Art Therapy Services in Gaithersburg, Maryland
SERVICES
I provide in-person art therapy for grief and loss in Gaithersburg and Montgomery County, Maryland, supporting children and tweens, teens, and adults navigating grief, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and life transitions.
Art therapy offers a structured yet flexible space for emotional expression, reflection, and meaning-making through the creative process and therapeutic conversation.
How Art Therapy Can Help
Art therapy for grief and loss is designed to support emotional understanding, expression, and integration over time through both creative process and therapeutic reflection.
This work emphasizes:
Emotional understanding, not only symptom management or behavior reduction
Exploring thoughts, emotions, and relational patterns with curiosity and care
Integrating language, imagery, and creative expression in the therapeutic process
Strengthening emotional awareness, regulation, and coping capacity
Supporting insight, reflection, and self-understanding
Using art-making as a pathway for processing lived experience
This approach is not about fixing, suppressing, or eliminating emotions, but about creating space to understand, express, and work with them within a supportive therapeutic relationship.
Grief and loss art therapy provides support for individuals navigating bereavement, complicated grief, trauma-related loss, and significant life transitions.
Learn more about Art Therapy for Grief and Loss.
Grief and Loss Art Therapy
Grief can affect emotions, relationships, identity, and daily life in ways that feel overwhelming or difficult to express. Art therapy offers a supportive space to process loss through creative expression, reflection, and therapeutic conversation.
Support is available for:
Bereavement and the death of a loved one
Complicated, ambiguous, or anticipatory grief
Trauma-related loss
Caregiver stress and emotional burnout
Significant life transitions
Learn more about Art Therapy for Grief and Loss.
CHILD, TWEEN, & TEEN ART THERAPY
I provide art therapy for children (7–10), tweens (11–12), and teens (13–17) experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or life transitions in Gaithersburg and Montgomery County, Maryland.
Children and adolescents often express grief through behavior, play, imagery, and creativity rather than words alone. Art therapy provides a developmentally appropriate way to support emotional expression, regulation, and coping.
Child, Tween, & Teen Art Therapy Supports:
Grief and loss
Anxiety and emotional overwhelm
Trauma and stressful experiences
Family transitions and change
Identity development and self-esteem
Difficulty expressing emotions verbally
When appropriate, collaboration with parents or caregivers supports continuity of care outside of sessions.
Learn more about:
• Art Therapy for Children & Tweens
ADULT ART THERAPY
Adult art therapy supports individuals navigating grief, trauma, emotional overwhelm, identity shifts, and major life transitions. This work integrates creative expression with therapeutic conversation to support emotional awareness, reflection, and insight. You do not need any art experience. The focus is on process, not artistic skill or outcome.
Adult art therapy may support:
Grief and loss
Bereavement
Trauma and life stressors
Anxiety related to change or loss
Identity exploration and transitions
Emotional overwhelm or burnout
Feelings of disconnection
Learn more about Art Therapy for Adults.
HOW ART THERAPY WORKS & WHAT TO EXPECT
Art therapy integrates creative expression with therapeutic conversation to support emotional insight, regulation, and reflection. The creative process helps externalize internal experiences that may be difficult to access through words alone, allowing thoughts, emotions, and patterns to emerge in a visual and experiential form that can then be explored in session.
Sessions may include art-making, conversation, or a combination of both, depending on your needs and goals. No art experience is needed, and there is no expectation for artistic skill or outcome. You may use materials such as drawing, painting, collage, or clay to explore emotions, memories, and experiences through imagery and symbols.
Together, we reflect on what emerges through the creative process, including emotions, patterns, insights, and areas for growth. Sessions move at a pace that feels emotionally safe, supportive, and manageable.
New to art therapy? Learn more about What Is Art Therapy? and how creative expression can support emotional healing, self-understanding, and personal growth.
WHO THIS IS FOR
This service may be a good fit if you are:
Experiencing grief, loss, or life transitions
Feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or emotionally stuck
Seeking deeper emotional understanding or insight
Interested in creative or expressive approaches to therapy
Looking for supportive, nonjudgmental care
Learn more About Lindsay Downs, my approach to art therapy, and the philosophy behind The 3 Brushes.
BEGINNING ART THERAPY
If this approach resonates with you, you are welcome to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation. This is a space to ask questions, discuss your needs, and explore whether art therapy feels like a good fit for you or your child, tween, or teen.
Understanding Out-of-Network Insurance Reimbursement
What Does "Out-of-Network" Mean?
