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    • Physical Therapy

      Our Physical Therapists help develop the early skills needed for children to interact with their environment effectively. Physical therapy goals often include developmental milestones such as: head and trunk control, sitting, standing, crawling and walking skills. Our licensed physical therapists also assess the need for orthotics (like splints and braces) and recommend adaptive equipment by collaborating with other specialties.
      As a part of our comprehensive approach, we specialize in aquatic therapy and ‘transition to wellness’ plans. This allows us to design and execute discharge plans into inclusion sports and healthy exercise habits for a lifetime through our partnership with the Challenger Club and the YMCA.

    • Occupational Therapy

      Occupational Therapists help children succeed and become more independent within their “occupations,” or daily activities. These daily activities include playing, learning, and socializing. Children with special needs may have developmental and medical challenges that hinder normal development, causing loss of function and/or functional skill mastery necessary for independence and school readiness.
      Our experienced occupational therapists use an approach that gives strong consideration to sensory processing disorders and implement a variety of therapeutic intervention strategies to help your child move towards independence. Interventions promote the development of gross, fine, oral-motor and visual-motor skills that children need to function and socialize in their home, school, play, and community environments.

    • Feeding Therapy

      Our highly skilled speech-language pathologists and feeding therapists are specifically trained in helping babies and children who have reduced or limited intake, food refusal/selectivity by type and/or texture, dysphagia (swallowing difficulty), oral motor deficits, and delayed feeding development.
      We work closely with families to assist with G-tube weaning while collaborating with dietitians and physicians always seeking a team approach for cases that are medically complex. Our feeding therapists are trained in a variety of feeding techniques including the SOS Approach to Feeding, Food Chaining, as well as the Talktools Sensory-Motor Approach to Feeding thereby developing a comprehensive and individualized approach for each child.

    • Speech-Language Therapy

      We evaluate and treat the unique needs of children with communication disorders. Through parent training, therapy, structured play and technology we help infants & children who have various speech and language communication problems. Children who will benefit from speech-language therapy include late talkers, children with apraxia of speech, children who are on the autism spectrum, children with Down syndrome as well as children with other genetic disorders.
      Many of our speech-language pathologists have specialized training in the Hanen Program, PROMPT, Talktools Oral Placement for Speech and Feeding, Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol and use a wide variety of techniques to help each child receive optimal treatment to meet his or her developmental and communication goals.

  • “Sprout Pediatrics exists to cultivate hope in children and their families for a full life experience by surrounding them with innovative therapy, education and connection within their community.”

    • Engaging Education
    • Innovative Therapy
    • Cultivating Community

    Our philosophy is to create a family-centered, play-based intervention environment where parents and therapists are partners who take on different but crucial roles during treatment. Our team approach to treatment is research based and has quantifiable outcomes to measure improvements so families are satisfied with the therapeutic programs chosen for their child.

    • Engaging Education
    • Innovative Therapy
    • Cultivating Community

  • Meet Our Staff

    Pediatric Therapists & Assistants
    • Rhyno Coetsee
      CEO, Lead Physical Therapist

      Rhyno (Ray) is the founder of Sprout Pediatrics and Chief Executive officer as well as our lead Physical Therapist.  Rhyno attended the College of Charleston and later transferred to the Medial University of South Carolina and graduated with his BSPT degree in 1996. {read more}

    • Melanie Coetsee
      Speech-Language Pathologist

      Melanie graduated from Erskine College with a BS in Biology in 1997 and received her Master of Speech Pathology from the University of South Carolina in 1999.  As our lead SLP Melanie has extensive experience in feeding therapy and has completed numerous oral motor and feeding conferences and is known in our area for her skills as a feeding specialist. {read more…}

    • Aly Banks
      Speech Language Pathologist
      Sprout Low Country

      Aly attended Clemson University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2017. She later attended the University of South Carolina for her Master of Speech Pathology in 2019. Aly then completed her Clinical Fellowship Year under Liz Pierce {read more}

    • Stephanie Bikcen
      Certifed Occupational Therapy Assistant

      Stephanie attended the University of South Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education in 2011. She later earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant from Trident Technical College. She completed her fieldwork in 2023. {read more}

    • Leila Bressler, CCC-SLP
      Speech Language Pathologist

      Leila is a Speech Language Pathologist with Sprout Pediatrics.  She attended the University of Georgia and received a BS Ed. in Communications Disorders in 1999 after which she received her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Georgia State University in 2002.  Leila specializes in oral-motor and feeding therapy and absolutely loves the challenge of helping children learn to eat and tolerate various foods. {read more}

    • Deb Brickle
      Administrative Specialist

      Deb is originally from the upstate of South Carolina. After high school, she attended Clemson University and received a degree in Elementary Education. Deb taught first grade for years and then chose to homeschool her three sons through high school. {read more}

    • DeShea Gornowicz, CCP-SLP
      Speech Language Pathologist

      DeShea graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Master of Sciences in Speech-Language Pathology.  Prior to obtaining her Master’s degree, she attended the University of South Alabama where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in English Literature. {read more}

    • Sally Deason
      Physical Therapist Assistant

      Sally attended Clemson University and received a BA in Elementary Education in 2006. She worked as a fourth and fifth grade educator for 9 years before deciding to switch careers. In 2017 she graduated from Midlands Technical College {read more}

    • Tonya Hayes, SLP-A
      Education & Marketing Liaison

      Tonya is a Speech Language Pathology Assistant and the Educational and Marketing Liaison at Sprout Pediatrics. She graduated from Columbia College with a Speech Therapy degree in 1990 and later received a Master of Education, with an emphasis in Preschool Education, from the University of South Carolina in 1992. {read more}

