PEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY · ROCHESTER, NY
Worried your child is not talking yet, is hard to understand, or gets frustrated trying to communicate?
Petite Pals provides warm, personalized speech and language therapy for toddlers and preschoolers, with support for older children when it is a good fit. Meet with Melissa in the new Mendon clinic, in your own home, or at your child's preschool or daycare in select communities, with therapy provided in English and Spanish.
Ages 0-5+
In-clinic · In-home · Daycare
English & Spanish
Insurance & Private-Pay
A free 30-minute call to talk through what you are seeing. No pressure, just clarity.
WHO WE HELP
Every child develops differently.
Petite Pals provides warm, personalized speech and language therapy for toddlers and preschoolers, with support for older children when it is a good fit. Melissa is passionate about supporting children in their communication and specializes in:
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Late talking
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Articulation & Speech Sounds
Expressive language challenges
Receptive language challenges
Bilingual language support
You know your child best. When something doesn't feel quite right, your concerns are valid and deserve to be heard. When your pediatrician or your child's school have raised concerns and you just need guidance, Melissa is happy to provide a free consult.
Late Talkers
Children who are not talking yet or are using fewer words than you would expect. Early support can make a real difference.
Articulation & Speech Sounds
Children who are talking but have trouble producing certain speech sounds and are hard for others to understand.
Receptive Language & Understanding
For children who have difficulty following directions, understanding language or processing what is heard.
Expressive Language
Difficulty putting thoughts into words, forming phrases/sentences, expressing wants, needs and ideas.
Bilingual Language support in English & Spanish
Children who need support with their communication needs in English and Spanish. Melissa can provide therapy in both languages.
Support for children with autism
Helping children build connection, understanding, and meaningful ways to communicate, at their own pace.​
SERVICES WE OFFER
What working with Melissa looks like.
Free Phone Consultation
A relaxed 30-minute call to share your concerns and what you are noticing, ask questions, and figure out the right next step. No cost, no pressure.
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Evaluation
A thorough look at your child's speech, language, and communication skills using standardized assessment and play-based observation. When an evaluation is completed by Melissa, families receive a written report with findings and practical recommendations and goals for therapy. If your child already has an outside evaluation, Melissa can review it and discuss whether another evaluation is needed before therapy begins. Evaluations can be done in-home or in-clinic.
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1:1 Therapy
Playful sessions with games and activities your child looks forward to, built around their goals, plus simple, practical ideas you can use at home that fit into your routines. Melissa tracks progress with you every step of the way.
WHERE WE WORK
Care that fits your family's life.
In-clinic sessions
A calm, kid-friendly therapy space designed for focus and play. Great for families who prefer a dedicated therapy environment.
1350 Pittsford Mendon Rd
Mendon, NY
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In-home sessions
If it works better for you, Melissa is able to come to you so therapy can happen in your child's most familiar environment. Melissa can see your child in your home or the child's preschool/daycare.
Mobile services serve: Pittsford, East Rochester, Brighton, Fairport, Penfield & Bushnill's Basin
How It Works
01
Free Consultation
A relaxed 30-minute call. No cost, no pressure.
02
Evaluation
Play-based assessment with a written report and recommendations.
03
Clear Plan
A plan built around your child's unique goals.
04
Regular Sessions
Goals you track together every step of the way.
INSURANCE & PAYMENT
Insurance and Payment
Petite Pals is in network with Excellus BCBS. Melissa can help verify your child's speech-therapy benefits before services begin, so you have a clearer understanding of possible coverage and out-of-pocket costs. Final coverage is determined by your individual plan and eligibility.
Private pay
Transparent rates for in-clinic and in-home sessions​​​
Insurance
Petite Pals is in network with Excellus BCBS and can help verify your speech therapy benefits. We also contract with Monroe County CPSE for eligible families.
Superbills, HSA, and FSA
For out-of-network families, we provide superbills you can submit for possible reimbursement. We also accept HSA and FSA.​​
ABOUT MELISSA
Hi, I'm Melissa.
Melissa Castelblanco-Colón, MIT, M.S., CCC-SLP
I am a bilingual pediatric speech-language pathologist with over 16 years of experience working with children. I hold two masters degrees: a Master in Teaching and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. I have been a speech therapist for over 8 years and am passionate about helping young children develop the communication skills they need to thrive. I am also a mom of two littles, so I understand the parent side too. When I am not working, you will usually find me traveling or outdoors.
I look forward to meeting your family!
Let's be friends!
@petitepalsspeechtherapy
Have questions about milestones for speech or language?
Connect with us on Instagram for speech therapy tips and insights.
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REVIEWS
What families are saying
"Trusting strangers with your child is a big step, but with Melissa we felt a great connection. The progress my son has made with her is truly remarkable, and we are so thankful for her."
— Stephanie, Parent
"Our son started working with Melissa around 20 months old, when he only had a few words. Within about six months, he had completely caught up to typical speech milestones for his age. She also gave us simple, practical ideas to encourage speech at home that truly made a difference."
— Ben, Parent
​​​"Cuando mi hijo comenzó la terapia, se comunicaba principalmente con señas y decía muy pocas palabras. Gracias a su dedicación, paciencia y profesionalismo, hoy mi hijo habla, forma frases de dos y tres palabras y ha mejorado muchísimo su pronunciación."
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English translation"When my son started therapy, he communicated mainly with signs and said very few words. Thanks to her dedication, patience, and professionalism, today my son talks, forms two- and three-word phrases, and has improved his pronunciation a great deal."
— Cecilia, Parent
"Melissa has been great working with my son! She makes every session different with new games and activities. She is very engaging and provides great tips for home practice too!"
— Kari, Parent
LOCATION AND HOURS
Location and hours
Find us
Clinic: 1350 Pittsford Mendon Rd, Mendon, NY​
In-home, preschool & daycare area: Pittsford, Brighton, East Rochester, Fairport, Penfield, and Bushnell's Basin
September - June
Monday
9am-2:00pm
Tuesday
9am-4:30pm
Wednesday
9am-2:00pm
Thursday
9am-4:30pm
Friday
Closed
Summer (July-August)
TBD
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions we hear often
CONTACT
Ready to take the first step?
We will talk through what you are noticing, answer your questions, and help you understand the most appropriate next step.
Prefer to write?
Send us a message and we will get back to you.