Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Rice.
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 always knew I wanted to be in a profession that helped people—especially kids. Becoming a speech-language pathologist felt like a natural fit, and I’ve now been in the field for 12 years. In 2021, I started my own practice because I wanted to create a space where each child’s unique needs could truly be the focus. I’m passionate about play-based, fun, individualized therapy, and I believe that strong communication and collaboration with families is just as important. My goal has always been to support both children and their parents while being a light in my community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting and growing Joyful Noise Speech Therapy has been a slow and steady journey from the beginning. As the demand for my services grew, I had to make thoughtful pivots—hiring more therapists, expanding our service area, and now opening an office space in the heart of Fort Worth. I’ve been more than happy to take on these challenges so I can support more children and their families. Each step has brought its own learning curve, but every part of the process has been meaningful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Joyful Noise Speech Therapy was founded in 2021 and serves the Burleson and Fort Worth areas. We offer mobile visits as well as office visits at our clinic in Fort Worth. We specialize in pediatric speech and language therapy, primarily supporting children ages 1 to 7 and beyond. Our team treats a wide range of communication needs, including childhood apraxia of speech (my specialty), receptive and expressive language disorders, autism, Down syndrome, and stuttering.
We truly value play-based therapy—sessions that are joyful, engaging, and rooted in evidence-based practices. One of the things that sets us apart is our commitment to collaboration. We partner closely with families, schools, and teachers to ensure that each child is supported across all environments, which helps them make meaningful and lasting progress.
I’m incredibly proud of how the Joyful Noise brand has grown and how many more children are now receiving the individualized services they need. We offer comprehensive speech, language, and stuttering evaluations and therapy, as well as free phone consultations with an SLP for families who have questions about their child’s communication. Above all, our goal is to create a warm, supportive space where children can thrive and families feel seen, heard, and encouraged.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The demand for speech therapy services is likely to continue growing in the years ahead. Awareness of communication disorders seems to be increasing, and more parents are seeking support and therapy to help their children communicate effectively. I also see a growing desire from families on holistic, team-based care—collaborating closely with families, teachers, and other professionals—to ensure young children receive the most comprehensive support possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joyfulnoisetherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfulnoisetherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyfulnoisetherapy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-rice-6aa80b235/
Image Credits
London Kissinger Photography
