New York, NY

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Melissa Pathay, OTR/L, CPFT®

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Compassionate, evidence‑informed Occupational Therapy and Feeding therapy

WELCOME

I am a registered Occupational Therapist, licensed in New York, and a Credentialed Pediatric Feeding Therapistoffering occupational therapy, feeding therapy, and animal‑assisted intervention in a warm, professional setting. I provide bilingual evaluations and treatment and offer both in‑person and telehealth appointments. I truly love my work and believe every client is unique; therapy is a partnership between client and therapist.

Services at a Glance

Early Intervention 0–3 years — bilingual evaluations and family‑centered support to build early motor, sensory, and feeding skills.

School‑age services — targeted therapy for motor skills, executive function, reflex integration, feeding, and mindfulness.

Adult rehabilitation — post‑surgical aftercare, strength and balance retraining, feeding therapy, and Yin and Restorative Yoga, mindfulness and breathing.

Specialized care — Credentialed pediatric feeding therapy and animal‑assisted intervention; Yoga and Mindfulness. Services available in English and Spanish.

Approach and Values

Telehealth

Live sessions are delivered via Zoom with guided activities, observation, and caregiver coaching. Active parent or guardian participation is required for children under 4 to support engagement, safety, and carryover. Sessions use everyday household items and focus on practical strategies families can use between visits.

I am a nationally registered and licensed clinician committed to ongoing professional development and evidence‑based practice. I prioritize interventions grounded in current research and clinical best practices and continually update my skills to provide effective, therapeutic care tailored to each client’s needs. I am a trauma‑informed practitioner and integrate strong Polyvagal‑informed foundations into my work to support regulation, safety, and relational engagement across settings.

For pediatric sensory work I use a flexible, play‑based assessment approach informed by the DIR/Floortime model and select standardized or criterion‑referenced tools that best fit each individual case. I draw on a broad clinical toolkit for feeding, sensory, motor, and developmental concerns and collaborate closely with families and interdisciplinary teams. I am currently pursuing CLASI, EASI, and ASI certification to further deepen my expertise in sensory integration and clinical assessment.

Special Trainings

  • YOGA RENEW – Restorative, Yin Yoga Instructor Training
  • CLASI / EASI / ASI Certification — Currently undergoing advanced certification training in clinical sensory integration and assessment.
  • Sensory Integration Intensive Training and Mentorships — STAR Institute and Ayres‑based professionals; Temple University Sensory Evaluation and Treatment certification.
  • Pediatric Feeding Therapist Certification — Advanced credential supporting comprehensive assessment and treatment planning for pediatric feeding concerns.
  • SOS Feeding Provider — Provider certification with additional mentorship completed to enhance feeding observation and evaluation skills.
  • Primitive Reflex Integration — Training with Maxine Haller and ongoing coursework through MNRI focused on reflex integration strategies.
  • Neuro‑Developmental Treatment facilitation and play — Training in NDT principles applied to play‑based therapeutic intervention.
  • Little Flower Children’s Yoga — Teacher training levels 1–3 completed, integrating trauma‑informed and child‑centered yoga practices.
  • Get Set to Learn Yoga — Training in movement‑based strategies to support attention and learning readiness.
  • Learning Without Tears — Get Set for School and Handwriting Without Tears programs completed to support early writing and school readiness.