The Melillo Method is our trademarked, brain-based treatment approach created by Dr. Robert Melillo for childhood and adult neurodevelopmental disorders. It is built on the premise that conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia often reflect imbalances in how areas of the brain connect and communicate, rather than permanent damage. Using targeted, individualized therapies, the program is designed to stimulate and strengthen those brain pathways so the child can make real developmental progress. Care at the Melillo Center for Developing Minds is delivered by Dr. Melillo and his team at the Center’s Long Island and New York City locations.

Dr. Robert Melillo is a clinician, professor, brain researcher, and best-selling author with more than 30 years of experience treating childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. He is the creator of the Melillo Method and the author of six books, including Disconnected Kids. He founded the Melillo Center for Developing Minds and continues to see patients, conduct research, and lecture internationally on brain development.

The Melillo Center for Developing Minds treats a wide range of neurodevelopmental and neurological conditions in children, teens, and adults, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and attention difficulties, dyslexia and learning delays, anxiety, depression, OCD, Tourette's syndrome and tics, PANDAS, and sensory processing challenges. The Center's program is individualized to each patient rather than applied as a one-size-fits-all protocol.

The intensive program is the Center's primary in-office service. It begins with a full evaluation and testing on the first day, followed by two therapy sessions per day, Monday through Friday, for one to four weeks (one to two weeks is most common). Therapies are targeted to the specific areas of the brain involved in attention, learning, and behavior. Every patient also receives a home program with the needed equipment and access to an online tracking system so progress can continue between visits.

Every child is different and outcomes vary, but many families notice changes within the first week of an intensive, such as improved attention and greater cooperation. Progress continues over time with the home program and follow-up care. The Melillo Center focuses on long-term development rather than short-term symptom management.

The Melillo Center has two locations in New York: its main office at 119 North Park Avenue in Rockville Centre on Long Island, and a New York City office at 347 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Families travel to the Center from across the United States and around the world, and virtual consultations are also available.

Yes. The Melillo Method is a drug-free, brain-based approach. Rather than masking symptoms with medication, the program works directly with brain function through targeted, individualized therapies. The Center's goal is to address the underlying developmental imbalances driving a child's challenges.

An evaluation begins with comprehensive testing tailored to the patient's age and needs. Dr. Melillo's team assesses how the brain is functioning, identifies the specific areas contributing to a child's challenges, and then reviews the findings and recommendations with the family in plain language. For local families, this is often followed by a one-on-one parent results meeting with the doctor to go over the treatment options.

Yes. While much of the Center's work is with children and teens, the Melillo Method is applied across the lifespan, and the Center treats adults as well. The program includes levels appropriate for patients of every age and stage, from very young children to adults.

Yes. A large share of the Center's patients travel in from outside the New York area, including many international families, specifically for the intensive program. Families who are considering traveling can begin with a virtual consultation to understand what is happening with their child and what to expect before planning a visit.

Yes. The Melillo Center offers virtual consultations for families who cannot visit in person or who want to speak with a doctor before traveling. A virtual consultation provides a clear assessment of what is happening with the child and a practical plan for next steps, and can be booked directly through the Center.

The Melillo Center for Developing Minds is where the Melillo Method was created, and care is delivered by Dr. Robert Melillo and his team. While many practitioners around the world are trained and certified in the method, the Center offers the most advanced and continually updated version of the program, with a level of care tailored to each individual patient. Coming to the Melillo Center means being treated at the source of the method by the clinician who developed it.