Trauma-Informed Counseling & Art Therapy In Baltimore, MD
Virtual services available throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania.
A Place for the Questions That Come Up Along the Way
Explore frequently asked questions, helpful resources, and information about getting started with therapy at Create & Connect.
It’s Okay to Have Questions Before You Begin.
Whether you’re considering therapy, already working with us, or simply looking for reliable information, start with what brought you here.
Getting Started
New to C&C? Find information about consultations, your first session, scheduling, virtual therapy, and what to expect when you begin.
Current Clients
Quick access to the client portal, scheduling and billing information, forms, and other resources you may need while working with us.
Therapy Questions
Wondering how therapy works, which approach might fit, or what sessions actually look like? Start with some of our most commonly asked questions.
Immediate Support
If you need support that cannot wait for your next therapy appointment, find crisis lines and other resources for immediate help.
Cost & Insurance
Find information about therapy rates, insurance coverage, private pay, out-of-network benefits, reduced-fee options, and superbills.
For Clinicians
Looking for supervision, consultation, or professional resources? Find information specifically for counselors and art therapists.
Getting Started In 3 Simple Steps
Book A Free Consult Call
A free 15-minute phone call gives us a chance to answer your questions, learn what you're looking for, and help you decide if we're the right fit.
Schedule Your 1st Session
If it feels like a good fit, we'll choose a consistent appointment time that works for both of us, complete your paperwork, and get everything in place before your first session.
Start Healing
Using trauma-informed therapy, art therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and other evidence-based approaches, we'll work together to help you process life's challenges, reconnect with yourself, and move toward lasting healing.
Frequently Asked Questions: Getting Started
Starting Therapy Comes With Questions
You don’t need to know exactly what you want to work on, which type of therapy you need, or even what you’re supposed to say when you get here. Here are a few things that may help you know what to expect.
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The first step is scheduling a free consultation. This gives us a chance to briefly talk about what brings you to therapy, answer questions you may have, and determine which therapist may be the best fit for what you’re looking for.
If you decide to move forward, we’ll help you schedule your initial appointment and send the paperwork you’ll need to complete before your first session.
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A consultation is a brief conversation to help us determine whether C&C may be a good fit for you. We’ll ask a little about what brings you to therapy, what you’re looking for, your scheduling needs, and any preferences you may have for your therapist or approach.
It’s also your opportunity to ask us questions. You don’t need to prepare anything or know exactly what you want to work on before calling.
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You don’t necessarily have to. If you’re unsure whether Casey or Chris would be a better fit, tell us a little about what you’re looking for during your consultation. We can help you consider each therapist’s areas of specialization, approach, availability, and the kind of therapeutic relationship you’re hoping for.
Ultimately, feeling comfortable with the person you’re working with matters, and you’re allowed to have preferences about who that person is.
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Your first full session gives us time to get to know you beyond what we discussed during the consultation. We’ll explore what brings you to therapy, relevant parts of your history, what has been happening lately, and what you might want to get out of our work together.
You don’t have to tell your entire story in one appointment. We’ll move through your history at a pace that feels appropriate and begin figuring out together where it makes sense to start.
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That’s okay, and figuring that out isn’t something you need to do on your own before reaching out. We may draw from art therapy, trauma-informed therapy, IFS when working with Casey, or more traditional talk therapy depending on your goals, preferences, and what emerges over time.
Your therapy doesn’t have to fit neatly into one approach from beginning to end.
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Session frequency depends on your needs, goals, availability, and what you and your therapist determine together. Some clients attend weekly, while others may meet biweekly or at another agreed-upon frequency.
Frequency can also change. What makes sense when you first begin therapy may not be what you need later.
Frequently Asked Questions: Therapy Process
You Don’t Have to Know How to “Do” Therapy
There’s no right way to show up for therapy. You can come in knowing exactly what you want to talk about, have absolutely no idea where to start, or realize halfway through the session that what you thought you wanted to discuss isn’t actually what’s on your mind.
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That’s okay. You don’t need to arrive each week with an agenda or something important prepared to discuss. Sometimes we’ll pick up where we left off; other times we may slow down and notice what has been happening lately, revisit something from a previous session, make art, or simply get curious about what feels present that day.
