SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS IN DOVER, NH

Making friends and feeling confident with peers comes easier for some kids than others. Our small art therapy groups give kids and teens a relaxed place to practice communication, teamwork and self-confidence through hands-on creative projects, alongside peers working on the same skills. Every group is led by a credentialed art therapist at our office in Dover, NH, and no diagnosis is required.

Kids looking at a book together at an art table during a group art activity

AGES 7–9

Music Therapy | Mondays, 5–6 PM | Starting January
Art Therapy | Mondays, 6–7 PM | Dover, NH

In this group, kids practice the everyday skills that make friendships easier, like taking turns, sharing materials, joining a conversation and working through frustration, all while creating art together. Projects are designed so every child can join in their own way, with a credentialed art therapist guiding the group and helping each child build confidence. Kids can join one group or stay for both, back to back.

$35 per session. Intake paperwork is required for all first-time participants.

Register for a Group
tween boys working on art together at the sonatina center

AGES 10-13

Music Therapy | Wednesdays, 5–6 PM | Starting January
Art Therapy | Wednesdays, 6–7 PM | Dover, NH

Preteens are figuring out who they are and where they fit, and friendships can start to feel more complicated. In this group, kids work on expressing themselves, reading social cues, handling conflict and building confidence with peers through collaborative art projects, journaling and creative challenges, with a credentialed art therapist guiding the way. Kids can join one group or stay for both, back to back.

$35 per session. Intake paperwork is required for all first-time participants.

Register for a Group
teens chatting and laughing while making art together

AGES 14-17

Music Therapy | Fridays, 5–6 PM | Starting January
Art Therapy | Fridays, 6–7 PM | Dover, NH

The teen years bring bigger social pressures, from navigating friend groups to figuring out identity and independence. This group gives teens a low-pressure space to connect with peers, express themselves through art, practice speaking up for what they need and build confidence in who they are, with a credentialed art therapist guiding each session. Teens can join one group or stay for both, back to back.

$35 per session. Intake paperwork is required for all first-time participants.

Join the Waitlist

SCHOLARSHIPS & ACCESSIBILITY

The Sonatina Center is committed to taking direct action to close gaps in access to services for Black, Indigenous and People of Color as a form of reparations. We offer free group therapy sessions to BIPOC participants, currently limited to one scholarship per group session. Please contact us for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. All kids are welcome, and no diagnosis is required. Our groups support kids and teens who could use extra help building friendships and social confidence, including autistic, ADHD, disabled and anxious kids.

  • Yes. Music therapy groups meet from 5 to 6 PM and art therapy groups from 6 to 7 PM on the same day, so kids can join one or stay for both, back to back.

  • Each group session is $35.

  • Yes. Intake paperwork is required for all first-time participants, and our office will send it to you after you register.

  • Groups are kept small (4-6 participants) so every child gets support from the therapist and time to connect with peers.

  • Groups are drop-off, so kids and teens can practice connecting with peers on their own, and you’re welcome to wait in our lobby. If your child needs a parent, aide or other support person with them in the group, that’s okay too. Just let us know ahead of time so we can plan together.

  • No. Groups are built around each child’s interests and abilities, and no experience is needed.

  • That’s okay. Some kids start with individual music therapy, art therapy or counseling and join a group when they’re ready. We’re happy to talk through what fits best during your free call.

  • Yes, there are a few options. We offer a BIPOC scholarship for free group therapy sessions, currently limited to one scholarship per group session. The Sonatina Center is also a registered Education Freedom Account (EFA) provider, so check with the Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire to see whether your account covers groups. If your child has a New Hampshire Medicaid waiver, it may cover the cost of therapy. Reach out to your case manager at your local area agency, or contact us and we’ll help you explore your options.

  • 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.

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