Occupational Therapy Clinics in Charlotte, NC
Find occupational therapy in Charlotte, NC
- Occupational therapy for sensory processing in Charlotte, NC 9 clinics
- Occupational therapy for fine motor skills in Charlotte, NC 9 clinics
- Occupational therapy for feeding and swallowing in Charlotte, NC 5 clinics
- Occupational therapy for autism in Charlotte, NC 2 clinics
Also searched: pediatric occupational therapy near me · occupational therapy near me
Occupational Therapy Clinics in Charlotte, NC
- 4012 Park Rd, Ste 200, Charlotte, NC 28209 (additional location in Pineville)
- (704) 332-4834
- childandfamilydevelopment.com
- Sensory integration, feeding (SOS approach), Handwriting Without Tears, visual processing, Zones of Regulation, and NDT
- What they're known for: A long-established Park Road clinic (with a Pineville office) whose OT team brings recognized frameworks like the SOS feeding approach, Handwriting Without Tears, and Zones of Regulation — plus one of the broadest insurance rosters in Charlotte.
- 420 Copperfield Blvd NE, Concord, NC 28025 (serves Charlotte-area families)
- (704) 706-2200
- compleatkidz.com
- Sensory processing, fine motor skills, self-care, and self-regulation, with ABA, PT, and speech available; in-clinic plus in-home and community delivery
- What they're known for: Just northeast of Charlotte in Concord, this clinic combines OT with ABA, PT, and speech and adds in-home and community options — a one-stop choice for families in the northern suburbs and Cabarrus County who want multiple services together.
- 8133 Ardrey Kell Rd, Ste 104, Charlotte, NC 28277 (Ballantyne area)
- (704) 413-0968
- hpfstherapy.com
- Fine motor and visual-motor skills, handwriting, sensory integration, a dedicated sensory gym, and Dynamic Movement Intervention; multidisciplinary clinic
- What they're known for: A Ballantyne multidisciplinary clinic with a full sensory gym and Dynamic Movement Intervention, plus Tricare and broad NC Medicaid managed-care acceptance — a practical option for south-Charlotte families, including those who are military-connected.
- 2110 Ben Craig Dr, Ste 300, Charlotte, NC 28262 (University City area)
- (704) 595-9363
- myintegrationstation.com
- Sensory integration, handwriting and dysgraphia, motor skills, feeding and oral-motor therapy, reflex integration, and autism support (Certified Autism Center); clinic, school-based, early intervention (ages 0–3), and telehealth
- What they're known for: A University City clinic and Certified Autism Center offering an unusually full menu — including birth-to-three early intervention that dovetails with North Carolina's Infant-Toddler Program and reflex-integration work for children with retained primitive reflexes.
- 5113 Piper Station Dr, Ste 103, Charlotte, NC 28277 (three Charlotte-area locations)
- (704) 752-1616
- littlewonderstherapy.com
- Sensory processing, fine motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, and self-care; multidisciplinary clinic
- What they're known for: A multidisciplinary pediatric group with three Charlotte-area sites where OT can be coordinated alongside speech and physical therapy — convenient for families whose child needs more than one discipline under a single roof.
- 7500 E Independence Blvd, Ste 101, Charlotte, NC 28227
- (980) 486-8289
- napacenter.org
- Fine and gross motor skills, sensory integration, visual-motor skills, handwriting, self-care, and self-regulation; weekly sessions plus three-week intensive programs
- What they're known for: Part of a well-known international network, NAPA's Charlotte clinic is best recognized for its intensive three-week model, which concentrates a large volume of therapy into a short window — a popular option for out-of-town families and for children pursuing accelerated motor and sensory goals.
- 2331 Crownpoint Executive Dr, Ste J, Charlotte, NC 28227
- (704) 799-6824
- pediatricadvancedtherapy.com
- Sensory integration, fine motor and visual skills, social skills, feeding, and self-care; multidisciplinary clinic with feeding kitchens
- What they're known for: An east-Charlotte multidisciplinary clinic equipped with feeding kitchens, making it a strong choice for picky eaters and children with feeding challenges who benefit from real-kitchen practice within their OT sessions.
- 2092A Ayrsley Town Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
- (704) 577-4094
- charlotteot.com
- Developmental delays, visual-motor skills, handwriting, sensory processing, ADHD, and autism support; clinic plus consultative and school-based services
- What they're known for: An OT-focused clinic in the Ayrsley area of southwest Charlotte that pairs clinic sessions with consultative and school-based support — a good fit for families who want a therapist who can also collaborate with their child's classroom team.
