About Rooted Therapies

Meet the Team

Rooted Therapies is a team of neurodiversity-affirming speech therapists that emphasize connection, communication, and child-led play.

  • Jaclyn Upchurch is a licensed speech-language pathologist who is trained in Natural Language Acquisition/ Gestalt Language Processing. 

    She is passionate about providing child-led, play based therapy in order to support development of the whole child. Jaclyn has experience co-treating with occupational therapists and often utilizes sensory strategies and activities for increased regulation during speech sessions. With an emphasis on movement and creating meaningful connections through play, she believes in incorporating each child’s interests to foster intrinsic motivation and growth. Jaclyn enjoys using a strength-based approach, where she focuses on the child’s strengths, passions and interests. 

    Jaclyn specializes in gestalt language processing, executive functioning, preschool - high school language and literacy as well as social communication skills.  She would love to partner with you in supporting your child's communication and language development!

  • Melanie loves what she does and believes this field is a ministry. She loves to serve kiddos and their families.

    I am passionate about putting children first, and that comes across in leading sessions with a natural, stress-free, child-led approach. After all, therapy is for them, not for us!

    I am a big believer that connection is the bridge to language. I am so grateful to witness the little “light-bulb” moments of joy a child experiences when they feel heard and seen. It is truly a privilege to interact, connect, and grow with a child who learns and experiences the world in a unique way.

    I specialize in working with littles 12 months to 5 years old, targeting motor speech, late talkers, and gestalt language processors. I’d love to support your child and family in these areas and look forward to meeting y’all!

    Melanie

  • Rachel Terrell is a licensed speech-language pathologist and certified brain injury specialist.

    Rachel discovered the importance of movement, sensory integration, and child-led strategies early in her career working with neurodivergent children and toddlers. She became very passionate about providing holistic therapy to support the whole child. Rachel utilizes a play-based approach in order to connect with your child, learn their interests, draw on their strengths, and provide language stimulation that is relevant and motivating to them.

    Rachel has a five year old autistic nephew, who is the driving force behind her neurodiversity affirming practices. He was the first child she trialed gestalt language development approach with and when his language use exponentially increased, she knew this was something that would change speech therapy forever. She has now become a NLA/GLP trained speech therapist and almost exclusively treats this population of children.