Outside the Lines Counseling, LLC
Effective October 1, 2025
THE THERAPY PROCESS
Therapy is a collaborative process where you and Ms. Heilman will work together on equal footing to achieve goals that you define. This means that you will follow a defined process supported by scientific evidence, where you and Ms. Heilman have specific rights and responsibilities. Therapy generally shows positive outcomes for individuals who follow the process. Better outcomes are often associated with a good relationship between a client and their therapist. To foster the best possible relationship, it is important you understand as much about the process before deciding to commit.
Therapy begins with the intake process. First, you will review the policies and procedures set by Ms. Heilman, talk about fees, identify emergency contacts, and decide if you want health insurance to pay your fees depending on your plan’s benefits. Second, you will discuss what to expect during therapy, including the type of therapy, the length of treatment, and the risks and benefits. Second, you will form a treatment plan, including the type of therapy, how often you will attend therapy, your short- and long-term goals, and the steps you will take to achieve them. Over time, you and Ms. Heilman may edit your treatment plan to be sure it describes your goals and steps you need to take. After intake, you will attend regular therapy sessions through video, called telehealth, using a HIPAA compliant platform. Participation in therapy is voluntary – you can stop at any time. At some point, you will achieve your goals. At this time, you will review your progress, identify supports that will help you maintain your progress, and discuss how to return to therapy if you need it in the future.
TELEHEALTH SERVICES
To use telehealth, you need an internet connection and a device with a camera for video. Ms. Heilman can explain how to log in and use any features on the telehealth platform. If telehealth is not a good fit for you, you will need to pursue another therapist. There are some risks and benefits to using telehealth:
CONFIDENTIALITY
Ms. Heilman will not disclose your personal information without your permission unless required by law. If Ms. Heilman must disclose your personal information without your permission, she will only disclose the minimum necessary to satisfy the obligation. However, there are a few exceptions.
RECORD KEEPING
Ms. Heilman is required to keep records about your treatment. These records help ensure the quality and continuity of your care, as well as provide evidence that the services you receive meet the appropriate standards of care. Your records are maintained in an electronic health record provided by TherapyNotes. TherapyNotes has several safety features to protect your personal information, including advanced encryption techniques to make your personal information difficult to decode, firewalls to prevent unauthorized access, and a team of professionals monitoring the system for suspicious activity. TherapyNotes keeps records of all log-ins and actions within the system.
COMMUNICATION
You decide how to communicate with Ms. Heilman outside of your sessions. You have several options:
FEES AND PAYMENT FOR SERVICES
You may be required to pay for services and other fees. You should confirm with your insurance if part or all of these fees may be covered. You should also know about the following:
Cancellation Policy
24 hours notice is required to cancel appointments. Should you have to cancel at the last minute, you may discuss rescheduling during the week with Ms. Heilman. An appointment may or may not be available depending on schedules.
If you have made 3 or more cancellations in a row, please discuss how to continue in therapy with your current situation with Ms. Heilman. Consistency and routine with therapy is important, and may require some creative collaboration achieve this if something has changed in your life.
If you have not had a session in 30 days or more, have not responded to messages via text or through the portal, or to phone calls, Ms. Heilman will close your file. You may always return as needed.
No-Show Fees
Please be aware that if you are using insurance, Ms. Heilman can only charge for the time you are in session. If you are scheduled for a 60 minute session, but are 15 minutes late, she is only able to charge for a 45 minute session. Please be considerate of the time you have set aside for your appointments.
If you do not show for an appointment and have not contacted Ms. Heilman, you will be charged the full fee for session. If using insurance, this is the negotiated rate per contract with the insurance company.This fee is not covered by insurance.
Fees
Full session: $145
Initial Evaluation: $175
PAYMENT METHODS
Ms. Heilman uses IvyPay, a HIPAA compliant app in order to receive credit card payments. IvyPay will send you a link for the first session, where you will consent to have a credit card or HSA card on file. Once on file, Ivy Pay will charge your card and you will receive a receipt via text message. Your card can only be charged following a session. Should your card expire or be declined, IvyPay will automatically text you a message to place another card on file.
If you are not able to participate in IvyPay, you may mail a check to the following mailbox:
Outside the Lines Counseling, LLC
1204 Dublin Court
Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093
Checks may be made payable to Amy Heilman, LCSW-C.
Should you require a statement to submit to your HSA, please inform Ms. Heilman of the time period, and she will send a statement for the requested dates to you through the portal.
COMPLAINTS
If you feel your Provider has engaged in improper or unethical behavior, you can talk to them, or you may contact the licensing board that issued your Provider’s license, your insurance company (if applicable), or the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Acknowledgment
My signature on this document represents that I have received the Consent for Services form and that I understand and agree to the information therein. Further, I consent to use an electronic sig