ARTS FOR ANXIETY
Arts for Anxiety is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting neurodivergent children and young people through creative expression. We believe the arts are not just activities—they are powerful tools for communication, healing, identity, and self-acceptance.
Founded by a neurodivergent artist and educator, Arts for Anxiety was created from lived experience. We understand that traditional systems often fail to meet the emotional and expressive needs of neurodivergent youth. Through storytelling, performance, visual arts, music, and movement, we create inclusive spaces where children can explore their emotions, build confidence, and feel seen—without pressure to conform.
Our programs use the arts to:
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Support emotional regulation and mental wellness
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Encourage self-expression and self-advocacy
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Celebrate neurodiversity and individuality
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Build confidence, connection, and community
At Arts for Anxiety, we center empathy, creativity, and accessibility. We meet children where they are, honoring their unique ways of thinking, feeling, and communicating. Our goal is not to “fix” anxiety or neurodivergence—but to provide tools, language, and creative outlets that empower young people to understand themselves and embrace who they are.
Through workshops, performances, educational storytelling, and community partnerships, Arts for Anxiety works to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind every child that their voice—spoken or unspoken—matters.
Because every mind deserves space to create, express, and belong
About the founder
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Arts for Anxiety was founded by Kennedy Campbell, a neurodivergent artist, performer, and advocate who understands anxiety not as a concept—but as lived experience.
Anxiety is a serious issue facing youth and teens across America, and for Kennedy, it began at a very young age. Diagnosed with anxiety as a child, she remembers feeling isolated and unheard—at just two years old, she did not speak to anyone in her daycare for six months. Though surrounded by people, she was suffering in silence.
As she grew, Kennedy and her family searched for ways to navigate anxiety in a world that often lacked understanding or support. It wasn’t until she discovered the performing arts that something shifted. Singing and acting became more than creative outlets—they became lifelines. When she performed, her anxiety quieted. The stage became a place of freedom, confidence, and self-expression.
Through her own journey—and supported by research showing the effectiveness of art therapy—Kennedy came to understand how powerful creative expression can be for children living with anxiety. She believes deeply that kids deserve options, tools, and safe spaces to express emotions that are often difficult to name. Children with anxiety should know they are not broken, alone, or limited—and that the arts can help them help themselves.
Kennedy has participated in multiple television specials focused on youth anxiety, using her voice and visibility to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Through Arts for Anxiety, she uses storytelling, performance, and creative education to empower neurodivergent youth to embrace who they are. Her mission is to help children understand that anxiety does not define them—and that creativity can be a source of strength, healing, and self-acceptance.
The silence is deafening—but through the arts, Arts for Anxiety helps break that silence and give every child a voice
It is hard to cope with anxiety and feel alone. This is why I do this work, to be a voice and build hope.
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Kennedy Campbell, Founder & President
Theresa Coney, Esq. is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Arts for Anxiety, bringing over 20 years of experience in advocacy, restorative justice, racial equity, and education. A nationally recognized attorney and educator, she has dedicated her career to addressing systemic inequities and advancing healing-centered, community-based solutions.
Theresa previously served as the Racial Equity Statewide Training Lead for Massachusetts’ Committee for Public Counsel Services, where she led racial equity and restorative justice initiatives reaching more than 3,000 legal professionals. A former Assistant Attorney General in New York and Massachusetts, her legal career spans civil rights, mental health, and alternative-to-incarceration work for youth.
She is the founder of Race Matters Solutions Consulting, an adjunct professor at Roxbury Community College, and a leader within numerous legal and equity organizations. As Executive Director of Arts for Anxiety, Theresa guides the organization’s vision and partnerships, centering creativity, restorative justice, and mental wellness as tools for healing and transformation.
Our executive director
About the founder