Why work with me
+30 years of experience
I have dedicated my career to helping children develop the communication skills they need to participate more fully at home, at school, and in their communities.
One-on-one therapy
My approach is highly individualized, engaging, and child-centered. I take the time to understand the child's communication needs, their personality, interests, strengths, and learning style.
Evidence-based Practice
I have pursued specialized training throughout my career, including Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) and PROMPT, at the same time I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses in speech-language pathology.
Dedicated to Your Well being
I believe that every child has a unique voice, and my goal is to help each child communicate with greater confidence and success. I am a New York State licensed and nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist working with children and young adults. I earned my Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and have dedicated my career to helping children develop the communication skills they need to participate more fully at home, at school, and in their communities.
My private practice focuses on children and young adults ages 1–21, with particular expertise in speech sound disorders, expressive and receptive language delays, and other communication challenges. I provide individualized, one-on-one therapy in a child's home or school, as well as through telehealth. I primarily serve families for in person therapy on Manhattan's Upper East Side and in the East 50s.
My approach to therapy is highly individualized, engaging, and child-centered. I take the time to understand not only a child's communication needs, but also their personality, interests, strengths, and learning style. I believe therapy should feel meaningful and motivating for children, while providing parents with practical strategies they can use in everyday life.
Service Specialities
Articulation/Phonology · Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) · Receptive Language · Skills · Expressive Language Skills · Social Pragmatic Language Skills · Phonological · Awareness · Early Literacy · Reading ·Writing
What they say about my work
I work with passion so each patient gets the individualized treatment they require.
Melissa is incredible at what she does. She helped my son with processing issues for two years and gave him tools that he still uses to this day. She made therapy fun and as a result he learned a lot and looked forward to the sessions. She is highly professional, reliable and honest. I appreciated the fact that she was a non-alarmist. She was confident that my son would go on to thrive academically and, in fact, he has. We are very grateful to have found her.
Denise M.
My son worked with Melissa when he was in preschool. He had trouble saying certain sounds. Melissa is knowledgeable, patient, energetic and engaging. She makes therapy fun and my son was excited for his sessions with her. He showed improvement with his speech quickly.
Jodi.
Melissa’s knowledge and expertise in the treatment of speech & language pathologies is exceptional. She conducts thorough evaluations, works with families to develop goals, & produces meaningful results! Further, children have a fond affection for her ability to be engaging and are challenged to become the best version of themselves. As a colleague, she has been an excellent mentor and our efforts in collaboration has brought a deep connection to both our craft and community.
Jamie Holland.
Like any first time Mom, I was unsure whether I should get my 2-year old son evaluated for speech. I came across Melissa's name on UES Mommas multiple times and decided to contact her, and I am so thankful I did. Besides being the nicest person, she came to my home and asked me questions before completely engaging my son which to me is so important (since she was unfamiliar to him). The way she goes about the evaluation is so unassuming and natural, it's play-based. She is an expert in developmental milestones and was able to alleviate a lot of my own concerns; she explained as my son was excelling in other areas he was treading water in others. After she sent me a full report and specific tasks to work on and which to stop which was extremely helpful. Melissa is one expert you want on your team!
Deborah M.
I can not recommend Melissa enough! I had some concerns about my son's pronunciation of certain sounds and Melissa was able to fully engage him via Zoom. They played different video and word games. He had a blast and had no idea he was in a session. Melissa is a true professional and her passion for working with kids is beyond evident.
Michal.
Frequently Asked questions
How do I make an appointment?
Email melissa@melissaspeechtherapy.com to begin the process of scheduling a time to meet one-on-one to discuss your family member’s specific needs.
Frequency of therapy sessions?
There is no one answer to this question as no two patients are the same. It depends totally on the condition and the needs. While some patients receive treatment one time a week, others may be seen multiple times a week. I strive to make therapy as convenient as possible.
The scope and duration of your therapy will be decided at the initial visit consultation and be reassessed on an on-going basis.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept insurance; however, I provide families I work with invoices, with the appropriate codes, so they can be submitted to insurance for their reimbursement.
Do you have private pay rates?
Yes, I can provide a listing of our private pay rates.
What is your cancellation policy?
There is no charge for cancellations made 24-hours prior to a scheduled appointment. Failure to cancel with less than 24-hours’ notice will result in a no show fee proportionate to the appointment cost. This policy is strictly enforced and applies to all patients.
I'm here to support you and your family's communication journey. Whether you have questions about our services or are ready to schedule your first session, our team is ready to help.