AUTISM SUPPORT
IN DOVER, NH
This isn’t your traditional therapy session.
Music therapy and counseling for autistic children, teens and adults, built around each person’s strengths and interests to support communication, connection, regulation and confidence. Offered in Dover, NH, throughout the Seacoast, and in the home when appropriate.
Support Built Around Strengths
Communicate needs and ideas in their own way
Feel calm and regulated
in a busy world
Connect through shared interests and play
When the World
Doesn’t Fit the
Way Your Child Is Wired
Are you noticing that your child shuts down or melts down after a long day of holding it together, struggles to put what they need into words, or finds noisy places, transitions and changes in routine harder than other kids seem to?
You’re not alone, and none of this means you’re doing something wrong as a parent. Autistic kids experience the world in their own way, and so much of their energy goes into navigating spaces that weren’t built with them in mind.
Many families searching for autism therapy want support that works with who their child is, not against it. At The Sonatina Center, our music therapists and counselors start with your child’s strengths and interests, whether that’s a favorite song, a love of rhythm, or a deep focus on one topic, and use them to build communication, connection and regulation in a way that feels natural and safe.
If you’re wondering whether music therapy or counseling is the right fit, we’re happy to talk it through during your free call.
Does This
Sound Familiar?
Every autistic person is different, but these are some of the things families tell us about most often:
Meltdowns or shutdowns after a long day of holding it together
Finding it hard to put needs, feelings or ideas into words
Big reactions to noise, crowds, textures or bright lights
Struggling with transitions or unexpected changes in routine
Wanting friends but not sure how to connect
Deep, focused interests that light them up
Responding to music, rhythm or movement in a way words can’t reach
A recent diagnosis, and you’re not sure where to start
How We Help
MUSIC THERAPY
Music gives autistic kids, teens and adults a way to communicate, connect and regulate that doesn’t depend on words, starting with the music they already love.
SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS
Small groups where kids and teens practice connecting with peers through music and art, in a space where everyone’s differences are understood and welcome.
COUNSELING
Our counselors help autistic clients understand their emotions, build coping skills and advocate for what they need, in sessions that respect how they think and process.
FAMILY SUPPORT
We share goals with you, include you in sessions when it helps, and give you practical strategies to support communication and regulation at home, school and everywhere in between.
Autism Support Can Help With…
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Support can help when your child has a lot to say but struggles to find the words, whether they’re nonspeaking, use a few words, or speak fluently but find it hard to share what they need.
Our therapists use singing, rhythm, instruments and visual supports to build communication in whatever form works best, including speech, gestures, signs and AAC devices.
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Support can help when meltdowns or shutdowns come after a long day of holding it together, or when big feelings seem to arrive all at once.
Our therapists help your child notice what their body is telling them and build calming strategies, often through rhythm, breathing and movement, that they can use at home and at school.
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Support can help when noise, crowds, textures or bright lights feel overwhelming, or when your child seeks out movement and input to feel settled.
Our therapists build sessions around your child’s sensory needs, using music and movement to help them feel more comfortable and regulated in their body.
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Support can help when your child wants friends but isn’t sure how to connect, or finds group settings exhausting.
Our therapists use shared music-making, turn-taking and play to build connection in a way that feels natural, with no pressure to socialize the “typical” way.
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Support can help when changes in routine, moving between activities or unexpected plans lead to stress or meltdowns.
Our therapists use songs, predictable structure and visual supports to make transitions easier, and share strategies you can use at home.
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Support can help when your child worries a lot, needs things to be just right, or avoids new places and experiences.
Our therapists help your child understand their anxiety and build coping skills that respect how they think, using music, art and counseling.
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Support can help as your child grows and starts to understand who they are and what they need.
Our therapists help autistic kids, teens and adults build confidence in their identity, name their needs, and speak up for themselves at school, at work and with the people around them.
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Support can help when fine or gross motor skills, like grasping, coordination or keeping a steady rhythm, are harder for your child.
Our music therapists use instruments and movement to build motor skills in a way that feels like play, not practice.
Meet Our Autism Support Team
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![Elisha Rivera, MT-BC, music therapist at The Sonatina Center]()
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![Marissa Scott, MA, MT-BC, CLD]()
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![Jessica Kaptcianos, MA, MT-BC]()
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![]()
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![Kat Sturdevant, CMHC, ATR, art therapist at The Sonatina Center]()
Kat Sturdevent, CMHC, ATR
(She/Her)
Candidate for Clinical Mental Health Counseling License
Registered Art Therapist -
![Kathryn Coolidge, LCMHC, MT-BC, therapist at The Sonatina Center]()
Kathryn Coolidge, LCMHC, MT-BC
(She/Her)
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Music Therapist -
![Cacia King Herlihy, MM, MT-BC, music therapist at The Sonatina Center]()
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 and counseling for autistic children, teens and adults.
YOUR FIRST VISIT: A 60-minute intake session where your therapist gets to know your child, including their interests, sensory needs and the ways they communicate best, completes an initial assessment, and sets goals with you. 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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No. Many families reach out while they’re still on a waitlist for an evaluation, or before they’ve considered one. We support each person based on their needs and strengths, with or without a diagnosis.
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No, we don’t provide autism evaluations. If you’re looking for one, your child’s pediatrician is a good place to start, and they can refer you to a developmental pediatrician, psychologist or neuropsychologist. You don’t need to wait for an evaluation to start working with us.
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Yes. Many of the families we work with also see speech, occupational or behavioral therapists, and music therapy often fits alongside those services. Our approach is strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming, and with your permission, we’re happy to coordinate with your child’s other providers so everyone is working toward the same goals.
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Yes. Music is a powerful way to communicate without words, and we welcome speech, gestures, signs, AAC devices and any other way someone communicates.
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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.
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No. Sessions are built around your child’s interests and abilities, and no experience is needed.
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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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Yes. We offer sessions at our Dover office and in the home when appropriate. We’ll talk through what works best during your free call.
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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