After five years of dreaming, planning, and patiently searching for just the right space, we’ve officially opened the doors to our brand new ABA therapy center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The center, located in a quiet, sunlit area with plenty of parking and easy access from all parts of the city, began serving families on April 8, 2025, with an open house just a few days earlier.
And while the space is new, the mission behind it is deeply rooted in something we’ve believed from day one: that any kind of therapy should start with joy, not pressure. With each child’s unique interests. With heart.
“Our goal was never just to open a clinic”, says our Clinical Director, Natalie Schad.
“We wanted to build a space that feels warm, safe, and filled with possibilities for the kids, their families, and our team”.
ABA Therapy Center: Design with Purpose
Every square foot of our Charlotte center was intentionally designed with children in mind. After touring dozens of properties, the leadership team—Brad, Sep, and the clinical staff—finally found a former office building and spent over a year remodeling it into a functional, sensory-friendly, and beautiful therapy environment.
Today, the center is divided into playful “quadrants” that encourage kids to explore, build, pretend, and create. There’s a building area stocked with Magna-Tiles and Legos, a cozy zone for younger children with sensory-friendly toys, a pretend play station with a mini kitchen and train tracks, and an unpacking area with individual cubbies. It’s open, flexible, and filled with light.
And that’s just the beginning. Our ABA therapy center in Charlotte NC also features:
- Individual pull-out rooms for focused 1:1 therapy
- Two classrooms for group activities, meals, plus a dedicated circle time area
- A fully equipped sensory room with star lights and a calming projector
- And the cherry on top: an indoor gym with three types of swings, a trampoline, a crash pad, and a rock climbing wall
“We didn’t want to throw up walls and call it a day,” says Lead BCBA, Madeline Smith, who runs day-to-day operations and has been caring for children with autism for over 15 years. “We wanted it to feel special, thoughtful, and inviting. And it is”.
What Happens at Our ABA Center?
Currently, our Charlotte center offers center-based, one-on-one ABA therapy, with each child paired with a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who stays with them throughout the day.
Sessions run from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM and follow a thoughtfully structured schedule that balances individual goals with social interaction, creative play, and movement.
At Abacus, we build out every day’s schedule with clear, consistent activities, whether that’s small group games, circle time, or 1:1 learning moments. Soon, we’ll include speech and occupational therapy to create a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary model. But in the meantime, parents have already started noticing the results.
Madeline says that within the first three weeks, every single family told us they saw progress:
“New words. New skills. Happier moods. And best of all, kids run towards the door every morning”.
What Makes Abacus Therapies Different?
There’s no shortage of ABA providers in North Carolina, but what sets us apart is our foundation.
Our founders are Brad and Susan Fenton, parents of a child with autism who simply wanted the best possible care for their son. That personal experience shaped everything. From the therapy model to the team structure, and even the way we approach behaviors.
“Our philosophy is child-led, trauma-informed, and compassionate. We don’t use outdated techniques like ‘waiting out’ behaviors. If a child is having a hard time, we meet them where they are with warmth, support, and care”, explains Natalie.
That philosophy extends to the entire team. With strong BCBA supervision, frequent staff check-ins, and a culture built on communication and growth, ABA therapists at Abacus are empowered and supported.
“We’re not just here to provide therapy, but to build a community. Families know our team by name. They know we love their kids. We celebrate every small win together”, adds Madeline.
We Create A Family Environment
The word “family” comes up time and time again when you’re working with our ABA team at Charlotte, North Carolina. And it’s not just talk. From the front-desk RBT who helps greet and settle kids, to the therapists laughing in the gym with their clients, to the parents who linger at pickup to share stories, it’s clear that our ABA therapy center is a support system.
“We offer parent training, resources, emotional support… whatever’s needed. And we always welcome parents to tour the space, ask questions, and see what we’re all about”, says Madeline.
Want to Visit?
We are currently enrolling children for center-based ABA therapy in Charlotte. While most services take place in the clinic, a limited number of in-home sessions are available for families who live farther away or need alternative arrangements.
The ABA therapy center has capacity for 35–37 children, and our team is actively hiring more BCBAs to meet growing demand.
If you’re a parent considering ABA for your child or a clinician looking for a place where you can do the most meaningful work of your career, now is the time to get in touch.
To schedule a tour or learn more, call our Charlotte center directly via email at [email protected] or by phone at (704) 919- 0354.
We’d love to welcome you in, show you around, and answer any questions you have. You’ll see firsthand why so many families are already calling this place their second home.
