EMOTIONAL REGULATION SUPPORT
IN DOVER, NH
This isn’t your traditional therapy session.
Music therapy, art therapy and counseling for kids, teens and adults with big feelings, helping them understand what their bodies and emotions are telling them and find steadier ways back to calm. Offered in Dover, NH, throughout the Seacoast, and in the home when appropriate.
Room For Every Feeling
Name feelings and talk about them openly
Calm the body when emotions start to rise
Let big feelings out through music and art
When Big Feelings Take Over
Are you noticing that a small change in plans leads to a big meltdown, or that your child goes from calm to overwhelmed before anyone can tell what happened? Maybe your teen shuts down and disappears into their room after a hard day, or you’re an adult who feels everything at full volume and isn’t sure how to come back down.
You’re not alone, and none of this means you or your child are doing anything wrong. Big feelings often show up in people who are sensitive, creative and caring, and they tend to show up in the body before there are words for them, which can make it hard to explain what’s happening or why.
At The Sonatina Center, our therapists help kids, teens and adults notice what their feelings look like in their bodies and build calming tools that work for them, whether that’s a drumbeat, a song, a painting or a conversation. With practice, those same sensitive, creative qualities become strengths.
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?
Big feelings look different for everyone, but these are some of the things kids, teens and adults tell us about most often:
Going from calm to overwhelmed in a matter of seconds
Meltdowns, shutdowns or tears that are hard to come back from
Big reactions to transitions, small changes or the word “no”
Acting before thinking, then feeling bad about it afterward
Frustration that turns into yelling, hitting or throwing things
Holding it together all day, then falling apart at home
Having a hard time putting feelings into words
Feeling everything deeply and caring a lot about others
If a few of these feel familiar, a free call is a good place to start.
How We Help
MUSIC THERAPY
Drumming, singing and breathing with music help the body settle when feelings run high, building calming tools that feel natural and easy to reach for when a hard moment hits.
ART THERAPY
Painting, clay and messy art give big feelings somewhere safe to go, making space to release frustration, slow down and explore emotions that are hard to put into words.
COUNSELING
Our counselors help kids, teens and adults notice early warning signs, understand where big feelings come from and practice skills for calming down and bouncing back after hard moments.
FAMILY SUPPORT
We share goals with you, include you in sessions when it helps, and give you practical ways to stay steady together through meltdowns, transitions and everyday moments at home.
Emotional Regulation Support Can Help With…
-
Support can help when the nervous system hits its limit and feelings come out as an explosion, tears, or going quiet and pulling away.
Our therapists help you notice what leads up to those moments and find ways back to calm that work for your body, using music, art and counseling.
-
Support can help when anger builds fast and comes out as yelling, hitting or throwing things, even when that’s not what you meant to do.
Our therapists help you give anger a safe outlet through drumming, movement and art, and practice putting it into words.
-
Support can help when actions happen before there’s time to think, and regret shows up right after.
Our therapists use music games and creative activities to help build in a pause, so there’s a moment to choose what comes next.
-
Support can help when moving from one thing to the next feels jarring, or an unexpected change throws off the whole day.
Our therapists help you build songs, visual schedules and predictable routines that make changes feel more manageable.
-
Support can help when your child holds it together all day and lets it all out once they’re home, where they feel safe.
Our therapists help kids and families find ways to decompress after school before big feelings spill over.
-
Support can help when you feel everything deeply, a strength that can also leave you exhausted.
Our therapists help you honor that part of yourself while learning to recover when feelings run high, using music, art and counseling.
-
Support can help when feelings are hard to describe, especially for younger kids or people who communicate in different ways.
Our therapists use songwriting, art and play to give you a way to show what’s going on inside.
-
Support can help when you want tools to reach for in hard moments but aren’t sure where to start.
Our therapists help you build a set of strategies, like breathing with music, rhythm, movement and sensory tools, that you can use at home, at school and out in the world.
Meet Our Emotional Regulation Support Team
-
![Kathryn Coolidge - Mental Health Counselor]()
-
![Elisha Rivera, MT-BC]()
-
![Cacia King Herlihy - Music Therapist]()
-
![Marissa Scott - Music Therapist]()
-
![Jessica Kaptcianos - Music Therapist]()
Jessica Kaptcianos, MA, MT-BC
(She/Her)
Music Therapist
New Hampshire -
![Shannon Lyons, music therapist working with children, teens and adults at The Sonatina Center]()
-
![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 with big feelings.
YOUR FIRST VISIT: A 60-minute intake session where your therapist gets to know you or your child, including what big feelings look 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
-
Everyone has hard moments. It may be worth reaching out when meltdowns, outbursts or shutdowns start getting in the way of school, work, sleep, friendships or family life. You don’t need to be sure before calling, and we’re happy to talk it through.
-
No. Big feelings can show up on their own or alongside ADHD, autism, anxiety or other experiences. We work with each person based on their needs and strengths, with or without a diagnosis.
-
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.
-
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.
-
No. Sessions are built around your interests, and no experience is needed.
-
Yes. We offer sessions at our Dover office and in the home when appropriate.
-
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.
-
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.
Get on our mailing list!
News, resources & tools right to your inbox, special events, and more!