Our Team
Meet the TheraPlayers
Kris Owner, Occupational Therapist
Originally from Wichita, Kris got her bachelor's from the University of Kansas and her master's in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University (WMU) in 1993. After many years of being away from Kansas, she returned to Wichita in 2010 and opened TheraPlay Spot in June 2012. TheraPlay Spot started as a one-therapist practice in a charming little house with only 10 children. Incredibly, TheraPlay Spot has now helped over 3500 children in 12 years! Kris still enjoys treating by covering for other therapists on occasion, as well as mentoring new therapists. She is humbled by the responsibility of her evolving leadership role.
Her passion and daily goal is to create a fun and productive work culture where therapists and staff love coming to work, so that they can help our children and their families succeed where they would otherwise struggle.
Our Occupational Therapists
Brandee
Brandee joined us in April 2016 and has been an OTR since graduating from Newman in 1997. She has extensive training in reflex integration, including both the MNRI and RMT programs. One of the reasons why she went into this field is to help people in all stages and aspects of life. "I enjoy working at TheraPlay Spot because it allows me to fill-in-the-gap for children who do not qualify for school therapy, or need additional support. I am able to be in better touch with the parents, be a link in the chain of hope and progress." She likes spending time with family and being involved as a parent in her children's activities.
Logan
Logan joined TheraPlay Spot in September 2023. She enjoys helping people of all ages and walks of life, helping them find happiness and independence. She got her bachelors from K-State in 2016 and her masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2020. She and her husband are high school sweethearts who now have two small daughters. Logan loves being with her family doing things outdoors or just sniggled in bed watching a good movie.
Emma
Emma started her OT career with TheraPlay Spot in January 2024, following her December 2023 graduation from Rockhurst University in KC. She went into OT to work closely with caregivers to help their children grow and become more confident in themselves and the ability to do all they desire. She enjoys spending time in nature, drawing, hanging out wiht her friends and family, and caring for her adopted fur baby cat named Periwinkle.
Dusty
Dusty graduated from Brenau University in Gainesville, GA. She has been an OT for 18 years and has worked with children ages birth to 21 with varying diagnoses. She provided OT services through Babies Can't Wait in GA (Early Intervention Program), Missouri First Steps, Playabilities for Sensational Kids, and a variety of school districts in the state of Missouri. Due to COVID-19 plus living 3 hours away from Wichita, Dusty was hired as TheraPlay Spot's first telehealth-only OT in June 2020. "I love working for TheraPlay Spot because it is a wonderful atmosphere and the staff and therapist see every child's potential." We just wish she lived closer and could work onsite!
Andrea
Andrea joined TheraPlay Spot in October 2023. She loves working with kids and getting to celebrate their everyday progress! She specializes in working together with families to treat all types of feeding disorders from infant to teens. She also loves treating visual perceptual challenges. She received her OT degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). She's married to her husband Joe and they have five children. In her spare time she loves baking, reading and hanging out with her familiy.
Paige
Paige joined the TheraPlayer Team in June 2018. She loves kids and being able to see them learn, grow and overcome obstacles! She went to Newman University where she graduated. She has been in the field for 7 years. When she isn't here with us, she enjoys gardening, traveling, playing sports, and spending time with her son. She is a wonderful addition to our team!
Katie
Katie became a TheraPlayer in August 2019. She went to school at Casper College in Casper, WY and grew up in Sidney, NE. She worked at Sidney Regional Medical Center as an occupational therapy assistant before moving to Wichita. "I work at TPS because I absolutely love working with children and their families. I feel that my purpose is to help make a difference in whatever struggles they may be facing so that our children are more independent and successful human beings!" When she's not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, watching Husker football (Go Big Red!), and going on walks with her fur-baby, Leo.
Rachel
Rachel joined us in June 2021 and has 6 years of experience in the field. She went into occupational therapy to help people learn to help themselves. Rachel grew up on a farm in Kansas, lived in Colorado for 4 years doing pediatric OT and recently moved back to Kansas. She enjoys making and listening to music, being outdoors, landscaping with flowers, watching “Friends,” and being a big kid with husband.
Gibert
Gilbert came to TheraPlay Spot in January 2024 as an experienced pediatric OTA. He went into this field to help children and their families with the stresses of daily life to make a forever changing impact to everyone he serves. He's taken extensive continuing education courses on visual perceptual deficits and feeding challenges. He graduated from Newman University in Wichita, where he met his wife, who is also a COTA. They have two smart boys and enjoy spending time together at ball games, going hiking and taking walks. Gilbert enjoys sports and his favorite teams are the K-State Wildcats and Boston Red Sox.
Madisyn
Madisyn recently graduated at Newman University as their last class for the program Occupational Therapy Assistant. She joined on as a TheraPlayer because she truly enjoys working with children and find this career rewarding. On her free time, she loves to go to the lake and bake with her friends and family.
Our Physical Therapists
Andrea
Andrea has been a pediatric PT since 1987 when she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined TheraPlay Spot in 2015 and has extensive pediatric experience working in acute care, NICU, schools, home visits, and outpatient. When not at work, she enjoys time with her husband, family, and dogs. She also enjoys running, yoga, reading, or volunteering with Family Promise.
