Our Team
Lani Hessen, OTR/L, Kidspace Founder & Clinic Director
Lani founded Kidspace in 2005 after years at California Pacific Medical Center's Child Development Center. She has post-graduate training in Advanced Therapeutic Listening, Masgutova Neuro Reflex Integration and the Perceptual Enrichment Program, and works with children of all ages and ability levels. Lani received her master's degree in occupational therapy from Samuel Merritt University in 1999.
Katherine Ambrose, OTR/L
Katherine received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from The University of New Hampshire in 2013. She has worked in school-based and private clinic practice with a wide variety of diagnoses including: Autism, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, ADD/ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, and CVI. After 2 years working in her home state of Maine, Katherine worked as a travel OT in NYC, Hawaii, and California. She also travelled to Costa Rica to study Spanish and educate school staff on sensory integration. Katherine has additional training in Therapeutic Listening, Handwriting Without Tears, ZONEs of Regulation, Perceptual Enrichment Program (PEP), Masgutova Neuroreflex Integration (MNRI). She founded a non-profit in 2016, Miss Sensational, to provide a meaningful platform for girls and women with special needs to grow in confidence, social skills, and life skills. Katherine particularly loves tapping into each child’s unique strengths and interests to maximize their function and potential!
Katie Kcral, OTR/L
Katie Krcal obtained her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2016. During her studies, she developed a passion for evidence-based clinical services, as well as leadership and program development. Clinically, Katie is passionate about serving toddlers, children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, citing previous experience with a diverse range of diagnoses within inpatient and outpatient models of care. She holds broad experience in sensory processing and handwriting development through her STAR Center Level 1 Mentorship, and Handwriting Without Tears Certifications. Alongside her clinical responsibilities, Katie holds leadership roles within the American Occupational Therapy Association, and was an AOTA Emerging Leader in 2019. She plans to use these skills to continue providing excellent patient care, while developing leadership opportunities and program development within the occupational therapy profession.
Emily Lankin, OTR/L
Emily received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Bay Path University in 2014. She began her career working in her home state of New York for four years before moving out to California as a traveling therapist for several school districts. Her background includes experiences with clinic and school based sessions, with children of all ages and diagnoses. Emily is driven by a strong passion to assist children and their families. Emily’s training includes Handwriting Without Tears, The Alert Program and Julia Harper Sensory Diets. In her free time Emily enjoys hiking, learning to throw on the pottery wheel and cooking.
Julia Dariychuk, COTA
Julia received an Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Pennsylvania State University in 2016 and a Bachelor of Psychology degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2020. She has had the opportunity to work in various settings with children of all ages and diagnoses through travel contracts around the country. She has training and experience in Handwriting Without Tears, ZONEs of Regulation and sensory processing. Julia is currently in graduate school at San Jose State University for Occupational Therapy. When she is not studying, she enjoys rock climbing, camping, reading, and cooking.
Natalie Hibbs MS, CCC-SLP
Natalie received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s from Northern Arizona University and has been working with speech and language students for a total of 14 years. She has experience with children from toddlers to young adults in a variety of language areas areas including, but not limited to: expressive/receptive language, stuttering, feeding, articulation, functional communication for children with intellectual disabilities, and neurodivergent students. She also has a significant amount of experience with those who have complex needs and multiple diagnoses. Natalie has worked in a variety of settings which include school, clinic, and home health. She has a passion for working with those who struggle with social skills and has been trained in Social Thinking as well as Zones of Regulation. In her free time, Natalie enjoys travel, hiking, spending time with her family, and ceramics.