Finding where to begin is something we can do together.
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No. You have a say in what we explore and when. There may be times when your therapist gently invites you to notice or consider something difficult, but therapy shouldn’t require you to disclose every detail of an experience before you’re ready.
Especially when working with trauma, going deeper isn’t always the same thing as going faster.
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Therapy is confidential, with specific legal and ethical exceptions. These can include situations involving imminent risk of harm, suspected abuse or neglect of certain protected individuals, or circumstances in which disclosure is otherwise required by law.
Your therapist will review confidentiality and its limits with you before beginning therapy, and you can always ask questions about how your information is protected.
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You don’t need to censor yourself or your experiences. Therapy can make room for tears, frustration, silence, sarcasm, dark humor, and the occasional four-letter word.
You also don't have to have a big emotional reaction for something to matter. There isn't a “right” way to respond in therapy.
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Tell us. Really.
Maybe an intervention didn’t land, a question felt uncomfortable, you don’t want to make art that day, or you need something different from your therapist. Those conversations are part of therapy, too.
We’d rather know what isn’t working than have you feel like you need to be the “good client” and go along with something that doesn’t feel useful.
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Progress doesn’t always look like suddenly feeling better. You might notice that you recover more quickly after a difficult day, recognize a pattern sooner, communicate differently, sleep a little better, pause before reacting, set a boundary you wouldn’t have before, or understand yourself with a little more compassion.
We’ll continue talking about what you hoped to gain from therapy and whether the work we’re doing still feels connected to those goals.
Whether you’re trying to figure out what your insurance covers, wondering what a superbill actually is, or simply want to know what a session costs before reaching out, we’ve gathered everything you need to know in one place.
Have Questions About the Cost of Therapy?
The Financial Side of Therapy Should Be Clear
Everything You Need, In One Place
Already working with us? Your secure client portal is the easiest way to manage the practical side of your care.
Through your portal, you can:
View Upcoming Appointments
See your scheduled sessions and appointment details.
Manage Billing
View invoices, make payments, and update your card on file.
Access Documents
Review forms, paperwork, and documents shared with you.
Send Secure Messages
Communicate securely with your therapist or practice when needed.
Current Client Resources
Need help with scheduling, billing, or another administrative question? You can also contact our office directly at office@candcarttherapy.com or by phone (240)253-9788
Support Doesn’t Have to Start and End in the Therapy Room
Sometimes you’re looking for information, additional support, or a resource for yourself or someone you care about. We’ve gathered trusted organizations and resources that may be helpful along the way.
Immediate Support
When Support Can’t Wait Until Your Next Session
Create & Connect is an outpatient therapy practice and does not provide emergency or crisis services. If you or someone you care about needs immediate support, the resources below are available to help.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you’re experiencing a mental health, substance use, or emotional crisis, call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.
Veterans Crisis Line
Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them can call 988, then press 1, text 838255, or use online chat for confidential crisis support. You do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to use the Veterans Crisis Line.
If There Is Immediate Danger
If you or someone else is in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
C&C does not provide 24/7 monitoring or emergency services. Please do not use email, voicemail, or the client portal for urgent or emergency concerns.
Military & Veteran Support
Resources for service members, veterans, military families, and those navigating the unique demands of military life.
Military OneSource→
Free resources, confidential non-medical counseling, and practical support for service members and military families, including deployment, PCS, relationships, parenting, finances, and military spouse support.
TRICARE Mental Health Care→
Information about mental health coverage, finding care, costs, covered treatments, and accessing mental health services through TRICARE.
VA Mental Health Services→
Information for veterans about accessing mental health care through the VA, including support for PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, military sexual trauma, substance use, and readjustment.
Blue Star Families→
Community, programs, and resources for military and veteran families, including support for military spouses, children, transitions, employment, and connection with other military families.
National Center for PTSD — Family & Friends→
Education and resources for people supporting a loved one with PTSD, including information specifically for military families and navigating deployment-related changes.
