• Virtual sessions are currently conducted virtually through a secure telehealth platform, SimplePractice, or through a secure phone system, Spruce Health.

    We believe that the best outcomes of therapy, particularly with artmaking involved, happen during in-person sessions, but we also consider accessibility and personal need when scheduling sessions.

  • Curious Space Therapy LLC partners with Headway to handle insurance credentialing, claim filing, and collecting deductibles and/or copayments. Laura is in-network with Aetna, Anthem, CareFirst BCBS, Evernorth (Cigna), and Quest Behavioral Health.

    Many insurance companies have a search feature where you can look for in-network providers in your area. You may search for a practice or a specific therapist to determine if you can use your insurance to pay for therapy. You can also look up your deductible, co-pay, or other insurance benefits through your account. If you cannot find this information online, call your insurance company to request information about your benefits.

  • We believe it's important to provide accessible therapy to as many people as possible. We also believe in equitable compensation for therapists to account for our years of training and expertise we invest in our practice.

    Many clients use insurance benefits to cover the cost of therapy. Curious Space Therapy is in-network with Aetna, Anthem, CareFirst BCBS, Evernorth (Cigna), and Quest Behavioral Health. All other insurance networks are considered out-of-network.

    For those seeking therapy who need financial assistance, we offer a limited number of slots at a sliding scale rate. This allows us to provide services to people who might not be able to afford therapy without this service and who do not have access to insurance benefits. The rate is based on personal finances and individual circumstances, and we can work together to find a rate that works best for you. Talk to your therapist about options for applying for the sliding scale rate on either a temporary or permanent basis.

  • We know life can be chaotic and unpredictable, making it hard to stick to a routine. It is important to the therapeutic process to attend sessions regularly and we understand that this might not always be possible. Our policy is that clients must cancel their appointment with 48 hours notice to avoid being charged a missed session fee. The cancellation fee is charged automatically to the card on file. Charging the fee allows us to reserve your therapy time and ensure we can continue providing quality care to all clients.

    If something comes up unexpectedly and you don’t show up to your appointment, your therapist will try to contact you to ensure everything is OK. At that time we can talk about rescheduling or possibly waiving the cancellation fee, if necessary.

    More information about our cancellation policy can be found in the Practice Policies, located here.

  • Laura is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Art Therapy Certified Supervisor. These credentials are managed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board and credential holders are bound to uphold all standards set forth in the Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Disciplinary Procedures. Laura is also a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and follows the standards of practice governed by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

    Read our values statement here.

  • No. Only a psychiatrist, primary care physician, or other medical practitioner can write a prescription for medication. Our therapists have not received medical training and therefore are not prescribers. If medication is something you’re curious about, we can talk about this in sessions and make recommendations for having the conversation with your medical provider about medication.

  • Laura currently offers services for adults 18+. We hope to expand our range of specialties in the future.

  • Curious Space Therapy is aligned as an ally in the LGBTQIA+ community. We believe that all forms of love, gender identity, sexuality, sexual expression and behavior are good and valid, so long as all parties are willing and consenting. Just like the vast range of human emotions, there are many different ways of loving other people and enjoying your sexuality, and we are here to support all aspects of identity.

  • Curious Space Therapy has social media presence on Instagram and Facebook. Individual therapists may also maintain professional accounts that are public and open for anyone to follow. You are welcome to follow CST and/or your therapist, but please know there are certain privacy risks involved with connecting on social media. We do not engage with clients, their family members, or their friends in any way, including but not limited to: following, friending, commenting, or responding to messages. Connecting in such a way online would compromise confidentiality and privacy. Social media is not a way to contact us for any reason, especially in an emergency.

  • Art therapy is a credentialed, clinical mental health profession that uses creative expression in the therapeutic process to support clients. Language sometimes fails to capture the full experience of our emotions, and the artmaking process can help bridge the gap between language in words and language in pictures. Art therapy methods utilize psychological theory, human development, history and culture, and the creative process to promote well-being.

    Art therapists work with individuals, families, and communities in a variety of settings from all ages and backgrounds. Art therapists can help integrate personal meaning and metaphor into therapy to create a deeper sense of understanding and identity.

    Learn more about art therapy here.

  • Art therapy feels like traditional talk therapy in many ways. We usually start the session by checking in about what has happened since our last meeting, review any homework assignments, and progress toward treatment goals. It’s important to get an idea of what current moods and routines you’re experiencing so we can assess what the rest of the session will look like. Sometimes we stay in the present because that’s what feels most important to the client, and other times we look at past memories.