    • Jen Horgan
      Jennifer Horgan, CCC-SLP Sprout Low Country Lead

      Jen received her B.A. in 2004 from University of Florida.  She continued at the University of Florida and earned a M.A. Communication Sciences and Disorders, 2006.  Jen is adept at providing therapy for toddlers and preschool age children in language development and Childhood Apraxia of Speech. {read more}

    • Julia Igoe
      Speech Language Pathologist CFY

      After completing high school, Julia received a B.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina in 2021. She was accepted into the first cohort group for the Medical University of South Carolina’s Speech-Language Pathology program and graduated with her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from MUSC in 2023. {read more}

    • Hannah Jacobs
      Physical Therapy Assistant

      Hannah completed, with Honors, her Associate of Science – Physical Therapist Assistant degree from Midlands Technical College in December 2023. We are thrilled to have Hannah join the team after getting to know her through one of her rotations with us at Sprout. {read more}

    • Hannah Knauer
      Occupational Therapist

      Hannah joined the Sprout Pediatrics Occupational Therapy team after receiving her Bachelor of Exercise Science from Lander University and her Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine.  {read more}

    • Kristyn Mayson
      Occupational Therapist
      Sprout Low Country

      Kristyn is our lead occupational therapist for Sprout Lowcountry! Kristyn attended the University of South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science.  She then attended the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences where she received a Master of Occupational Therapy in 2018. {read more}

    • Marie Newell
      Physical Therapist

      Marie serves as a Physical Therapist with Sprout Pediatrics. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Clemson University in 2009. She then attended the Medical University of South Carolina, where she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2013. {read more}

    • Liz Pierce
      Speech Language Pathologist

      Liz attended Presbyterian College for her bachelor’s degree in Special Education in 2005. She then attended the University of South Carolina where she received her Master of Communication Disorders degree in 2007. Liz currently has a close relationship with this graduate program at USC and frequently takes students who are interested in learning more about the early intervention population. {read more}

    • Kaye Seawright
      Physical Therapy Assistant

      Kaye is a Physical Therapy Assistant with Sprout Pediatrics, LLC. Also serving Sprout as our Clinic and Student Coordinator. She joined us in 2017 as a student, then becoming full time in January of 2018 after graduating from Midlands Technical College with an Associate degree in Applied Science, Physical Therapy Assistant. {read more}

    • Phyllis Smith, CFO
      Chief Financial Officer

      Phyllis is the Chief Financial Officer at Sprout Pediatrics. She comes with many years of bookkeeping and office management skills.  Phyllis thrives in an environment where she can create systems and processes for efficient workflow. Phyllis oversees administrative tasks from insurance billing to payroll including other administrative personnel. {read more}

    • Nicole Sovde
      MSP, CCC-SLP

      Nicole attended the University of South Carolina and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2015 before then enrolling in the Master of Speech Pathology program. She graduated in 2018 and began working with Sprout Pediatrics in 2020. {read more}

    • Abigail Melven
      CFY-SLP

      Abigail attended Columbia College and received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology in 2020.  She then went to the University of South Carolina and received a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 2022.  {read more}

    • Emily Trotter
      Physical Therapy Assistant

      Emily received her first degree from Midlands Tech in 2009 as a licensed massage therapist and in 2020 graduated with honors as a PTA. Emily joined Sprout Pediatrics in the spring of 2021 after completing a clinical rotation with us previously. {read more}

    • Tricia Westbury
      Director of Administration

      Tricia is the Director of Administration at Sprout Pediatrics. She keeps our office running smoothly, to ensure Sprout is the best company to work for. She works with our new therapist credentialing and maintaining our staff records. Tricia oversees the intake of new patients and handles all of the insurance authorizations.  {read more}

    • Brittney Ricketson
      Physical Therapy Assistant

      Brittney joined us at Sprout Pediatrics in 2020 as a PTA and she serves clients in the Columbia/Irmo/Chapin area of the midlands. Brittney graduated from Midlands Technical College in 2015 with an Associates in Applied Science Degree. She then continued on at MTC {read more}

    • Kayla Williams
      Speech Language Pathologist

      Kayla is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with Sprout Pediatrics, LLC. Kayla is originally from Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School. She later attended Columbia College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2006. Kayla later went on to the University of South Carolina and earned a Master’s in Communication Disorders in 2009. {read more}

    • Bailey Wolfer
      Occupational Therapist

      Bailey is an Occupational Therapist with Sprout Pediatrics. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science, with an emphasis in Motor Development in 2010. She then attended the Medical University of South Carolina, where she attained her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2012. {read more…}

    • Annalise Worsdall
      Occupational Therapist

      After high school Annalise attended the University of Toledo and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2012 in Recreational Therapy. She later attained her doctorate of Occupational Therapy in 2015. {read more}

  • Contact Us

    Are you looking for pediatric feeding therapy, pediatric speech therapy, pediatric physical therapy, pediatric occupational therapy? Give us a call and let our team help you give your child the best Columbia has to offer in pediatric therapy services. Our business offices are in Lexington, SC. We provide therapy in and around Columbia, SC, Lexington, SC, Irmo, SC, Chapin, SC We would love to connect with you! We feel relationships grow with opportunities to connect. Folks in the past have felt like connecting with us on different levels, so we have found giving you lots of ways to connect with us is helpful. Feel free to email us at info@sproutpeds.com or give us a call at 803-629-1981. (Parties using SMS to reach us hereby consent to us replying using the SMS format.)
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    • Mailing Address

      P.O. Box 4107
      Irmo, SC 29063

    • Phone & E-mail

      Phone: 803.629.1981
      Fax: 803.825.4830
      info@sproutpeds.com

    • Clinic Address

      147 Vera Rd. Suite D.
      Lexington, SC 29072
      Open Monday – Friday
      8.00 am – 5.00 pm
      Closed Weekends

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