The 3 Brushes is considered an out-of-network provider with insurance companies. This means the practice does not bill insurance companies directly. Instead, clients pay for services at the time of their appointment and may be eligible to receive reimbursement from their insurance company, depending on their individual plan.
Out-of-network reimbursement is optional and may not apply to all clients. Some clients choose not to use insurance benefits, and others may not have insurance coverage.
Many insurance plans do offer out-of-network benefits that can help offset the cost of therapy services. Coverage, eligibility, and reimbursement rates vary by insurance plan and provider.
How to Check Your Insurance Benefits
Before starting, contact your insurance company and ask the following questions:
Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
What is my annual deductible for out-of-network services?
How much of my deductible has already been met?
What percentage of the fee will be reimbursed after my deductible is met?
Is there a limit on the number of therapy sessions covered?
Do I need preauthorization or a referral?
Where do I submit claims for reimbursement?
You can usually find the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card.
How Payment Works
Attend your art therapy session.
Pay the full session fee at the time of service.
Please note that some insurance companies may require proof of payment before processing out-of-network reimbursement claims.
Clients are responsible for the full session fee regardless of insurance reimbursement eligibility or claim outcome.
While many insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits, reimbursement is determined by your individual insurance policy and cannot be guaranteed by The 3 Brushes. Clients are responsible for payment of all session fees at the time services are provided.
Receive a monthly or requested superbill from our office.
Submit the superbill to your insurance company.
Your insurance company reviews the claim and sends any eligible reimbursement directly to you.
What Is a Superbill?
A superbill is a detailed receipt that contains the information insurance companies typically require to process an out-of-network claim, including:
Provider information
Diagnosis code(s)
Service code(s)
Date(s) of service
Amount paid
To simplify the reimbursement process, The 3 Brushes provides automated superbills as a courtesy for clients using out-of-network insurance benefits. Through Reimbursify, a free and easy-to-use platform, clients can submit superbills, track claims, and monitor reimbursement status directly with their insurance company.
Learn More: Reimbursify
Reimbursify is a free platform available to clients seeking reimbursement for out-of-network services. While The 3 Brushes supports its use, Reimbursify operates independently and is not affiliated with the practice.
Example of Reimbursement
For illustration purposes only.
Session fee: $150
Insurance reimbursement rate: 70% after deductible
Potential reimbursement: $105
Estimated client responsibility: $45
Actual reimbursement amounts vary by insurance plan and are determined by your insurance company.
Please note: If you have not yet met your out-of-network deductible, your reimbursement amount may be lower, or you may not receive reimbursement until the deductible has been met.
Tips for a Smooth Reimbursement Process
Verify your insurance information and benefits before your first session appointment.
Save copies of all submitted claims and reimbursement statements.
Submit claims promptly according to your insurance company's requirements.
Contact your insurance company directly if you have questions about claim status or reimbursement amounts.
Questions or Concerns?
Insurance can be confusing, whether you are using in-network or out-of-network benefits. For the most accurate information regarding your coverage, deductible, and reimbursement eligibility, please contact your insurance company directly.
FAQs
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The 3 Brushes is an out-of-network provider, which means payment is due at the time of service and insurance is not billed directly.
Clients may submit a superbill to their insurance company for possible reimbursement, depending on their plan.
Please review my Good Faith Estimate for a general overview of costs for art therapy services.
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Reimbursement depends on your individual insurance plan. Some plans offer out-of-network mental health benefits, while others do not.
Coverage, deductibles, and reimbursement rates vary and are determined solely by your insurance company.
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A superbill is a detailed receipt that includes the information insurance companies typically require to process out-of-network claims, such as service codes, diagnosis codes, dates of service, and payment information.
The 3 Brushes provides superbills through the practice electronic health records system and offers a tool called Reimbursify that is separate from the practice’s management system for clients who choose to submit claims.
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After paying for your session, you can submit your superbill to your insurance company. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, your insurance company will determine whether you are eligible for reimbursement and send payment directly to you.
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Some insurance companies may require proof that services were paid before processing reimbursement claims. Requirements vary by insurer and plan.
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Processing times vary by insurance company. Some claims are processed in a few weeks, while others may take longer depending on the insurer’s procedures.
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Yes!
Clients are strongly encouraged to contact their insurance company directly to confirm out-of-network mental health benefits, deductibles, and reimbursement eligibility before beginning services.
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Unfortunately, no.
Reimbursement amounts are determined by your insurance company based on your specific plan.
The 3 Brushes cannot guarantee or estimate reimbursement outcomes.
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Questions about claim status, reimbursement amounts, or coverage should be directed to your insurance company.
If you need a superbill or documentation, you can contact The 3 Brushes directly if you are a current client.