Occupational Therapy
What does a pediatric occupational therapist do?
Occupational therapists work with children and adolescents to improve their functional abilities and participation in daily activities. Pediatric occupational therapists may work in various settings, including schools, hospitals, clinics, and home health agencies. They collaborate with parents, teachers, and other healthcare professionals to develop individualized treatment plans and provide support and guidance to families.
Does My child need OT?
If you happen to notice difficulties in one or more of these areas, an evaluation for treatment may be appropriate:
- Easily Distracted
- Poor Attention Span
- Overly Sensitive to Touch, Movement, Sounds or Sights
- Difficulty Accepting Change
- Doesn’t Skip, Jump, or Hop on One Foot
- Activity Level Usually High or Low
- Poor eye hand coordination
- Difficulty dressing
- Low Muscle Tone
- Limited Play Skills
- Walks on Toes
- Walks into People or Objects Frequently
- Inability to “Unwind” or “Self-Regulate”
- Excessive Drooling
- Trouble using spoon or fork
- Picky Eater
- Doesn’t Chew Food Before Swallowing
- Doesn’t Feed Self
- Clumsy / Uncoordinated
- Constantly Touches People or Object
- Poor Social Interaction
- Difficulty Holding a Pencil or Handwriting (3+)
Have Q’s? We are here to help
Who can benefit ?
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Attention Deficit
- Hyperactivity Disorder
- Anxiety
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Brachial Plexus Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Club Foot
- Developmental Delay
- Developmental
- Coordination Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- Dyslexia
- Edwards’ Syndrome
- Feeding Difficulties
- Fragile X Syndrome
- GERD/GER
- Lack of Coordination
- Mitochondrial Disease
- Muscle Weakness (generalized)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Prematurity
- Seizure Disorder
- Sensory Integration Dysfunction
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Cord Truma
- Stiffness of Joints
- Taylor Sachs Disease
- Torticollis
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Turner’s Syndrome
- Williams Syndrome
Frequently Asked Questions
Therapy Smarts is a pediatric therapy clinic offering occupational therapy (OT), speech-language therapy, physical therapy (PT), psychology services, and autism programs for children in Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. Our team of licensed therapists supports children’s developmental, communication, behavioral, and physical needs through individualized therapy plans.
We serve children from infancy through adolescence (ages 0–18). Services are tailored to each child’s developmental level and specific needs.
Occupational therapy (OT) helps children develop the skills they need for daily living, such as:
- Self-care (dressing, feeding, toileting)
- Sensory processing and emotional regulation
- Handwriting and fine motor skills
- Attention and executive functioning
- Play and social interaction
Signs include:
- Difficulty with self-help tasks
- Trouble holding a pencil, using scissors, or tying shoes
- Sensory sensitivities or avoidance (e.g., clothing textures, loud noises)
- Poor coordination or frequent falls
- Difficulty with transitions or changes in routine
Start by calling us or submitting an intake form on our website. We will gather basic information, help verify insurance, and schedule an evaluation to assess your child’s needs.
Some insurance plans require a physician’s referral, but not all. We’ll help you check and guide you through the process.
A licensed therapist will assess your child’s strengths and challenges in their area of concern. We’ll discuss goals and create a therapy plan tailored to your child.
We are in network and file insurance claims for these providers.
- BCBS (All except Blue Home)
- United Health Care (All-Saver, Oxford Plan, Bind Benefits), UMR
- Aetna (all except Duke Select)
- NC Health Choice
- Cigna
- Tricare
- Managed Care Organizations: Amerihealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, Carolina Complete Health, UHC of NC, Wellcare of NC, Alliance, Vayahealth, Trillium, Partners Behavior Health
Yes. We provide a self-pay rate if you do not use insurance. We also offer free therapy screenings throughout the year—check our events page for details.
Most therapy sessions are 30–60 minutes, depending on your child’s plan. Sessions may be once or multiple times per week based on their needs.
Most therapy sessions are 30–60 minutes, depending on your child’s plan. Sessions may be once or multiple times per week based on their needs.
In most cases, therapy is provided in person at our Chapel Hill or Durham clinic. Virtual services may be offered when appropriate and covered by insurance.
Yes! We encourage caregiver involvement and provide parent coaching as part of our services. Your therapist will guide you on when it’s best to observe, join, or wait.
Your therapist will set measurable goals and track your child’s progress each session. We provide regular updates and re-evaluate periodically to adjust the treatment plan.
- Chapel Hill Clinic: 1130 Weaver Dairy Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
- Durham Clinic: 1920 NC-54 STE 240, 360, Durham, NC 27713
We offer flexible hours to accommodate school and family schedules. Typical hours are:
- Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
