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!
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.
Suzanne Tse, OTR/L
Suzanne earned her Master's in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman's University in 2021. She is a San Francisco native and has dedicated her career to supporting children with diverse diagnoses across a wide age range, from preschool to high school, within various school districts in California. Suzanne's passion lies in working with children, and she has additional training in Handwriting Without Tears, Size Matters Handwriting Program, and the ZONEs of Regulation. In her free time, Suzanne enjoys yoga, painting and exploring new restaurants!