    In some sessions, we just talk about these things. In others, we explore using art materials like pastels, paints, mixed media collage, clay, fiber arts, and found objects. We can even work on more in-depth projects like mask-making or sculpture, and incorporate other expressive means like journaling, poetry, music, and oracle cards. Some clients prefer to spend most of their session time making art, while others prefer to spend more of it talking or sharing with the therapist. Even if we don’t use art materials in a session, an art therapist is looking for symbolic connections to the client’s story and offering metaphors to help enhance self-exploration.

  • Art therapy is used in a variety of settings with people of all different ages and backgrounds. We believe that creativity is a human right and that everyone should be able to understand and express their emotions.

    Art therapy is an effective treatment option for developing emotional literacy, exploring personal identity, coping with dysregulated moods, and processing life events. Engaging your mind and body in an expressive activity helps activate the nervous system in a holistic way, allowing space to regulate the physical, mental, and emotional experience of the moment.

    Anyone can benefit from art therapy - you just have to be curious!

  • No, we provide all the materials you might need during an art therapy session. You are always welcome to bring your own materials if there’s a preferred media or brand that you like, or if you find something really meaningful that you’d like to incorporate into the creative process of therapy.

  • Yes! No one in art therapy gets a grade for their progress or their artwork. This is a judgment-free zone and we encourage you to create without worrying too much about how good your art looks. We focus on the creative process more than the product – if you happen to like what you made at the end, that’s great! We are familiar with different art media and styles and can offer guidance to you, but we’re not looking to judge what you make. Everyone is an artist in some capacity, and we’re here to help you discover that for yourself.

  • We love when people have a support network of friends and family that are willing to show up when we’re having a hard time, but sometimes what we need is outside of the skills of the person you’re seeking help from. Friends aren’t therapists, and therapists aren’t friends, but we can benefit from having both relationships.

    Therapists are specifically trained to listen in ways most people don’t – to look deeper at the situation to see what else might be true. We use our knowledge of psychological theory, human development, and emotional literacy to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore and take risks. We’re not here to tell you what to do or offer advice, but to support your choices with empathy and concern.

  • If you’ve decided that therapy is something you’re ready to explore, you have several options to pursue. First, if you like what you’ve seen here, send us a message to ask about our availability! If a friend or family member has a therapist they like, ask about their experience. We recommend you work with a different therapist from a close friend or family member, which the practice can help you navigate.

    You can also check with your insurance provider to see which therapists in your area are in-network providers, if you’re planning to use your benefits to pay for therapy. You can also perform a Google search or check out Psychology Today to find therapists aligned with your values and who specialize in the services you need.

    Getting started involves filling out paperwork to assess your needs and booking an initial appointment. Every therapist does this a little differently, but you can expect to answer questions about how you’ve been feeling lately, what your resources are, and your intentions for coming to therapy.

  • This is a complicated answer. Mostly, yes, therapy is confidential and you can expect that what happens in the therapy space stays in the therapy space. There are a few exceptions to this, though. Our therapists are mandated reporters and are required to notify law enforcement about child abuse and neglect, elder/dependent adult abuse and neglect, threats of homicide or violence toward others, and plans to attempt suicide.

    The limitations to confidentiality are outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices, which is given to all clients upon intake to review and sign.

  • Therapy sessions are 50 minutes and the frequency of sessions depends on the client. Some people come every week while others come every other week. In some cases it might be necessary to increase the frequency of sessions to twice per week if your circumstances change. There isn’t a specific number of sessions we require or recommend – it really does depend on your needs and treatment goals. Some clients seek therapy for a specific, time-sensitive issue, while others come to therapy hoping to establish a years-long relationship.

  • We want you to feel comfortable in your relationship with your therapist. Not every therapist and client are meant to work together – every therapist has a different approach to their work which may or may not be the best fit for a client. We recommend 6-8 sessions at the beginning of therapy to see if your therapist is right for you. At this point you should feel like your therapist has a good idea about who you are and is able to offer challenges to think in new and different ways.

    If you’re struggling to connect with your therapist, bring this up in sessions. We want to know how you’re feeling about our therapeutic relationship, especially if you feel there’s something missing from sessions. We can explore what isn’t working and take a new approach to your care or find a new therapist who is a better fit. We encourage problem-solving and advocating for your own needs.

  • There’s no such thing as “too much” or “not enough” for therapy. The “stuff” we experience is neither good nor bad, too much or too little – it just is what it is. We support anyone who is curious enough about themselves to seek support. Comparing your experience to others is rarely helpful - we are here to make you the focus.

  • Therapy is hard work - it can be the best and the worst thing at the same time! The purpose is to support you working toward the version of yourself you want to create, and that isn’t always an easy path. It requires a lot of trust and vulnerability. We know it can be painful to re-visit your past, process the present, and plan for the future.

