Pasadena Child Development Associates, Inc.

Welcome to
Pasadena Child Development Associates, Inc.

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  • About PCDA
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  • Adapted Music Lessons
  • Art Classes
  • Behavioral Assessment and Intervention
  • Building Blocks, Infant Development Program
  • Developmental Screening and Assessment
  • Feeding Therapy
  • Food, Fitness and Fun, weight management group
  • Head Start
  • It Takes Two to Talk^® Classes
  • Music Therapy
  • Music Together^®
  • Nutritional Counseling
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
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  • SEDI, Social-emotional developmental intervention program
  • Sibling Support Group and Sibling Saturdays
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• Founders
• Program Staff & Therapists
• Development & Administrative Staff

Head Start and Preschool Services Manager and Child and Family Specialist

Melinda has been part of the PCDA team in various capacities for over nine years. She earned her master's degree in Marital and Family Therapy at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. Theoretical work focused on family systems, developmental approaches, cultural diversity, and children in therapy. Her thesis research consisted of a qualitative study on The Impact of Animal Encounters and Animal-Assisted therapies on the Social-Emotional Challenges in Children with Autism. She also completed a year-long traineeship at a community agency in Burbank, in which she provided therapeutic counseling to children, adolescents, and families. Melinda has also earned a bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders; with a focus on developmental disabilities and multi-cultural and multi-lingual clients.

At PCDA, Melinda oversees and manages outside training and consultation contracts with various Head Start agencies and Preschools in the community. She enjoys collaborating with agency personnel to provide support to teaching staff, students, and parents of students. In addition, her clinical work is comprised of DIR^®/Floortime^TM consultation support; social-emotional assessments and treatment services; interdisciplinary feeding team services; clinical consultation and support; and counseling support services. Further, Melinda is excited to have started the process towards earning her DIR/Floortime certification. Melinda is a BBS registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern, providing services under the clinical supervision of George Holbrook, LMFT.