Our Story & Mission

Canyon Kids was founded in 2008 by Christine Sproat and her husband Mike Hiscock with a vision to create a place where children could be supported in meeting challenges without feeling different from their peers. What began as a small, family-founded practice has grown into a vibrant team of dedicated therapists who share a passion for helping children thrive. At Canyon Kids, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to climb toward their greatest potential in an environment that is warm, playful, and empowering.

Our Services

Meet the Team of Professionals

Christine Sproat MA, OTR/L

Christine, a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Canyon Kids, provides personalized, play-based care to help children build motor skills, confidence, and independence.

Owner, Occupational Therapist

Shannon Elie OTR/L

Shannon, a seasoned pediatric occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience, provides compassionate, evidence-based care to help young children build confidence, coordination, and independence through play and family collaboration.

Occupational Therapist / Scheduling Coordinator

Victoria Chapman MS, OTR/L

Tori, a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist, helps children grow and thrive through fun, evidence-based, and personalized therapy. With specialized training in sensory integration, feeding, and social-emotional programs, she partners closely with families and schools to support every child’s success.

Occupational Therapist

Francine Sagona MS, OTR/L

Francine, a compassionate pediatric occupational therapist, helps children build confidence and regulation through play and movement. Trained in sensory integration, executive functioning, and therapeutic yoga, she also incorporates her therapy dog, Bonnie, to bring comfort and joy to each session.

Occupational Therapist

Victoria Drake MS, OTR/L

Tori, a pediatric occupational therapist with a background in education, provides neuroaffirming, strengths-based care to help children and teens build confidence, self-awareness, and independence. She integrates sensory-based, child-led strategies to support learning and emotional growth—both in and beyond the classroom.

Occupational Therapist

Sarah Wigmore MS, OTR/L

Sarah, a pediatric occupational therapist with degrees in Kinesiology and Occupational Therapy, helps children build the skills, confidence, and independence needed to thrive in daily life. She takes a collaborative, research-based approach—working closely with families and schools to ensure lasting progress and meaningful growth.

Occupational Therapist

Kaitlin Wascher MS, OTR/L

Kaitlin, a pediatric occupational therapist with degrees in Kinesiology and Occupational Therapy, creates fun, personalized, and evidence-based treatment plans to help children build confidence and reach their goals through play. She’s passionate about making therapy engaging, supportive, and meaningful for every child she works with.

Occupational Therapist

Elizabeth Orr DOT, OTR/L

Liz, a pediatric occupational therapist with a doctorate from George Washington University, helps children thrive through play-based, functional therapy. With experience supporting children with autism and emotional or behavioral needs, she’s passionate about using creativity and assistive technology to make therapy meaningful and fun for every child.

Occupational Therapist

Candace Young MS, OTR/L

Candace, a warm and creative occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience, helps children build confidence and independence through play and connection. With expertise in autism, attention-related challenges, and brain injury rehabilitation, she blends compassion, movement, and creativity to make therapy engaging and meaningful for every child.

Occupational Therapist/ Student Coordinator

Sydney Callands MS, OTR/L

Sydney, a pediatric occupational therapist with a background in social work and psychology, is passionate about sensory processing and early intervention. She helps children build confidence and independence through play, connection, and compassionate, evidence-based care.

Occupational Therapist

Michael Hiscock,

PhD

Mike, co-founder of Canyon Kids, combines his scientific background and passion for organization to keep the clinic running smoothly. With a PhD in Biological Oceanography and a full-time role at the EPA, he manages billing and operations behind the scenes—ensuring families and therapists have the support they need every day.

Billing Manager

Alayna Uribe Harrison, CHES

Alayna, our practice coordinator, keeps Canyon Kids running smoothly so families and therapists can focus on each child’s growth. With a background in community health and certification as a Health Education Specialist, she brings warmth, organization, and a passion for helping families feel supported every step of the way.

Office Manager

Bonnie

Bonnie is our standard poodle certified therapy dog and works alongside her favorite occupational therapist, Francine! Bonnie is trained to provide both physical and emotional support to our clients. She is able to assist with deep pressure therapy, play games, do tricks, help our clients in social situations, and more!

Therapy Dog

Why Choose Us?

Personalized Care

Every child is unique — that’s why we design individualized therapy plans tailored to your child’s specific strengths, goals, and needs.

Expert Therapists

Our highly trained pediatric occupational therapists bring years of experience and advanced certifications in sensory integration, self-regulation, and motor development.

Play-Based, Evidence-Driven Methods

We blend research-based practices with playful, engaging activities to make therapy fun, meaningful, and effective for every child.

View All Services

STILL NOT SURE?

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy helps individuals to build the skills they need for everyday activities, such as playing, dressing, eating, writing, social interactions, and participation in school or other activities. Our therapists can assist with challenges with motor skills, sensory processing, coordination, attention, independence, and more!

How Do I Schedule OT Services?

Scheduling therapy sessions with us is an easy process.

1) Reach out to us by phone, email, or our online contact form. We will return your inquiry within 24 business hours to discuss your concerns.

2) We will send you our online insurance verification form to collect basic contact and insurance information. Once verified, we will share the insurance benefits information with you to review.

3) After you have reviewed your insurance benefits we can look into scheduling an initial evaluation and sessions.

Do You Offer OT Sessions Outside Of The Office?

Yes, we can provide occupational therapy sessions in alternative settings such as schools, parks, or at home depending on your child's needs and our OT's availability. We typically will schedule initial sessions at our sensory gym, where we have access to specialized equipment and therapeutic tools that can’t be easily transported. If you’re interested in exploring other options, we encourage you to discuss this with your therapist to determine what’s best for your child. We also offer in-school observations and to better understand your child’s needs within their educational environment.

Do You Accept Insurance?

We are an out of network provider for all insurance companies. We begin our intake process by collecting your insurance information to verify if your plan offers any out of network benefits. We will then share this information with you to review before scheduling. If your insurance plan does offer out of network coverage, we will submit claims to your insurance on your behalf following all services received with us.

Looking for personalized support for your child’s growth?

Our therapists provide evidence-based, play-driven care tailored to each child’s unique needs. Together, we’ll help them build confidence, skills, and independence—one step at a time.

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Occupational Therapy Services in Bethesda and Surrounding Areas

Below you will find our contact information and service areas:

Canyon Kids proudly serves Bethesda, MD, and surrounding communities with compassionate, family-centered occupational therapy. Whether your child needs support with sensory processing, motor coordination, self-regulation, or daily life skills, our experienced therapists provide personalized care designed to help every child grow, learn, and thrive.