Today we’d like to introduce you to Marley and Tony Costin.
Hi Marley and Tony, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Joy in the Journey was born from lived experiences—both personal and professional—and from a deep, unwavering belief that even the most unexpected paths are never without purpose. It is rooted in faith, shaped by perseverance, and guided by the truth that God is present in every season of the journey.
Founders and owners, Tony Costin (retired US Army) and Marley Costin, M.A., CCC-SLP, know firsthand that life rarely unfolds according to our plans—but often unfolds exactly according to God’s. Their personal testimonies include seasons of hardship, healing, restoration, and rebuilding that profoundly shaped them by enhancing their understanding of resilience, faith, courage, and hope. Through those lived experiences, Tony and Marley came to understand a foundational truth that would later define the foundation and culture of this practice: JOY is not something we wait to find at our final destination—it is something we choose to seek along the way. Ultimately, Tony and Marley discovered that true and lasting JOY is only found in and through Christ.
This belief deepened for Marley, specifically, as she embarked on her journey as a speech language pathology assistant and later as a speech language pathologist, in that she had the honor of walking alongside children with special needs and their families. As a speech-language pathologist serving children from birth through young adulthood, she witnessed countless parents’ step into a world they never expected—a world of evaluations, diagnoses, therapy schedules, and constant advocacy. Dreams shifted. Plans changed. Families were asked to learn a new “language” almost overnight. Too often, the focus centered on deficits, delays, and missed timelines, while parents quietly carried fear, grief, and uncertainty alone.
Joy in the Journey was created to change that experience.
Joy in the Journey is a therapist-owned, pediatric speech and occupational therapy company that was founded on the beliefs that a diagnosis does not define a child, and a different path does not mean a lesser one. Every child is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Every family deserves to be supported, informed, and encouraged. Progress is not one-size-fits-all, and milestones are meaningful—no matter how long they take to reach.
At Joy in the Journey, therapy is compassionate, of the highest quality, relationship-driven, and family-centered. Our team approaches every family with a heart of servanthood, guided by the principle of J-O-Y—Jesus, Others, Yourself. This mindset reminds us to lead with Christ at the center, to serve families with humility and excellence, and to place the needs of children and caregivers above our own. Through this lens, we meet children exactly where they are, honor their God-given strengths, and celebrate every step forward—no matter how small it may seem. Just as importantly, we walk alongside parents, recognizing that they are not only caregivers, but advocates, teachers, and the greatest experts on their children.
Our work is anchored in the promise found in Galatians 6:9:
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
On the hardest days, this verse serves as both a reminder and a reassurance—that the work of loving, advocating, teaching, and persevering matters. That seeds planted in faith, patience, and consistency will bear fruit in time.
The name Joy in the Journey reflects both our mission and our promise: to help children grow in communication, confidence, and independence, while helping families (re)discover hope and joy—even in seasons of uncertainty. We believe joy can coexist with struggle, that God brings growth through challenges, and that no family is ever walking this journey alone.
The journey may not look the way you imagined—but with faith, support, and hope, it can still be beautiful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building Joy in the Journey has been a prayerful, intentional process—one marked by both growth and challenge.
Like many small healthcare practices, Joy in the Journey was built from the ground up, without corporate backing, expansive infrastructure, or unlimited resources. In the earliest seasons, growth required the owners to wear many hats—business leaders, administrators, advocates, clinicians, and decision-makers. Every system, policy, and process was thoughtfully developed with two priorities in mind: delivering exceptional care while building a practice that could be sustained with integrity.
One of the greatest challenges has been navigating the complexities of the healthcare system while remaining firmly rooted in our values. Insurance limitations, authorization delays, and increasing administrative demands can create significant barriers to timely and consistent care for families. Balancing ethical, family-centered therapy with the financial realities of operating a practice has required discernment, transparency, and continual evaluation—always asking how decisions impact the children and families we serve.
Periods of rapid growth have presented their own challenges as well. Expanding services, enhancing facilities, and increasing access to care require strategic planning, faith-filled risk, and careful stewardship. With each step forward, we have remained intentional about protecting quality, preserving culture, and honoring the trust families place in us. We have learned that sustainable growth—guided by purpose and values—is far more important than growth that is merely fast.
Through every challenge, one guiding principle has remained constant: people over profit. While financial sustainability is necessary, it has never outweighed our commitment to ethical care, meaningful relationships, and long-term impact. Some decisions have been difficult. Some progress has been slower than anticipated. Yet each obstacle has refined our mission, strengthened our foundation, and reaffirmed why Joy in the Journey exists.
Joy in the Journey continues to grow—not because the road has been easy, but because it has been walked with intention, faith, and perseverance. We remain committed to building a practice that supports families, empowers clinicians, and delivers care marked by compassion, excellence, and integrity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Joy in the Journey specializes in serving children with complex communication, feeding, and occupational needs through evidence-based, family-centered therapy grounded in compassion and excellence.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
We provide comprehensive AAC assessment and intervention for children who use speech-generating devices, picture-based systems, and low-tech communication. We believe all communication is meaningful and partner closely with families to support functional communication across environments.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Our therapy for children with autism is individualized and strengths-based, focusing on functional communication, social connection, and self-advocacy while honoring each child’s unique communication style. Our occupational therapists also provide research-based, sensory-integrated approaches to help develop children’s proprioceptive systems, allowing them to become more independent in the completion of daily life skills and mature in their sensory processing skills.
Down Syndrome
We support children with Down syndrome through developmentally appropriate speech and language therapy that promotes intelligibility, confidence, and long-term communication growth.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
We employ several PROMPT trained CCC-SLPs at Joy in the Journey that specialize in motor-based speech therapy approaches for children with CAS, utilizing evidence-based approaches to improve motor planning, sound accuracy, and consistency.
Pediatric Feeding Therapy
We employ experienced pediatric feeding therapy CCC-SLPs that specialize in implementing individualized feeding therapy for children with feeding and swallowing challenges, sensory-based feeding difficulties, oral-motor delays, and limited food repertoires. Our approach is responsive, developmentally appropriate, and family-centered, focusing on safety, trust, and positive mealtime experiences. We partner closely with caregivers to support functional feeding skills and reduce stress surrounding mealtimes.
Across all areas of care, we remain committed to meeting children where they are and walking faithfully alongside families every step of the journey.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Joy in the Journey is proud to have two office locations in Cayce and Lexington, SC. Outside of providing therapy services in these office locations, therapists at Joy in the Journey also travel into local private schools, preschools, and residential homes to provide therapy services to children in their natural environment. One of the things that we like most about being in the Midlands area is the feeling of being in a close-knit community that works collaboratively for the greater good of the families that we serve. Joy in the Journey also has partnerships with local public-school districts in which our therapists have the opportunity to serve children in the public school system as well. Community collaborations, partnerships, and support is at the heart of the culture and mission at Joy in the Journey and being in the Midlands area allows our staff to continue to serve families outside of the walls of our offices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joyinthejourneysc.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