Dakota
Dakota graduated from PT school at WSU in May 2024, and chose TheraPlay Spot as her first official PT position! She's married and is also a new mom to a son. In addition to physical therapy, she also coaches gymnastics. She likes to hike, climb, and go for walks. When not at work, you might catch her reading science fiction or fantasy books, or working on her collection of rocks and coins.
Our Speech-Language Pathologists
Britni
Britni joined TPS in January 2020. She works with children who have delays with articulation, expressive and receptive language, alternative communication devices, and also has been trained to work on feeding issues. She went to school at the University of Nebraska Kearney. Her first four years as an SLP were working in the schools in Indiana before joining TPS. She loves working with kids and is passionate about giving them a way to communicate. When not at work, she loves spending time with her husband, two dogs, family, playing tennis, or cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs!
Barb
Barb is a dedicated speech language pathologist with over 19 years of experience, specializes in speech sound disorders, limited verbal communication, autism, English language, and more! She obtained her degree from Kansas State University and recently became a valued member of the TheraPlay Spot team in June 2023. Barb chose to pursue a career as an SLP driven by her passion for aiding children in their communication journey. Outside of work, she cherishes moments with her husband and their three children. Personally, Barb finds delight in engaging in various activities such as crafting, walking, gardening, and spending quality time with their beloved family dog.
KaAnn
KaAnn graduated from WSU and has dedicated 40 years of her career as a speech language pathologist. In the spring of 2023, she became a valuable addition to the TheraPlay Spot team. driven by her longstanding interest in speech as a fundamental aspect of life. Her area of expertise lies in language development for young children, ranging from preschool to middle school. Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in spending time with her husband, three adult children, and eight grandchildren. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with her two shih tzus named Max and Phineas.
Angela
Angela has been a speech language pathologist for 28 years with all ages and many diagnoses. She joined TheraPlay Spot in the spring of 2023 part-time and will join us full time this summer. Language and communication have been a passion for her, and she considers it essential in all aspects of life. In pediatrics, she specializes in articulation disorders, expressive and receptive language disorders, and has experience with feeding and swallowing issues. She and her husband have two daughters. Personal interests include spending time with family, traveling, golfing, and reading. She is active with Special Olympics and the Down Syndrome Society of Wichita.
Angelica
Angelica joined our speech team in August 2022. She is our first speech therapist to spend her Clinical Fellowship Year with us. She went into this field to work with children and their families to promote effective communication skills. She is originally from Miami, FL, came to Wichita to attend WSU, and liked it so much here that she decided to stay! Her bilingual skills have already been put to good use at TheraPlay Spot. Her dog’s name is Harley, she enjoys watching Netflix and exploring Wichita.
Our Office and Admin Staff
Kristi
Kristi joined TPS as an office manager in August 2023, she has been in this field for over 10 years. Her favorite parts of her job are communicating with parents, building relationships with team members and the integrity of the company. She graduated at Wichita State University in 2011 with a Sociology Degree and Psychology Minor. Kristi has a strong passion when it comes to helping others. She fosters kittens on top of having 2 adorable dogs and 2 mischievious cats of her own. On her down time, she loves to read, travel and watch movies. She could not be happier to be apart of the TheraPlayer Team!
Rachel
Rachel joined our team as a Front Desk Coordinator recently in July 2023. She graduated at Kansas State University with a bachelors in Animal Science. She finds sheer joy in aiding families and witnessing the infectious smiles of children. On her free time she enjoys the outdoors with her husband, their two kids and two dogs.
Mily
Mildred "Milly" recently joined our team in July 2023. She moved to Wichita from Nebraska "Go Big Red". She loves helping families in any way that she can. On her free time she enjoys spending time traveling, playing video games and with her family. She is an excited to be part of TPS!
Lauren
Lauren joined the TheraPlayer team in April 2024 as our medical billing and accounts specialist. She has extensive knowledge about billing comes in handy when managing the constant shenanigans with insurance companies. She has a supportive husband and two young children. When not working, Lauren may be found snuggled in a blanket with a warm mug of coffee.
Becky Deschene
Becky started very part-time, when we were much smaller, in November 2015 helping us stay clean and organized. Over the past 5 years, her hours have doubled and she notices how much we have grown by the ever-increasing need to order toilet paper! Ask any member of the TheraPlayer team, and they will tell you that Becky has the most generous and kind heart, and it's a common occurrence for her to leave thoughtful and unexpected surprises for people. She is appreciated beyond measure. Her job is unfortunately one that goes unnoticed if it's done well, and very much noticed during the rare times she has had to miss a time or two. This means that she does her job quite well, especially with all of the extra pandemic sanitizing she does!
David
Since we moved into the large clinic in November 2015, David has spent most days around the clinic in his overalls while making dramatic changes and improvements to the building. He has had various roles, including interim office manager, HR manager, and bookkeeper. He brings to the table years of expertise from being both a small business owner and an efficiency expert in the engineering world. He continues to wear many hats, including maintenance guy, computer repairman, IT dude, construction worker, electrician, carpenter, painter, plumber, carpet cleaner, dog walker, equipment purchaser, leaf blower, snow shoveler, landlord to the Office Spots tenants, and confidant (and loving husband) to the owner.
Heidi
Heidi is a mini Australian shepherd and joined the TheraPlayer team when she was a wee pup in April 2016. She enjoys greeting the children, chasing balls and lasers, following people around when they have food, and stealing food out of the trash. You may have heard her full name: "Heidi Get-Out-of-the-Trash!"