First Responder Support
Resources created specifically for firefighters, law enforcement, EMS professionals, dispatchers, and their families.
National Resources
First Responder Center for Excellence — Behavioral Health→
Behavioral health education and resources developed for firefighters and EMS professionals, including trauma, stress, suicide prevention, and building healthier departments.
ResponderStrong→
Mental health and wellness resources created specifically for emergency responders, healthcare workers, and their families.
Share the Load — National Volunteer Fire Council→
Behavioral health resources for firefighters, EMS professionals, departments, and families, including support around trauma, burnout, substance use, and finding help.
Mental Health Association of Maryland — First Responder Resources→
Maryland-based mental health education and Mental Health First Aid resources developed with first responders in mind.
Pennsylvania First Responder Mental Health Toolkit→
A particularly good resource. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has built an entire first responder mental health toolkit with peer support, crisis resources, training, wellness materials, and resources for developing behavioral health programs.
First Responder Peer Support Hotline — 1-267-893-5400
A Pennsylvania-based peer support line for first responders and their families, staffed by current and former police, fire, EMS, and dispatch professionals. Pennsylvania lists the number on EMS certification cards.
Pennsylvania Firefighter Health & Wellness→
State resources addressing firefighter physical and behavioral health, including mental health, peer support, finding a provider familiar with emergency responder culture, and substance-use resources.
Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Resources for First Responders→
A collection of behavioral health education, training, compassion-fatigue resources, disaster-response materials, and other tools specifically relevant to responders.
For Helping Professionals
Resources related to burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, professional well-being, and caring for yourself while your role involves caring for others.
NCTSN — Secondary Traumatic Stress→
Information about the emotional impact of repeated exposure to other people's traumatic experiences, including resources for recognizing and addressing secondary traumatic stress in helping professionals.
NCTSN — Secondary Traumatic Stress Resources→
Fact sheets, training materials, videos, and other resources for professionals and organizations addressing secondary traumatic stress.
SAMHSA — Find Support→
Mental health information and resources for finding support when stress, burnout, substance use, or other concerns begin to feel difficult to manage.
Art Therapy
Want to learn more about art therapy outside of our website? Find information about the profession, credentials, and the role of art therapy in mental health care.
American Art Therapy Association→
Learn more about what art therapy is, how art therapists are trained, how art therapy is used in mental health care, and how to find an art therapist.
Art Therapy Credentials Board→
Information about professional art therapy credentials, including the ATR-P, ATR, and ATR-BC, and credential verification.
Resources for the Other Side of the Therapy Room
Clinical Supervision & Consultation
Whether you’re working toward licensure or art therapy credentials, looking for a supervision group that understands the populations you serve, or an established clinician wanting another perspective, our For Clinicians page is where you’ll find supervision, consultation, and current opportunities.
More Ways to Explore, Learn & Create
Therapy is only one place where reflection can happen. Explore articles, creative materials, and our ongoing social media series for opportunities to learn more, get curious, or bring a little creativity into your everyday life.
Mandala Monday
Art, Reflection & the Great Round
Every mandala tells a story. Mandala Monday explores our own art-making through the Great Round of Mandala, reflecting on the imagery, materials, patterns, and themes that emerge along the way.
FAQ Friday
Questions You Might Be Wondering, Too
What actually happens in art therapy? Why can trauma make memories feel fuzzy? Is it normal to struggle without knowing exactly why? FAQ Friday takes questions we hear often and breaks them down in a way that’s practical, approachable, and easy to understand.
The C&C Blog
Some Things Deserve a Little More Space
Some conversations are hard to fit into a social media post. Our upcoming blog will make room to dig a little deeper into trauma, art therapy, the nervous system, burnout, life in high-responsibility roles, and the experiences that don't always have simple answers.
COMING SOON
Tools for Continued Growth
Books, creative resources, therapeutic tools, and recommendations we love for supporting reflection, mindfulness, emotional wellness, and continued learning.
Information Can Help. So Can Having Someone in Your Corner.
If something you read here felt familiar, you don’t have to figure out what comes next on your own. Start with a free consultation to talk about what’s been going on and whether therapy with Create & Connect might be a good fit.