Every Emotion Deserves a Brushstroke

Virtual Art Therapy & Mental Health Counseling for Trauma Survivors, Veterans, First Responders, and Helping Professionals throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania.

You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode…

You may be feeling overwhelmed, constantly on edge, disconnected from yourself, struggling after a painful experience, navigating a major life transition, or carrying the emotional weight of caring for others. These responses are not a personal failure, but a common and understandable reaction to what you’ve been through.

Therapy can provide a space to process these experiences, build effective coping strategies, and begin to feel more grounded and in control again. When you’re ready, the next step is simple: start with a free consultation to see if this feels like the right fit for you.

Schedule a free consult
Two women with glasses sitting and standing by a large window with a brick wall, books, and a notebook.

You're in the Right Place If...

Life doesn't come with a roadmap, and you don't have to face life's challenges alone. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, burnt out, or ready for change, therapy can provide a space to heal, grow, and reconnect with yourself. You may be in the right place if you're experiencing:

Anxiety

Chronic Stress

Trauma

Burnout

Compassion Fatigue

Life Transitions

Relationship Concerns

Identity Exploration

Emotional Challenges

Parenting/Motherhood

First Responder

Helping Professional

Service Member/Veteran

Provisional Therapist

Whether you're navigating anxiety, healing from trauma, adjusting to a major life transition, or experiencing burnout in a helping profession, we're here to provide compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your unique needs.

Meet the Team

Woman with glasses and wavy brown hair holding a paintbrush in one hand and a stack of books in the other, standing in front of a white brick wall with large windows.

Casey Frederick

MA, LCPC, LCPAT, LPC, ATR-BC

Offering Virtual Services in Maryland & Pennsylvania

Specializes in trauma, art therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and supporting veterans, first responders, and helping professionals.

Meet Casey
Smiling woman with curly hair and glasses sitting on a windowsill with a stack of books, wearing a light gray blazer and jeans.

Christlyn McCaskill

MA, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC

Offering Virtual Services in Maryland

Specializes in trauma, art therapy, motherhood, and supporting veterans, first responders, and helping professionals.

Meet Chris
Two women stand back to back by a large window in an industrial-style room, smiling. One woman is dressed in a light-colored blazer and jeans, holding a few books. The other woman is wearing a patterned blazer and jeans.

Two Therapists

One Shared Vision

Create and Connect Art Therapy and Counseling LLC is a practice built on a foundation of shared experience and purpose. The founders, Christlyn McCaskill, a Navy Veteran, and Casey Frederick, an Army Veteran-Reservist Spouse, met while interning at a military hospital during their art therapy graduate program at George Washington University.

Their friendship grew from a shared love of watercolor, the color blue, Bob Ross, Van Gogh, and mandalas, symbols of calm, expression, and transformation that now inspire their work.

Recognizing their shared passion for helping trauma survivors, they were inspired to build a practice dedicated to providing a safe, unique, and compassionate therapeutic experience where clients can explore, heal, and grow through both traditional counseling and the expressive power of art therapy.

Casey and Chris are so excited to create, connect, and walk alongside you on your path toward healing.

Our Services

Two women having a conversation in a bright, modern room with large windows and white brick walls. One woman is sitting on a beige sofa, holding a tablet. The other woman is sitting on the backrest of the sofa, leaning against the window wall, with a notepad and pen.

Counseling

We offer evidence-based, compassionate talk therapy to help you explore emotions, build insight, and create meaningful change in a safe, supportive space.

Let's Chat
An organized artist's workspace featuring various watercolor and pastel sets, paintbrushes, and a tablet with a painting of a cityscape and a green tree.

Art Therapy

Discover a different way to process trauma, anxiety, burnout, and life's challenges through creative expression. No artistic experience is necessary, just a willingness to explore, reflect, and grow.

Tell me more
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Clinical Supervision

We provide supportive, growth-oriented supervision and consultation for emerging and seasoned clinicians seeking to deepen their clinical skill and confidence.

Let's grow

  • "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life"

    -Pablo Picasso

  • "What I seek is within, the images are my maps"

    -Pat B. Allen

  • "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"

    -Vincent VanGogh

  • "It is an act of bravery to feel your feelings"

    -Gayle Forman

Making Therapy Accessible

Insurance and Private Pay Options Available

Learn more here

Imagine What Could Feel Different

A minimalist design with a small watercolor illustration of a green eucalyptus branch at the top, followed by the bold, cursive text 'Feeling Calm,' and additional smaller text underneath that reads, 'Responding to stress with confidence instead of overwhelm.'
Illustration of a heart being hugged by two arms, with the text 'Greater self-compassion' and a quote about replacing self-criticism with understanding.
Watercolor illustration of an artist's palette with colorful paint splotches, accompanied by the word "Discovering" and a quote about creativity and overcoming life's challenges.
Cover page with a stack of five smooth stones in pastel colors and the title 'Finding Balance: Learning practical tools to navigate anxiety, burnout, and life's transitions with greater resilience' written in black cursive font.
Image with two speech bubbles, one teal and one light blue, overlapping. The text 'Healthier Relationships' in large, cursive font and smaller text about communicating needs, setting boundaries, and feeling connected.
An illustration of a sunrise over water with the phrase 'Looking toward the future' and a motivational message.

Therapy is not about becoming a different person, it's about helping you reconnect with the person you've always been beneath the stress, pain, and expectations of life.

Still Have Questions?

Book a Free Consult today.

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