- 3535 Randolph Rd, Ste 109, Charlotte, NC 28211
- (704) 817-2173
- thrivetherapync.com
- Sensory processing, emotional regulation, fine and gross motor skills, self-help skills, handwriting, and feeding; clinic, school, and home delivery
- What they're known for: A Cotswold-area clinic that delivers OT across clinic, school, and home settings with a regulation-first, play-centered approach, and that accepts NC Medicaid alongside major commercial plans.
- 4801 Chastain Ave Ste 194, Charlotte NC 28217
- 980-277-7105
- backtoindependencerehab.com
- Activity-based therapy and occupational therapy with aquatic exercise, functional and task-specific training and electrostimulation including FES, TSS, NMES and an FES bike, for spinal cord injury, ALS, stroke and brain injury, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy and neuromuscular disorders
- What they're known for: A fully accessible Chastain Avenue gym for neurological impairment, with electrical stimulation therapies, a Parkinson’s exercise program and a monthly peer support group.
- 3535 Randolph Rd Ste 206, Charlotte NC 28211
- 614-390-8049
- carolinahandtherapy.com
- Rehabilitation of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder with custom orthotic fabrication, for hand injuries, arthritis, tendon conditions, fractures and post-surgical recovery, nerve injuries and compression syndromes, numbness and sensory disorders, amputation and prosthetic training, brachial plexus injury, spasticity and work-related injuries
- What they're known for: A Randolph Road clinic specializing in the upper limb, with custom splinting and experience across the amputee community.
- 9129 Monroe Rd Suite 100-015, Charlotte NC 28270
- 704-847-3911
- crosswaytherapy.com
- Occupational, physical and speech therapy for children, with feeding therapy, constraint-induced therapy for hemiparesis, TheraSuit intensive programs for developmental and neurological conditions, and telehealth
- What they're known for: A Charlotte pediatric clinic offering constraint-induced therapy and TheraSuit intensives — programs few clinics in the area run — alongside all three disciplines.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Treat?
North Carolina law describes occupational therapy as helping people reach a maximum level of independence by developing skills and abilities interfered with by disease, emotional disorder, physical injury, the aging process or impaired development.1 For children, the clinics on this page list work on sensory processing, fine motor skills, handwriting, feeding, self-regulation and self-care. For adults, Back to Independence Rehab works with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke and brain injury, and Carolina Hand Therapy Specialist treats the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Conditions Occupational Therapy Can Help With
The clinics on this page list work with children who have sensory processing differences, autism, ADHD, developmental delays and feeding challenges, and with adults recovering from neurological conditions or from hand and arm injuries.
How to Choose an Occupational Therapist in Charlotte
The right OT depends on your child's specific goals, your schedule, and your coverage. Here's what to weigh:
- Check credentials. North Carolina law makes it unlawful for anyone not licensed under the Occupational Therapy Practice Act to practice occupational therapy, so ask for the therapist's license.1 For specific needs, ask about extra training, for example in sensory integration, the SOS approach to feeding, Handwriting Without Tears or reflex integration.
- Match the specialty to the need. Sensory processing, handwriting, feeding, and self-regulation are distinct focus areas. Ask whether the therapist regularly treats your child's concern.
- Confirm insurance and cost up front. Verify in-network status, copays, and visit limits with your NC Medicaid health plan or commercial plan, or ask about superbills if the clinic is out of network.
- Consider the setting. Some clinics here have specialized spaces, such as the sensory gym at Handprints & Footsteps and the feeding kitchens at Pediatric Advanced Therapy. Others also work in schools or homes, such as Thrive Therapy and Integration Station.
- Ask about caregiver coaching. Ask how the therapist will involve you, what to practice at home and how progress will be measured.
- Trust the rapport. Your child should feel safe and engaged. Use an intro call or first session to judge fit.
Questions to ask during a consultation
- What is your experience with my child's needs?
- How will you set and measure goals?
- How often are sessions, and for how long?
- How will you coach me at home?
- What's your approach if progress stalls?
Occupational Therapy Resources in Charlotte
- NC Infant-Toddler Program / Children's Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) Early intervention for children from birth to three, including occupational therapy; no family is denied services because of the inability to pay.2
- Your child's school district (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) Under federal special education law, the related services a public school provides to a child with a disability include occupational therapy.3
What help does North Carolina offer for OT?
What is the NC Infant-Toddler Program?
The North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program (NC ITP) serves families and their children from birth to three who have special needs. The Early Intervention Section of NCDHHS' Division of Child and Family Well-Being leads it, and sixteen Children's Developmental Services Agencies (CDSAs) work with local providers to deliver it.4
Its services include occupational, physical and speech-language therapies, which can take place at home or in places like a park, playground or daycare. No family is denied services because of the inability to pay.2
Who can refer a child to the program?
