Welcome to Way to Grow Therapy!
We’re so glad you’re here! At Way to Grow Therapy, we help children blossom into confident communicators—because every child deserves to be heard and understood.
Serving families across St. Johns County, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine, FL, we work with children of all ages, offering free consultations, in-depth evaluations, and personalized 1:1 therapy sessions. We also provide bilingual Spanish/English services to support our beautifully diverse community.
Our therapy is playful, family-focused, and rooted in research, designed to fit naturally into your child’s world, whether at daycare, preschool, or virtual visits. We believe that strong relationships lead to strong communication skills, and we’re here to support your child every step of the way.
Meet Mariliam
Mariliam Menendez Santos, M.S., CCC-SLP
Owner | Speech-Language Pathologist
Hi, I’m Mariliam Menendez, a bilingual (English/Spanish) speech-language pathologist and the founder of Way to Grow Therapy. For over 10 years, I’ve loved helping children find their voices and use them with confidence. I specialize in supporting children with autism, speech and language disorders, apraxia, stuttering, early communication, and bilingual language needs. I’ve worked in schools, clinics, early intervention, and through teletherapy—giving me the privilege to connect with families in many different settings.
I earned my Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Carlos Albizu University in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I am licensed in Florida and have a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
At Way to Grow, therapy is more than practice—it’s play, connection, and progress. Sessions feel like fun adventures that keep kids engaged while building strong communication skills. My mission is simple: to create a supportive, family-centered experience that helps every child thrive—one word, one laugh, one milestone at a time.
Services
Free Consultations
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your child and determine if a speech therapy evaluation is the next step.
Comprehensive Evaluations
A comprehensive evaluation is a full assessment of your child’s communication skills. It helps identify strengths, challenges, and whether therapy is needed. The results guide us in creating a personalized plan of care.
Speech and Language Therapy
Our speech therapy sessions are play-based and family-centered, helping children with language delays, speech sound disorders, motor speech disorders like childhood apraxia, social communication skills, and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).
Early Intervention
Services available for children from birth to three years old. Way to Grow is an approved provider contracted with Early Steps Northeastern Florida."
Get Started
Phone Consultation
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your child and determine if a speech therapy evaluation is the next step.
Evaluation
A comprehensive evaluation of your child’s communication skills will determine whether a speech or language disorder is present and highlight areas of strength and need. A detailed written report will be prepared and reviewed with you within two weeks of the assessment.
Speech Therapy
If speech therapy services are recommended, your child will begin individualized sessions in the home, community, or via telehealth. Sessions are typically scheduled 1–3 times per week and are designed to support your child’s specific goals through collaborative, engaging activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are an approved provider for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA)! This Florida-based scholarship is available to students age 3 through 22 with a variety of diagnoses, including speech-language impairment. Click the link below to learn more about this scholarship and to see if your child may be eligible: www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/unique-abilities
Contact us
Serving clients via teletherapy across the state of Florida
Serving clients in SilverLeaf, Durbin Crossing, Nocatee, Julington Creek, Bartram Park, Southside, and nearby areas of St. Johns County, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine, FL.
.png)