Starting care at a new practice comes with practical questions: how to ask for an appointment, whether your insurance applies, who you will see and what the first session is like. This guide walks through new patient onboarding at Blue Sails Counseling, from your first request to your first in-person or telehealth session in Maryland, so you know what to expect at each step. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call 911, the nearest ER, or call or text 988.
Key takeaways
- You can start by completing our online client intake form or by contacting our office.
- Our intake team reviews service availability, your insurance or payment options and provider fit before care begins.
- You are matched with a provider based on your needs and preferences, and we can help you switch if the fit isn’t right.
- Care is offered in person in Bethesda and Lusby and by telehealth across Maryland.
- Your provider explains how confidentiality works, including its legal and safety limits, before you begin.
Step 1: Request an appointment
The first step is to complete our client intake form or contact our office. The form asks for basic information, the kind of care you are looking for and what times and locations work for you. Please leave detailed clinical information for your provider rather than putting it in a contact form. If you are not sure which service fits, say so. Our services overview describes outpatient therapy, psychiatry and medication management and autism services, and intake can help you decide where to begin.
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm, and Saturday, 9am to 3pm. Evening and Saturday appointment times vary by provider. How soon you can be seen depends on the service and the provider, and our team will tell you the current options when you reach out.
Step 2: Check your insurance and costs
Before care starts, our team reviews your insurance or payment options with you. Blue Sails accepts insurance, including TRICARE, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. Autism services accept Maryland Medicaid and TRICARE. Self-pay is available, and sliding-scale fees are offered for those who qualify. Coverage, copays and referral requirements vary by plan, and a benefits check is not a guarantee of payment.
If you are uninsured or choose not to use insurance, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected costs under the federal No Surprises Act. Our insurance and billing page explains accepted plans, self-pay and how estimates work.
Step 3: Get matched with a provider
We use what you share in your intake form, such as your goals, preferences and concerns, to match you with a provider whose experience may fit your needs. You can tell us if you prefer a certain location, telehealth, appointment times or other preferences. The relationship with your provider matters, so if the fit isn’t right after you start, let us know and we can help you switch. You can read about our providers before you reach out.
Care pathways are available for adults, children and adolescents, couples and families, veterans and military families and first responders and cleared professionals.
Step 4: Complete your intake paperwork
Before your first visit, our team will let you know which intake forms and consents to complete and how to submit them. Finishing them ahead of time leaves more of your first session for talking with your provider.
If you have records from past care, such as a summary from a previous provider or a list of past diagnoses and treatments, they can help your new provider understand your history. Under HIPAA you generally have a right to access your health records, so you can ask a previous provider for a copy or authorize them to share it.
If you are starting an autism evaluation for your child
Families who have questions about development can ask about autism evaluations for toddlers, children and teens. An evaluation brings together several parts, such as a parent interview, standardized assessments and a review of daily skills, and intake can explain which steps apply to your child and how appointments are arranged. For children ages 2 to 6, Blue Sails also offers an early-intervention autism program. Ask intake about current availability, insurance requirements and which records to bring, such as notes from your pediatrician or school.
Prepare for your first in-person or telehealth session
A little preparation can make the first session feel more manageable. It can help to:
- Bring your insurance card and plan details.
- Have a current list of medications, including doses.
- Gather any notes or records from current or past care.
- Complete the requested intake paperwork ahead of time.
- Write down your top concerns and any questions you want to ask.
In-person sessions take place at our Bethesda office or Lusby office. For telehealth, find a private, quiet space, check your internet connection and device ahead of time, and use headphones if others are nearby. Psychiatry is available by telehealth across Maryland.
What happens in your first session
The first session is mostly a conversation. Your provider will ask what brings you in, how things are affecting your daily life, your history and what you hope will change. You can ask questions too, such as how your provider works, how often you might meet and what the next steps could be. For psychiatry, the first visit is a psychiatric evaluation, and an appointment does not mean you have to take medication. Ask our team how long your first visit will be when you schedule.
Confidentiality and its limits
What you share in care is confidential, with specific legal and safety exceptions. Your provider explains those limits before you begin, so you know what stays private and when information may need to be shared.
After your first session
After the first session, you and your provider decide together on next steps, such as how often to meet and what to focus on. Plans can change as you go. Some people add medication management to therapy, or therapy to medication management, and our guide to therapy and medication explains how the two can work together. If your needs call for a different level of care, your provider will talk with you about options.
Frequently asked questions about new patient onboarding
How do I start as a new patient at Blue Sails Counseling?
Complete the online client intake form or contact our office. Our intake team reviews service availability, your insurance or payment options and provider fit, then helps you schedule your first appointment in person or by telehealth.
How soon can I get a first appointment?
Wait times depend on the service and the provider. When you reach out, our team will tell you the current options for in-person and telehealth appointments.
Does Blue Sails accept my insurance?
Blue Sails accepts insurance, including TRICARE, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. Autism services accept Maryland Medicaid and TRICARE. Self-pay and sliding-scale fees for those who qualify are also available. Coverage varies by plan, and a benefits check is not a guarantee of payment.
What if my provider isn’t the right fit?
Let us know. The relationship with your provider matters, and we can help you switch to a different provider if the fit isn’t right.
Is what I share confidential?
Yes, with specific legal and safety exceptions. Your provider explains those limits before you begin.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call 911, the nearest ER, or call or text 988. Maryland’s Behavioral Health Administration explains 988 and crisis services in Maryland, and our crisis help page lists more options.