true to who I am as a person. When I first meet with families, I lead with authenticity, open conversation, and education to create a foundation of trust and collaboration. Partnering with families not only enhances a child’s success, but strengthens the entire family. I am deeply committed to empowering parents with the tools they need to support their child’s development and confidently advocate for them in every setting.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My favorite thing about Houston is it is rich in diversity and culture. Growing up in a small town in West Tennessee I was not exposed to many cultures. My least favorite thing about Houston is traffic!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cherrytreetx.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherrytreetherapy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherrytreetx/

Image Credits
Lucie Easterwood was the photographer for the headshot.