When a child is struggling with communication, mobility, behavior, or daily tasks, it can feel overwhelming for families to know where to begin. The world of therapy is full of acronyms and specializations—speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA therapy—and figuring out which service your child needs can be confusing.

In this guide, we’ll explain what each type of therapist does, how they help children thrive, and what parents in Durham and Chapel Hill should know when seeking support. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What does a speech therapist do?” or wondered how ABA therapy can benefit your child, you’re in the right place.

What Does a Speech Therapist Do?

Speech therapy focuses on improving a person’s ability to communicate effectively. This includes helping children with speech delays, articulation challenges, language development, social communication, and even feeding and swallowing disorders.

A speech therapist—also known as a speech-language pathologist (SLP)—works with kids who might have trouble forming sounds correctly, understanding or using language, or speaking fluently (such as with stuttering). They also support children who struggle with non-verbal communication or who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.

Common Areas a Speech Therapist Treats:

• Articulation disorders
• Language delays
• Apraxia of speech
• Social communication challenges (pragmatics)
• Fluency issues (e.g., stuttering)
• Feeding and swallowing issues

Families searching for speech therapy in Durham or speech therapy in Chapel Hill will find many highly skilled professionals, but Therapy Smarts stands out with its individualized, play-based approach that meets children where they are.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Occupational therapy (OT) is all about helping children develop the skills they need for everyday life—also known as the “occupations” of childhood. This includes everything from getting dressed and brushing teeth to playing, holding a pencil, or regulating emotions.

An occupational therapist supports kids who have trouble with fine motor skills, sensory processing, attention, or executive functioning. They’re especially helpful for children with autism, ADHD, developmental delays, or sensory integration issues.

Occupational therapy might be the right fit if your child avoids messy play, struggles with handwriting, or has big reactions to everyday sensory input (often by either seeking or avoiding it).

Common Areas an Occupational Therapist Treats:

• Fine motor skills (e.g., using utensils, writing)
• Gross motor coordination
• Sensory processing difficulties
• Emotional regulation
• Self-care tasks (dressing, toileting)
• Executive functioning (organization, transitions)

For families looking for occupational therapy in Durham or occupational therapy in Chapel Hill, Therapy Smarts provides expert OT services tailored to your child’s needs and developmental stage.

What Does a Physical Therapist Do?

Physical therapy (PT) helps children build strength, coordination, balance, and motor planning to improve their mobility and physical independence. If your child is late to walk, seems clumsy, has poor posture, or avoids playground activities, a physical therapist can help.

Unlike occupational therapy, which focuses on daily life skills, physical therapy addresses physical challenges related to movement. It’s especially beneficial for kids recovering from injuries, living with chronic conditions like cerebral palsy, or simply behind on motor milestones.

Common Areas a Physical Therapist Treats:

• Delayed walking or crawling
• Low muscle tone
• Poor balance or coordination
• Toe-walking
• Sports injuries
• Gross motor delays

Physical therapy in Durham and physical therapy in Chapel Hill are more accessible than ever, thanks to Therapy Smarts’ skilled pediatric PTs who make sessions fun, motivating, and movement-rich.

What Is ABA Therapy and How Does It Help?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a highly structured, evidence-based approach used primarily to support children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ABA focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors, reducing harmful or disruptive behaviors, and building critical life skills.

An ABA therapist works one-on-one with a child to break down complex skills into small, teachable steps. Sessions often include play, visuals, and repetition to make learning fun and effective.

While ABA therapy is sometimes misunderstood, modern approaches—like those used at Therapy Smarts—are compassionate, child-centered, and designed to build confidence and independence. We are proud to provide treatment in a classroom setting, with age-appropriate goals designed to help each child achieve school readiness and practice their social skills in a group setting.

ABA Therapy May Help With:

• Social skill development
• Language and communication
• Reducing aggressive or self-injurious behaviors
• Teaching daily living skills
• Enhancing focus and attention
• Toilet training

Parents searching for ABA therapy in Durham or ABA therapy in Chapel Hill will find that Therapy Smarts combines ABA with other disciplines such as speech and occupational therapy to offer a holistic, individualized and family-focused approach.

Speech Therapy vs. Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy vs. ABA Therapy: How to Choose?

While each therapy serves a unique purpose, they often overlap and work best when integrated.

• If your child struggles with communication, speech therapy is the go-to.
• For challenges with daily tasks and sensory processing, occupational therapy is essential.
• If your child has trouble with movement, physical therapy can improve mobility and motor skills.
• For behavioral concerns, especially those related to autism, ABA therapy offers targeted support.

Sometimes, children benefit from more than one type of therapy. At Therapy Smarts, we take an interdisciplinary approach to support your whole child—mind, body, and behavior.

Why Families in Durham and Chapel Hill Trust Therapy Smarts

At Therapy Smarts, we believe in creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive. Our team of licensed professionals offers:

• Personalized speech therapy in Durham and Chapel Hill
• Evidence-based occupational therapy that makes life skills fun
• Engaging, child-friendly physical therapy for all levels of mobility
• Compassionate, play-based ABA therapy that prioritizes your child’s emotional well-being

Our collaborative model means your child’s care team works together to ensure consistency and progress. Whether your child needs just one service or a combination, we’ll craft a custom therapy plan that supports their growth at every level.

We proudly serve families across Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding areas—and we’d love to support your child’s journey too.

Ready to get started? Contact Therapy Smarts today and discover how our expert team can help your child thrive through personalized speech, occupational, physical, or ABA therapy.