Where your child’s communication journey becomes their greatest strength.

  • Our Story

    At Pender Pediatric Therapy, our story began with a simple but powerful belief: every child in our rural communities deserves access to exceptional speech, language, and feeding therapy. What started with one speech-language pathologist serving children in their homes and preschools has grown into a network of clinics serving families across southeastern North Carolina.

    Founded and led by Courtney Gibbs, MS, CCC-SLP, PPT was born from a firsthand understanding of what families truly need. After seeing patients in their homes and preschools in 2014, the need for local services became clear. Courtney opened Pender Pediatric Therapy, PC in September of 2016 to provide quality services to children and their families close to home.

  • Our Philosophy

    We believe therapy should feel like play, goals should feel achievable, and families should feel empowered.

    Every intervention we design is:

    Play-based – Learning happens naturally through joyful interaction
    Family-centered – Your daily routines and priorities guide our goals
    Functionally focused – We target skills that matter most in real life
    Neurodiversity affirming – We celebrate all ways of thinking and being

  • Our Approach

    Our Approach in Action

    Before we start: We listen to your concerns, observe your child in natural interactions, and learn about your family's routines and priorities.

    During therapy: Sessions are play-based and joyful, incorporating your child's interests and motivations. You're not just observing – you're learning strategies to support your child's progress at home.

    Beyond our walls: We provide coaching and support to help you implement strategies in your daily routines, making every moment a potential learning opportunity.

  • Who We Serve

    We proudly serve children with a wide range of needs and diagnoses, including:

    Autism Spectrum Disorder
    Down Syndrome
    Cerebral Palsy
    Childhood Apraxia of Speech
    Auditory Processing Disorder
    Developmental delays Feeding and Swallowing Tethered Oral Ties Myofunctional therapy Cleft lip and palate
    Complex medical conditions
    And many other communication needs

    Remember: You don't need a diagnosis to seek support. If you have concerns about your child's communication development, we're here to help.

  • Insurance and Accessibility

    We accept most major insurance plans including:

    Medicaid and all MCOs
    Blue Cross Blue Shield
    Aetna
    United Healthcare
    TriCare
    Cigna

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Our Promise To You

When you choose Pender Pediatric Therapy, you're choosing a team that puts functionality first – we focus on building skills that truly matter in your daily life, not just what shows up on assessments. Your concerns and priorities become our roadmap, guiding every therapy goal we set together. We promise to meet your child exactly where they are today and celebrate every milestone along their unique journey, no matter how big or small.

Because we understand that life with children is beautifully unpredictable, we offer flexible scheduling that works with real family life, not against it.

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