ANXIETY SUPPORT
IN DOVER, NH
This isn’t your traditional therapy session.
Music therapy, art therapy and counseling for kids, teens and adults living with anxiety, worry and stress, helping them understand what their mind and body are telling them and find calmer, steadier ways through it. Offered in Dover, NH, throughout the Seacoast, and in the home when appropriate.
Finding Calm, One Step at a Time
Name worries and talk about them openly
Calm the body when anxiety starts to build
Express fears through music and art
When Worry Starts to Take Up Too Much Room
Are you noticing that your child asks “what if” over and over, gets stomachaches before school, or avoids places they used to love? Or maybe you’re the one lying awake running through every worst-case scenario, canceling plans because going feels like too much, or feeling on edge without being able to say why?
You’re not alone, and anxiety isn’t a sign that you or your child are doing something wrong. It’s one of the most common reasons people reach out to us, and it often shows up in the body as much as the mind, which can make it hard to explain what you’re feeling or where it’s coming from.
At The Sonatina Center, our therapists help kids, teens and adults understand what anxiety feels like in their body and build tools that work for them. Music and art offer a way to work through worries without having to find all the right words first, while counseling builds coping skills you can use at home, at school, at work and everywhere in between.
If you’re wondering whether music therapy, art therapy or counseling is the right fit, we’re happy to talk it through during your free call.
Does This
Sound Familiar?
Anxiety looks different for everyone, but these are some of the things kids, teens and adults tell us about most often:
Worrying a lot about what might go wrong, even when things are okay
Stomachaches, headaches or a racing heart without a clear cause
Trouble falling asleep because your mind won’t slow down
Avoiding new places, people or situations
Needing things to be “just right” or feeling stuck on mistakes
Big reactions when plans change or something unexpected happens
Holding it together all day, then falling apart at home
Caring deeply and noticing more than most people do
If a few of these feel familiar, a free call is a good place to start.
How We Help
MUSIC THERAPY
Rhythm, breathing with music and songwriting help calm the body and give worries a voice, building coping skills that feel natural and easy to reach for when anxiety starts to build.
ART THERAPY
Drawing, painting and sculpting give anxious thoughts somewhere to go, slowing the mind down and making it easier to explore fears that are hard to put into words.
COUNSELING
Our counselors use approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy to help kids, teens and adults understand their anxiety, challenge worried thoughts and build lasting coping skills.
FAMILY SUPPORT
We share goals with you, include you in sessions when it helps, and give you practical ways to support calm at bedtime, school mornings and everywhere in between.
Anxiety Support Can Help With…
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Support can help when worries feel constant, jump from one thing to the next, or make it hard to enjoy the good moments.
Our therapists help you notice worried thoughts, understand where they come from, and build tools to quiet them using music, art and counseling.
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Support can help when meeting new people, speaking up in class or joining in feels overwhelming, even with people you want to connect with.
Our therapists create a safe space to practice connecting, build confidence and take small, manageable steps toward the situations that feel hardest.
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Support can help when drop-offs, sleepovers or time apart from a parent bring tears, clinging or worry that’s hard to calm.
Our therapists work with your child and family on gentle routines and coping skills that make goodbyes feel safer and easier over time.
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Support can help when tests, grades, sports or performances bring stomachaches, sleepless nights or a fear of getting it wrong.
Our therapists help build calm, confidence and healthier ways to handle pressure, so effort feels less like a threat.
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Support can help when anxiety shows up in the body as a racing heart, shallow breathing, stomachaches or feeling shaky and on edge.
Our therapists teach breathing, rhythm and grounding strategies that help calm the body when anxiety starts to build.
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Support can help when mistakes feel unbearable, things have to be “just right,” or the fear of getting it wrong makes it hard to start.
Our therapists use music and art, where there’s no wrong answer, to build flexibility and self-compassion.
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Support can help when the mind won’t slow down at night, bedtime turns into a stretch of worries, or sleep feels hard to come by.
Our therapists share calming routines, music and relaxation strategies you can use at home to make nights feel more peaceful.
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Support can help when big changes like a move, a new school, a new sibling or a family change stir up worry and uncertainty.
Our therapists help you make sense of what’s changing and find steady ground as you adjust.
Meet Our Anxiety Support Team
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![Elisha Rivera, MT-BC]()
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![Kathryn Coolidge - Mental Health Counselor]()
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![Cacia King Herlihy - Music Therapist]()
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![Shannon Lyons, music therapist working with children, teens and adults at The Sonatina Center]()
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![Jessica Kaptcianos - Music Therapist]()
Jessica Kaptcianos, MA, MT-BC
(She/Her)
Music Therapist
New Hampshire -
![Kat Sturdevant - Art Therapist]()
Kat Sturdevant, CMHC, ATR
(She/Her)
Candidate for Mental Health Counseling License
Art Therapist
New Hampshire
Getting Started is Free
Every new client starts with a free 20-minute phone call. Our Intake Coordinator will walk you through our process and policies and learn a little about your child or loved one, so together you can decide whether music therapy, art therapy, or counseling is the best fit. It’s also a chance to ask any questions you have before getting started.
WHERE: Sessions take place at The Sonatina Center in Dover, NH, and in the home when appropriate, with music therapy, art therapy and counseling for kids, teens and adults living with anxiety.
YOUR FIRST VISIT: A 60-minute intake session where your therapist gets to know you or your child, including what anxiety looks like day to day and what helps, completes an initial assessment, and sets goals together. For younger children, this may be split into an in-person session and a 30-minute phone call with you.
CHECKING IN: We review progress and goals with you every 90 days, or sooner if needed.
INVESTMENT: Rates vary by service and are reviewed each year, and you’ll always hear about any changes ahead of time. View our current service rates here.
What To Expect
Scholarships & Accessibility
Free Sessions for BIPOC Clients
The Sonatina Center is committed to bridging the gap of accessibility for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community. We offer free individual music therapy, art therapy, and counseling sessions to BIPOC clients. We have 6 scholarship spots available at a time, and we keep a waiting list when they’re full. Please contact us for more information.
Using Your Insurance Benefits
Depending on your plan, you may be able to get part of the cost of sessions reimbursed through your out-of-network benefits. We provide a monthly superbill with the CPT codes and provider information your insurance company needs, so you can submit it directly. As a private-pay practice, we’re happy to walk you through how this works during your free call.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Everyone worries sometimes. It may be worth reaching out when worry starts getting in the way of school, work, sleep, friendships or things you or your child used to enjoy. You don’t need to be sure before calling, and we’re happy to talk it through.
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Yes. Our licensed counselors can assess and diagnose anxiety as part of the intake process, and will talk through what they find with you.
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Yes. Many people we work with also see a pediatrician, psychiatrist or other provider. With your permission, we’re happy to coordinate so everyone is working toward the same goals.
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Yes. We set goals with you from the first visit, check in on progress every 90 days, and share strategies you can use at home. For teens, we’ll talk together about what gets shared, so they also have a private space to open up.
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No. Sessions are built around your interests, and no experience is needed.
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Yes. We offer sessions at our Dover office and in the home when appropriate.
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We’re a private-pay practice, and we provide a monthly superbill you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
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We’re an outpatient practice and aren’t able to respond to emergencies. If you or your child is in crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time, or call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Ready To Take The First Step?
Your free 20-minute call is a chance to share what’s going on and ask any questions, with no pressure to commit.
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