Melissa Vastola, OTR
Melissa is an Occupational Therapist who has been working in pediatrics for more than 15 years in various settings including early intervention as well as and private and public schools. Previously she was in private practice at Pediatric Therapeutics, in Chatham and she currently works full-time for Trinitas Children’s Therapy Services in both private and public special education schools.
Melissa evaluates and treats children and leads social skills groups. She graduated from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Melissa is certified in Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT), as well as the Handwriting Without Tears program.
Melissa grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and relocated to NJ, where her husband grew up. She and her husband reside in Chatham with their two amazing children, Abbie and Tyler. Melissa says “I love being a mom, my career, going to the beach and being with family and friends”.
"My son’s handwriting was hard for us, and him, to read. He also seemed to have sensory issues. He would constantly bump into us and yank the shopping cart all around when we went to the store. Our school would not evaluate, so we did so privately with Melissa Vastola. Melissa has been remediating handwriting with proper pencil grip, body positioning, letter formation, and spacing. She works with exercises to increase fine motor, scanning from left to right, and core strengthening. She works on activities for him to be more aware of where his body is in space. Melissa has a gift of engaging a very distractible, impulsive, and energetic boy~not an easy task. He enjoys working with her and is able to do what is asked of him. She makes it fun!"
-JS