Anyone with concerns about a child may refer, by phone, email, fax, letter, in person at the CDSA or with the NC ITP Referral Form. Parental consent is not required to make a referral, and only the CDSA determines whether a child is eligible.2
Does NC Medicaid cover OT under age 21?
Yes, when it is medically necessary. Under EPSDT, the service limits in NC Medicaid's coverage policies may be exceeded for beneficiaries under 21 when the provider's documentation shows the service is needed to correct or ameliorate a defect, physical or mental illness, or a condition. Prior approval still applies where a service requires it.5
An enrolled physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or other listed practitioner must order the therapy first.6
Does insurance cover OT for autism?
North Carolina health benefit plans must cover the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Treatment includes therapeutic care by licensed occupational, speech and physical therapists, when a licensed physician or psychologist orders it as medically necessary. The law does not apply to non-grandfathered individual and small group plans.7
Coverage may not be denied because a treatment is habilitative or educational. The law does not apply to non-grandfathered individual and small group plans that must cover the essential health benefit package.7 Adaptive behavior treatment, a separate benefit, may be capped at a yearly maximum that the statute indexes to consumer prices each year, and limited to people 18 or younger.7
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does occupational therapy cost in Charlotte, NC?
Self-pay rates vary by clinic, so ask each clinic for its rate before the first visit. NC Medicaid covers medically necessary outpatient OT for beneficiaries under 21, and its service limits can be exceeded when the provider documents medical necessity.5 For children under three, no family is denied NC Infant-Toddler Program services because of the inability to pay.2
Does insurance cover occupational therapy in North Carolina?
North Carolina health benefit plans must cover autism treatment, including therapeutic care by licensed occupational therapists, when a licensed physician or psychologist orders it as medically necessary; the law does not apply to non-grandfathered individual and small group plans.7 NC Medicaid covers medically necessary outpatient OT for children and adults, with an order from an enrolled practitioner first.5,8,6 For other conditions, check your plan's therapy benefits before you start.
What does occupational therapy help with?
OT helps people become as independent as they can by developing skills and abilities.1 For children, clinics on this page list fine motor and handwriting skills, sensory processing and self-regulation, visual-motor skills, feeding, reflex integration and self-care, with support for autism, ADHD and developmental delays. For adults, they list rehabilitation after neurological conditions and for the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Do Charlotte occupational therapists offer in-home or school-based therapy?
Yes. Several Charlotte-area OT providers, including Integration Station, Thrive Therapy, Compleat Kidz and T.O.T.S., offer school-based, consultative, in-home, community, telehealth or early-intervention services in addition to clinic-based care.
How do I know if my child needs occupational therapy?
Ask your child's doctor or an OT clinic about an evaluation if everyday tasks such as handwriting, dressing, eating or play are hard for your child. For children from birth to three, anyone with concerns about a child may refer them to the NC Infant-Toddler Program, and the local CDSA determines eligibility.2
How long is the wait for a first appointment?
Wait times differ from clinic to clinic, so ask when you call. Ask whether an evaluation can be booked sooner than weekly therapy, and whether the clinic keeps a cancellation list. You can contact more than one clinic on this page at the same time. If your child is under three, you can also refer them to the NC Infant-Toddler Program; parental consent is not required to make a referral.2
What does an occupational therapist do?
North Carolina law defines occupational therapy as a health care profession providing evaluation, treatment and consultation. Its aim is to help people reach a maximum level of independence by developing skills and abilities interfered with by disease, emotional disorder, physical injury, the aging process or impaired development.1
Does NC Medicaid cover occupational therapy for adults?
Yes, within limits. For beneficiaries 21 and older, medically necessary visits are capped at a total of 30 per calendar year across occupational and physical therapy habilitative services, and 30 across rehabilitative services. Over age 21, coverage is only through home health agencies, hospital outpatient facilities, independent practitioners and physician offices.8
Is there occupational therapy for autism in Charlotte?
