“The team at TheraPlayLA is absolutely incredible! The evaluation process is so thorough and the value you get with so many specialities under one roof is unlike any other clinic experience we've had. Our son has had the opportunity to work with both Marielly and several other OTs on her team and he has had a very positive experience every time. The goals are written so that our kid can be successful and the methodology towards reaching those goals is detailed and created carefully, taking multiple factors into consideration. I have learned so much and we've been able to connect with multiple other professions that are necessary to supporting the work they are doing for our son at TheraPlay. Our son is low verbal, Autistic and has many sensory seeking/avoiding behaviors. I feel confident practicing with our son at home because the therapists always allow me to ask questions and check for understanding. The level of support your child receives and that you receive as a parent really makes them stand apart. I literally couldn't ask for a better group to have on our team to support our kiddo! 1,000% recommend!” — L.W.
“I am so grateful for Marielly! I reached out to her when we needed help with our 4 yr old son’s aggressive outbursts, poor sleeping patterns, and what seemed to me like sensory processing issues. I didn’t know at that time if he needed occupational therapy, but I knew we needed help. In the first 15 minutes of talking to her over the phone, she was so open, and insightful, she knew exactly how to relate, and provided so much-needed feedback. She began working with my son over zoom, and despite the challenges of keeping a 4yr old engaged through “distance learning” she always was patient, professional and engaged him with so many forms of play and learning Marielly continually provided feedback and education, with time for us to talk at the end of each session. Her work with myofunctional therapy, has helped our son’s sleep improve tremendously. His gross and fine motor skills, bilateral coordination have all improved, and more importantly, he is overall more regulated. To say “Thank you” is not enough. Marielly is so knowledgeable in a child’s physical, emotional and psychological development, and truly understands how it all connects. She always took the time to explain the “what and why”, and kept encouraging us even when it seemed tough!” — A.A.
“After several months of trying to get our 9-month-old to stop refusing solid foods or gagging on anything we actually could get him to eat, I called my doctor concerned and she recommended Marielly. We had no idea how Marielly was going to get our baby to start eating - isn’t it just supposed to be a natural thing babies progress towards? Marielly came to us for an in-home consultation to see our son in his environment and she immediately put us at ease. She was caring and engaging with him and explained everything she was doing so we could understand. She immediately knew where his issues stemmed from and started us on a plan that included weekly Theraplay sessions and exercises for us to do at home. Within a few weeks, he was eating more and more. And three months later, he was eating so well that he easily joined everyone in pizza and birthday cake on his first birthday. Now at 20 months he is an eating machine and eats everything with gusto. Thank you so much Marielly!” — A.K
“Marielly is truly one of the smartest people I know. She is so well-versed in so many areas and it has been a huge benefit to our son. Her wide range of knowledge and experience enables her to provide real-life solutions and exercises that are easy to implement into our daily routine. The majority of our appointments are done via telehealth and the impact she has during our sessions is astounding. Due to her feedback and ability to train me on techniques that I can use with my son, we have been able to make great strides in his progress for his gross and fine motor skills, awareness, and ability to regulate his sensory needs. I really can't say enough about Marielly and I tell every parent I know about her!” — L.W.
“We would truly be lost without Dr. Marielly! She was instrumental in getting our child to meet her milestones, overcome sensory issues, and so much more. Dr. Marielly met our child exactly where she was at and approached each session with thoughtfulness, patience, and practically. If something did not work in one session, by the next session she tailored a new approach. She truly goes above and beyond and makes each session engaging and fun. I cannot recommend her enough!” — B.W.
“We have been fortunate enough to start working with Marielly in January of 2016. At the time, my son was testing below average in many areas. Naturally, as a very concerned and involved parent, I panicked. Marielly helped me understand everything I needed to know about sensory processing disorder and how we can help my son overcome many of his challenges. She spent hours on the phone with me discussing different things I could do at home, different medical issues I should try and rule out, and where I could turn to educate myself. From the onset, I was impressed by her breadth of knowledge and it was clear that she distinguished herself as one of the few occupational therapists who have a Doctorate in the field. Over time, she helped connect me to medical professionals that I would otherwise not have had access to. Best of all, she constantly made herself available, through email/phone/text in order to discuss any issue I was having and how best to tackle it. I truly felt that we were working as a team to help my son. The great part was that her dynamic energy and passion for her job helps her build rapport not only with the parents she deals with, but also the kids she works with. My son loves seeing her. He recently asked her if she would always come to work with him, even if he changed schools. And the proof is in the pudding: the most recent OT testing has found that my son is now testing “on par” with peers his age. Much of that is due to the early intervention of Marielly Mitchel. I can’t thank her enough.” –– M.H.
“I am so grateful that we found Marielly when we did. She is a truly gifted and insightful OT. My daughter Autumn adores her and really enjoys their sessions. As a result of Marielly’s work, Autumn has newfound independence and is far from where we were when we first started therapy. Her confidence, strength, and abilities have grown immensely, and she is a happier and more focused toddler. The feedback and guidance that we have gotten from Marielly have been life-changing for us. I now have a better understanding of how I can help Autumn to meet her daily sensory needs. Which has made our whole family much happier. Marielly has been a blessing in our lives.” - J.S.
