Award-winning pediatric therapy provider earns community recognition during its first year serving Chapel Hill families.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Therapy Smarts is proud to announce that its Chapel Hill pediatric therapy clinic has been named Best Physical Therapy in Chapel Hill Magazine’s 2026 Best of Chapel Hill issue. The honor comes during the clinic’s very first year serving families in Chapel Hill, making the recognition an exciting milestone for the growing pediatric therapy practice.

Located at 1130 Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill, Therapy Smarts provides pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), mental health services, and psychological evaluations for children from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Durham, Pittsboro, Chatham County, Orange County, and surrounding Triangle communities.

Winning the Best Physical Therapy award reflects the trust families have placed in Therapy Smarts’ multidisciplinary team and its commitment to helping children build confidence, independence, and lifelong skills through evidence-based, family-centered care. Avani Shah, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, CEO and Founder, Avani Shah shared, “Thank you to the Chapel Hill Magazine readers, our families we serve and community parents and friends for voting for our Chapel Hill team. We appreciate your support. Opening our Chapel Hill clinic has been an incredible opportunity to serve this community.” Shah added. “Receiving this recognition in our very first year of opening our Chapel Hill clinic is an honor that belongs to our dedicated therapists, our amazing families, and every child who walks through our doors.”

Therapy Smarts is known throughout the Triangle for providing comprehensive pediatric therapy services under one roof. By bringing together physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, behavior analysts, mental health professionals, and psychologists, the practice creates individualized treatment plans that help children reach meaningful developmental milestones while supporting the entire family.

Families choose Therapy Smarts for a wide range of pediatric therapy services, including:

• Pediatric Physical Therapy
• Pediatric Occupational Therapy
• Pediatric Speech Therapy
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children with autism
• Pediatric Mental Health Services
• Psychological Evaluations

The Chapel Hill clinic features welcoming treatment rooms, specialized pediatric therapy equipment, and a 2,000 square foot sensory gym designed to create engaging, play-based therapy experiences for children of all abilities. Therapy Smarts’ collaborative approach allows therapists across multiple disciplines to work together, helping children make progress toward communication, mobility, sensory processing, motor development, social-emotional wellness, and everyday life skills.

The annual Best of Chapel Hill Award recognizes outstanding local businesses selected by the community. Receiving the award during its first year in Chapel Hill highlights the strong relationships Therapy Smarts has built with local families, physicians, educators, and community partners. As Therapy Smarts celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, the organization continues expanding access to high-quality pediatric therapy across the Triangle while remaining committed to its mission of Turning Challenges Into Triumphs.