    Open, honest, and direct communication with your therapist is essential to getting the most out of your time. As with many other parts of life, consistency is key. That means committing to a regular schedule of appointments, showing up, and being willing to sit with challenges. We encourage clients to keep a journal to bring to sessions if you’d like; you can even use it as a sketchbook of images in addition to writing down your thoughts. You can ask for homework assignments or work on long-term art projects between sessions.

  • We don’t offer specific cures, so this answer is tricky and depends on the person. Therapy is great when you’re challenging yourself to learn new things and see the world in different ways. It can also be really hard and sometimes painful if we’re exploring traumatic memories or sitting with difficult emotions. You are ultimately the best person to decide when you have achieved your goals.

  • Supervision fees cover credentialing, clinical consultation, paperwork processing, ability of the supervisor to sign off on supervised hours, personal mentoring, networking, professional development and feedback, and access to art therapy interventions and other resources developed by Curious Space Media.

    There is a one-time materials fee of $50 for in-person supervision, which covers the canvas used for El Duende Process Painting and various supplies used in sessions.

  • Yes. Individual and group supervision is available through a secure virtual platform. Virtual supervision can be a great benefit to art therapists who don’t have access locally to art therapy supervision or who want to work with a specific person who specializes in a population or theoretical orientation.

    Because art therapy credentialing varies state to state, check with your state governing board to determine if out-of-state supervision hours will qualify for the credential you are seeking. We cannot guarantee that hours we provide will count toward your state’s regulations and we cannot keep up to date with all state guidelines.

  • No. Although supervision and therapy both focus on personal growth and identity development, only therapy is a clinical mental health service. Supervision is a professional requirement for all pre-licensed clinicians and is not eligible for insurance payments or reimbursement.

  • We believe all entry-level therapist positions should include on-site supervision as an employee benefit, but not all organizations will offer this. Art therapy supervision, specifically, is not always available in agencies where the Resident is the only art therapist on staff. We collect supervision fees directly from the Resident and provide proof of receipt so that Residents may submit to their employer for reimbursement.

  • Yes. Many entry-level art therapists receive supervision on-site where they work, but this may or may not be with a Registered Art Therapist because we are often the only person working in this role. The benefit of supervision at CST is being able to make art during every session. Because Laura has both the LPC and ATR-BC credentials, Residents can accrue hours for either of these credentials or both at the same time. Having multiple supervisors won’t necessary allow you to complete residency faster. There is a minimum amount of time required to complete supervision.

  • You will spend around 2 years in supervision. The ATR requires fewer hours than the LPC, so if you are working toward both of these credentials you will naturally meet the ATR requirements first. The LPC requires a minimum of 21 months of Residency. You might not start and complete your supervision hours with the same supervisor, if you were to change jobs or to move to a new state, for example.

  • No. Supervision and therapy are two different things. Supervision is required for all pre-licensed clinicians to complete a specific number of supervised hours in a professional relationship. It isn’t required for a Resident to attend therapy, but we strongly recommend having support from your own therapist while you’re in residency. It is common for personal things to come up in clinical work and it’s important to have a place for you to process this that isn’t with your supervisor.

  • Group supervision is not required during Residency but can provide more collaboration, feedback, and networking in the art therapy community than can be found in individual supervision. Group supervision is a chance to accrue hours at an economical rate.

  • Consultation is designed for fully-licensed clinicians to provide support in their clinical work. Topics might include client case discussion, mentoring, professional development, and discussing ethics. Unlike supervision, consultation hours are not required to maintain licensure, but it is a good idea to have a space to think critically about your work.

  • Fees for consultation reflect the clinical expertise of the consultant, 1:1 mentorship, ethics inquiries, networking and referrals, access to art therapy resources developed by CST clinicians, and professional development.

  • Both individual and group consultation are available at CST. A group is a collaborative gathering made up of other credentialed professionals, including expressive therapists, counselors, and social workers.

  • A therapy group is a community of people who come together to work on therapy goals. It is a chance to share your story with others who share a common interest, such as a recovery-focused group, parenting support, social skills, or gender identity. Most people who attend group therapy have an individual therapist as well.

  • A workshop is a space for learning and connecting with other creatives. Workshops focus on a specific art medium or process meant to stretch your creativity without an expectation of being perfect. It’s a great way to meet new people and challenge yourself. Workshops are open to the public and are not therapy, so confidentiality looks different in these settings.

  • No, your fee covers the facilitator's time and all materials provided. Sometimes we recommend bringing an object that you can incorporate into your art, but this is not a requirement for groups or workshops.

  • Not at this time, but we are open to expanding our offerings in the future.

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