Art Therapy for Grief and Loss
in Gaithersburg, Maryland
When Words Are Not Enough
You’re carrying a weight that isn’t easily seen, and it can feel exhausting to keep holding it alone. You may find yourself wondering if things will ever feel okay again, or how much longer you can keep going without feeling overwhelmed or worn down.
You don’t need to carry this alone or try harder—you are already doing the best you can with what you’ve been carrying.
Explore Art Therapy for Grief and Loss
❥ Hello
I am an art therapist in private practice offering in-person art therapy for children, teens, and adults in Gaithersburg and Montgomery County, Maryland.
My work supports individuals navigating grief, loss, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions through a supportive, creative therapeutic process.
Art therapy offers a space to slow down, explore your experience, and express what may feel difficult to put into words. This is not about creating “good” art, but about reflection, meaning-making, and emotional understanding within a safe and collaborative therapeutic relationship.
You are welcome to begin where you are and move at a pace that feels supportive for you.
I specialize in art therapy for grief and loss in Gaithersburg and Montgomery County, supporting children, teens, and adults in reconnecting with themselves, building emotional safety, and processing experiences that feel too heavy or complex to express through words alone.
Explore Art Therapy for Grief and Loss
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist and Board-Certified Art Therapist (LCPAT, ATR-BC®).
If you would like to learn more or see whether this approach feels like a good fit, you are welcome to schedule a free 20-minute consultation call.
When words are not enough, what is art therapy?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that integrates creative expression with conversation to support emotional healing, self-understanding, and personal growth.
You do not need artistic experience. The focus is not on creating “good” art, but on using art and the creative process to explore thoughts, emotions, and experiences that may be difficult to express with words alone.
Art therapy can support reflection, emotional clarity, and connection—especially during grief, loss, and life transitions.
Who I Help
I work with children (7–11), tweens (11–13), teens (13–18), and adults (19+) navigating:
Grief and bereavement
Complicated or prolonged grief
Trauma and emotional overwhelm
Anxiety related to loss or change
Identity shifts and life transitions
Family stress and adjustment challenges
Whether a child is learning to express big emotions, a teen is navigating identity and change, or an adult is carrying layered experiences of grief, art therapy offers a space to slow down, process, and reconnect with yourself.
Practice Philosophy
“Art is a wound turned to light.”
— Georges Braque
My approach and work as an art therapist are grounded in the belief that art therapy is a process of healing shaped by trust, compassion, and the capacity for growth.
The creative process offers a space for reflection, emotional understanding, and reconnection with self—especially when experiences feel difficult to put into words.
Painful experiences are not erased, but gently explored and integrated over time in ways that support greater meaning, clarity, and emotional connection.
Learn more about my APPROACH
How Art Therapy Helps with Grief & Loss
Grief can feel nonlinear, overwhelming, and difficult to express in words alone. Art therapy offers an alternative way to process grief and loss through creative expression.
Through art-making, individuals may explore emotions, honor memories, and make meaning from loss over time. Creative expression can support grounding, reflection, and emotional release when grief feels heavy or complex.
Art therapy can be especially helpful when grief is accompanied by disconnection, uncertainty, or difficulty adjusting to life changes.
Services: What I Help With
Grief Therapy
Support for bereavement, complicated grief, and loss-related life transitions.
Child & Adolescent Art Therapy
Support for children and teens processing grief, trauma, and emotional overwhelm.
Adult Therapy
Support for grief, trauma, identity shifts, and life transitions.
View Full Services
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist and Board-Certified Art Therapist (LCPAT, ATR-BC®).
If you would like to learn more or see whether this approach feels like a good fit, you are welcome to schedule a Free 20-minute Consultation Call.
FAQs
What is art therapy?
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Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that integrates creative expression with established therapeutic approaches, including trauma-informed care and grief-focused support. You do not need any artistic experience or skill to benefit from art therapy. The focus is not on producing artwork, but on using the creative process to explore emotions, experiences, and personal growth.
Art therapy can be especially supportive for individuals seeking art therapy for grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, or life transitions, offering additional ways to process experiences that may be difficult to express through words alone.
Art therapy is practiced by mental health professionals who have completed master’s-level training in art therapy and/or hold appropriate graduate-level licensure and board certification, such as the ATR-BC® credential. Licensing requirements vary by state. Art therapists in Maryland may be licensed as Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapists (LCPAT) or work under a graduate-level provisional license as Licensed Graduate Professional Art Therapists (LGPAT).
To learn more about the field of art therapy, you may visit the American Art Therapy Association
How can art therapy help with grief and loss?
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Grief and loss can be difficult to express through words alone. Art therapy offers a supportive and creative way to process loss, honor memories, explore emotions, and make meaning from life experiences. Creative expression can be especially helpful when feelings feel overwhelming, confusing, or difficult to put into words.
