CHILD THERAPY
IN DOVER, NH
This isn’t your traditional therapy session.
Therapy for kids who are carrying anxiety and big feelings, using music, art and play to help them understand their emotions and find calmer ways through them. Offered in Dover, NH, throughout the Seacoast, and in the home when appropriate.
Therapy Can Help Your Child
Name and understand
big feelings
Calm their body when
emotions run high
Express what’s hard to
say out loud
When Big Feelings
Take Over
Are you noticing meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere, worries that keep your child up at night, or a kid who doesn’t seem like themselves lately? You’re not alone, and needing extra support doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong as a parent. Kids this age often feel far more than they can put into words, and that can leave the whole family feeling stretched thin.
At The Sonatina Center, our team brings creative arts therapy and licensed mental health counseling together under one roof, so your child can work through big feelings with music, art and play while getting the full support of a clinical team.
If you’re wondering whether music therapy, art therapy, or counseling is the right fit for your child, we’re happy to talk it through during your free call.
Does This Sound
Like Your Child?
Every child is different, but these are some of the signs parents tell us about most often:
Meltdowns or outbursts that feel much bigger than the moment
Worries that show up at bedtime, school drop-off, or before anything new
Stomachaches or headaches without a clear cause
A hard time calming down once they’re upset
Pulling away from friends, family, or activities they used to love
Saying things like “I’m bad” or “nobody likes me”
Dreading school or struggling to get through the day
Changes in sleep, appetite, or mood that are hard to explain
If a few of these feel familiar, a free call is a good place to start.
How We Help
MUSIC THERAPY
Rhythm, songs and instruments give kids a way to calm their bodies, practice taking turns and express feelings that are hard to put into words. No musical experience is needed, just a willingness to play.
ART THERAPY
Drawing, painting and building give kids a safe place to show what’s going on inside when talking feels like too much. The art becomes a starting point for conversations about feelings, friendships and worries.
PLAY-BASED THERAPY
Play is how young kids make sense of their world, so we meet them there with games, stories and pretend play that help them work through big feelings at their own pace.
COUNSELING
Our licensed counselor helps kids build coping skills for anxiety and big emotions, and works alongside you as a parent so the strategies carry over at home.
Child Therapy Can Help With…
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Child therapy helps kids who carry anxiety like a weight they can’t put down — the constant worry, the school refusal, the stomachaches before something new.
Our therapists use evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness, along with music, art and play, to help kids understand their anxiety, build coping skills, and find relief that lasts beyond the session. -
Child therapy helps kids who struggle to manage big feelings — the meltdowns, the shutdowns, the moments where emotions take over before there’s a chance to think.
Our therapists work with kids to identify triggers, build awareness, and develop a personalized toolkit of strategies that work at home and at school, not just in the therapy room. -
Child therapy helps kids with ADHD navigate a world that wasn’t designed for the way their brain works.
Beyond managing symptoms, our therapists help kids understand themselves, learn to speak up for what they need, and develop strategies for focus, organization, and emotional regulation that fit their life. -
Child therapy helps kids who are trying to figure out who they are — and learning to like what they find.
Our therapists provide a non-judgmental space to explore what makes them unique and what they’re proud of, helping kids build a relationship with themselves that is confident, honest, and kind.
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Child therapy helps kids who dread Monday mornings — whether it’s schoolwork, friendships, learning differences, or just feeling like they don’t fit in.
Our therapists work with the whole child, helping them build resilience, self-confidence, and the skills to navigate school with less anxiety and more ease. -
Child therapy helps kids who have been bullied — and who are carrying the weight of that experience long after it happens.
Our therapists help kids rebuild confidence, work through feelings of hurt, shame or anger, and grow the self-worth that bullying tries to take away. -
Child therapy helps kids who have experienced trauma — and who carry it in ways that affect every part of their life.
Our therapists are trained in trauma-informed approaches that create safety first and healing second.
We work at your child’s pace, never pushing them to talk about what happened before they’re ready. -
Child therapy helps kids who are grieving — a person, a pet, or a family that looks different after a divorce or a move.
Grief doesn’t follow a schedule and it doesn’t look the same for every child.
Our therapists meet kids where they are, giving them room to feel what they feel without rushing them toward an ending.
Meet Our Child Therapists
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Kat Sturdevent, CMHC, ATR
(She/Her)
Candidate for Clinical Mental Health Counseling License
Registered Art Therapist -
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![Cacia King Herlihy - Music Therapist]()
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Kathryn Coolidge, LCMHC, MT-BC
(She/Her)
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Music Therapist
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, 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, with music therapy, art therapy, and counseling for children ages 4–10.
YOUR FIRST VISIT: A 60-minute intake session where your child’s therapist gets to know them, completes an initial assessment, and reviews 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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Yes. Your child’s therapist reviews goals with you from the first visit, checks in on progress every 90 days, and shares strategies you can use at home between sessions.
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You don’t need to know before reaching out. During your free 20-minute call, we’ll learn about your child and help you choose the best fit.
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No. Sessions are built around your child’s interests and abilities, and no experience is needed.
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Every child is different. We review progress and goals with you every 90 days, so you’ll always know how things are going and what comes next.
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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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Sessions take place at The Sonatina Center in Dover, NH, and in the home when appropriate.
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.