Avani Shah, M.Ed. CCC-SLP

Avani Shah, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is the CEO & Founder of Therapy Smarts, a leading pediatric therapy practice serving families across the Triangle, with clinics in Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. A certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Avani earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from North Carolina Central Universityand has been serving the pediatric population in North Carolina since 2006.

In 2026, as Therapy Smarts celebrates its 10th anniversary, Avani continues to be recognized for her leadership and impact in pediatric healthcare. She was named a 2026 Health Care Leadership Honoree by the Triangle Business Journal, highlighting her dedication to expanding access to high-quality, comprehensive therapy services for children and families.

Avani holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed in the state of North Carolina. Over the course of her career, she has served hundreds of children and families with a wide range of communication and developmental needs, including speech sound disorders, expressive and receptive language delays, fluency disorders, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), orofacial myofunctional disorders, hearing loss, traumatic brain injuries, processing disorders, cognitive impairments, cleft lip and palate, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and more.

Under Avani’s leadership, Therapy Smarts has grown into a multidisciplinary practice offering speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA services, mental health services, and psychological evaluations—all designed to support the whole child. Her approach emphasizes early intervention, individualized care, and strong partnerships with families to help every child reach their fullest potential.

A passionate advocate for children and families, Avani is deeply committed to ongoing education, clinical excellence, and community impact. She has also been actively involved in advocacy efforts at the state level, speaking out on behalf of pediatric therapy providers and the families they serve.

At the heart of Avani’s philosophy is a simple but powerful belief: meaningful human connection begins with communication. She is driven by the joy of helping children find their voice, build confidence, and achieve milestones that once felt out of reach.

Motivated by a deep respect and love for children, Avani continues to lead initiatives that go beyond traditional therapy—creating opportunities for growth, connection, and lifelong success for every family served by Therapy Smarts.