Grief can also leave people feeling disconnected from themselves, their relationships, or the life they once knew. Art therapy provides a compassionate space to explore these experiences, reconnect with your inner strengths, and rediscover a sense of grounding, connection, and hope.
Learn more about ART THERAPY FOR GRIEF AND LOSS
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What happens during an art therapy session?
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Each session is tailored to your unique needs and unfolds at a pace that feels right for you. Some sessions may include art therapy directives, creative prompts, or open-ended art-making to explore emotions, experiences, memories, and life transitions. We may also engage in conversation while creating art; other sessions may offer space for quiet reflection, creative expression, or focused discussion.
There is no one "right" way to participate in art therapy. We work collaboratively to create a supportive environment where you can process your experiences, deepen self-understanding, and move toward greater connection, healing, and meaning.
Art therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy; making art and creative expression are a foundational part of the therapeutic process. The artwork, creative process, and reflections that emerge often provide valuable insights and opportunities for exploration that may be difficult to access through words alone.
Learn more about SERVICES
Do you offer traditional talk therapy as well?
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Words absolutely have a place in art therapy! Art therapists use conversation, reflection, and focused discussion to help clients explore their experiences, gain insight, and process emotions. The balance between verbal discussion and creative expression depends on your goals, preferences, and therapeutic needs.
While art-making and the creative process are foundational aspects of art therapy and are encouraged as valuable tools for self-expression and healing, I recognize that words are also an important part of finding and strengthening your voice. Together, we can use both creative expression and conversation to support your growth, self-understanding, and therapeutic goals. Learn more about THE ART THERAPY PROCESS or ART THERAPY OUTPATIENT SERVICES
I work with children ages 7–11, tweens ages 11–13, teens ages 13–17, and adults ages 18 and older. Art therapy is not just for children, tweens, or teens.
Art therapy can support healing, growth, and self-discovery at any stage. An adult who thinks, "I can only draw stick figures," that's perfectly okay. You do not need artistic talent or experience to benefit from art therapy. The focus is not on creating beautiful artwork, but on using the creative process to explore emotions, gain insight, and connect more deeply with yourself and others.
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I primarily offer individual in-person art therapy and counseling sessions in Montgomery County, Maryland. For child and teen clients, family sessions may be incorporated when clinically appropriate, and virtual parent sessions may be offered based on treatment needs. Please contact me to discuss current availability and whether my services may be a good fit for you or your family.
My practice is primarily in-person. Virtual sessions are generally reserved for extraordinary circumstances, such as parent / legal guardian/ caregiver sessions that are separate from minor clients’ sessions and are not family-focused sessions with the client present. For clients participating in virtual art therapy sessions, I can provide recommendations for art supplies; however, clients are responsible for obtaining their own art supplies and materials.
Please note that virtual art therapy services can only be provided to clients who are physically located in the state of Maryland at the time of the session.
Most sessions are approximately one hour in length. This allows time for meaningful therapeutic work while also providing space at the end of the session to reflect, gather final thoughts, clean up art materials if needed, and transition back into your day.
Session length and frequency are tailored to your individual needs, goals, and circumstances. During a consultation, we can discuss what may feel most supportive and appropriate for you.
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Are you in-network with insurance? What are your fees?
How do I start? What can I expect in a free 20-minute consultation?
I am an out-of-network provider and do not participate directly with insurance plans. This practice is considered private pay/self pay.
My fees are:
Initial Intake Session: $200
Ongoing 53–60-minute Therapy Sessions: $150
I also offer a limited number of reduced-fee/sliding-scale appointments based on financial need and availability. Please feel free to contact me to discuss whether a sliding-scale appointment may be available.
As an out-of-network provider, I can provide a superbill upon request for you to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Reimbursement rates vary depending on your specific insurance plan and out-of-network benefits.
Clients may also find it helpful to use Reimbursify
This is a free service for clients to use online that simplifies the process of submitting out-of-network claims for reimbursement. Reimbursify allows clients to submit claims electronically and track reimbursement status through their platform.
I encourage you to contact your insurance provider directly to learn more about your out-of-network mental health benefits, deductible, reimbursement rate, and any authorization requirements that may apply.
The consultation is an opportunity for us to connect and discuss what brings you to art therapy. If you are a parent, legal guardian, caregiver, or support person seeking services for a child, teen, or individual who may need additional support, the consultation also provides space to ask questions, discuss concerns, and determine whether we may be a good fit to work together.
If we decide to move forward, we can review the next steps and discuss how therapy may best support your needs and goals.
Feel free to email or call to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.
Secure Google Voice Phone: (301) 810-3926
Secure Work Email: lindsaykdowns.arttherapy@the3brushes.com