Yes. Clinics on this page that list autism support include Integration Station, a Certified Autism Center, and T.O.T.S. North Carolina health benefit plans must cover autism treatment, including therapeutic care by licensed occupational therapists, when a licensed physician or psychologist orders it as medically necessary; the law does not apply to non-grandfathered individual and small group plans.7
Sources
- North Carolina General Assembly. G.S. 90-270.67 (Definitions) and G.S. 90-270.78 (False representation of license prohibited), North Carolina Occupational Therapy Practice Act. Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“(4) Occupational therapy. - A health care profession providing evaluation, treatment and consultation to help individuals achieve a maximum level of independence by developing skills and abilities interfered with by disease, emotional disorder, physical injury, the aging process, or impaired development. ... (a) It is unlawful for any person who is not licensed in accordance with this Article or whose license has been suspended, revoked or not renewed by the Board to: (1) Engage in the practice of occupational therapy.” - North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. About NC ITP. Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“No family is denied services because of the inability to pay. We Offer Service Coordination Physical, occupational and speech-language therapies ... When services take place children can be at home with their families or at places within the community like the park, playground or daycare with other care providers. ... Anyone with concerns about a child may refer him or her to the ITP. ... Referrals to the ITP can be made by phone, email, fax, letter, in person at your CDSA, or by completing and submitting the NC ITP Referral Form to your CDSA. ... Parental consent is not required to make a referral. ... Only the CDSA determines if a child is eligible.” - Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (U.S. Department of Education). 34 CFR 300.34, Related services. Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“Related services means transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, and includes speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy” - North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program (NC ITP). Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“The North Carolina Early Intervention Section (NCEI) is a part of NCDHHS' Division of Child and Family Well-Being. It is the lead agency for the North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program (NC ITP). The NC ITP provides support and services for families and their children, birth to three who have special needs. ... Sixteen Children's Developmental Services Agencies (CDSAs) across North Carolina work with local service providers to help families help their children succeed.” - North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, NC Medicaid. Clinical Coverage Policy No: 10A, Outpatient Specialized Therapy (OST) Services (amended October 1, 2026), Subsection 2.2.1, EPSDT Exception to Policy Limitations for a Medicaid Beneficiary under 21 Years of Age. Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“Service limitations on scope, amount, duration, frequency, location of service, and other specific criteria described in clinical coverage policies may be exceeded or may not apply as long as the provider’s documentation shows that the requested service is medically necessary “to correct or ameliorate a defect, physical or mental illness, or a condition” [health problem] ... If the service, product, or procedure requires prior approval, the fact that the beneficiary is under 21 years of age does NOT eliminate the requirement for prior approval. ... Medicaid covers medically necessary OST services for a beneficiary under 21 years of age when provided by any allowable outpatient provider.” - North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, NC Medicaid. Clinical Coverage Policy No: 10A, Outpatient Specialized Therapy (OST) Services (amended October 1, 2026), Subsection 3.1.2, Orders and Ordering Practitioners. Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“a. A verbal or written order must be obtained prior to all OST services. ... b. The OST service must be ordered by one of these NC Medicaid enrolled practitioners: 1. Medical Doctor (MD); 2. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO); 3. Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM); 4. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM); 5. Physician Assistant (PA); or 6. Nurse Practitioner (NP).” - North Carolina General Assembly. G.S. 58-3-192. Coverage for autism spectrum disorder.. Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“(8) Therapeutic care. - Direct or consultative services provided by a licensed speech therapist, licensed occupational therapist, licensed physical therapist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed clinical mental health counselor, or licensed marriage and family therapists. (9) Treatment for autism spectrum disorder. - Any of the following care for an individual diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, or equipment related to that care, ordered by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist who determines the care to be medically necessary: ... (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, health benefit plans shall provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. ... (c) Coverage for adaptive behavior treatment under this section may be subject to a maximum benefit of up to forty thousand dollars ($40,000) per year and may be limited to individuals 18 years of age or younger. Beginning in 2017 and for subsequent years, the amount shall be indexed using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the South Region ... (d) Coverage under this section may not be denied on the basis that the treatments are habilitative or educational in nature. ... (g) Nothing in this section shall apply to non-grandfathered health plans in the individual and small group markets that are subject to the requirement to cover the essential health benefit package under 45 C.F.R. § 147.150(a).” - North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, NC Medicaid. Clinical Coverage Policy No: 10A, Outpatient Specialized Therapy (OST) Services (amended October 1, 2026), Subsection 5.3, Visit Limitations for a Beneficiary 21 Years of Age and Older. Checked November 1, 2026.
Show the passageHide the passage
“Annual treatment visits must be medically necessary and are available to a beneficiary 21 years and older as follows: a. A total maximum of 30 treatment visits per calendar year combined across occupational and physical therapy habilitative services. b. A total maximum of 30 treatment visits per calendar year combined across occupational and physical therapy rehabilitative services. ... Medicaid covers medically necessary OST services for beneficiaries over 21 years of age only when provided by home health agencies, hospital outpatient facilities, independent practitioner providers, and physician offices.”
What to do next
If none of them fit, these widen the search.
For clinics
Are you an occupational therapy clinic in Charlotte?
List your clinic and appear alongside the clinics above when local families search.
Medical disclaimer. This directory is for general informational purposes. A listing is not an endorsement, referral, or recommendation, and inclusion does not mean we have verified a provider’s credentials, licensure, or insurance. Confirm those directly with the provider before booking. DrSensory is not affiliated with the clinics listed.