The questions people ask before they ask for help.

You send a consult request (two minutes, no commitment). Our care coordinator emails you within one business day to set up a free 15-minute call — by phone or video, your pick. That call is for questions, fit, and logistics. If it feels right, you book a first full session. Nothing is locked in before then.

Four quick questions — what's bringing you in, any approach preference, insurance, and scheduling. We score every therapist against your answers (specialty fit counts most, then approach, then logistics) and show your top two or three matches with the reasons why. It's a starting point, not an algorithmic verdict — you can browse everyone anytime.

Say so — you won't hurt anyone's feelings. Fit matters more than loyalty, and switching within the practice is easy and normal. Your first sessions are exactly for figuring this out, and our coordinator can suggest an alternative based on what didn't click.

Neither, honestly — it depends on you. Some people open up more from their own couch; others need the ritual of a separate room. Virtual sessions run on secure video and work well for most concerns; a few kinds of work (some couples sessions, some trauma protocols) can be easier in person. You can also mix the two.

It varies too much for an honest average. Some focused work (a specific fear, a decision, a rough patch) wraps in 8–16 sessions; deeper or longer-standing patterns take longer. What we promise: your goals are set with you, progress gets reviewed openly, and no one strings you along. Ending well is part of the work.

Couples, yes — Renata Silva and Grace Nakamura both hold couples caseloads. Aurora is an adult practice (18+), so we don't see children or teens, but our coordinator keeps a referral list of trusted youth-focused practices and will point you somewhere good.

Therapy sessions run $160–$195 depending on the clinician (couples sessions $210; psychiatry consults are listed separately). Each therapist's rate is on their profile — no surprises. A limited number of reduced-fee slots exist on most caseloads; ask the coordinator about current availability.

We bill Bluestone Health, Cascade Benefits, and most Meridian group plans directly — you pay only your portion at the time of session. For other plans, we give you a detailed receipt to submit yourself, and most clients see reimbursement within a couple of weeks. Our insurance page has a checklist of exactly what to ask your plan.

Life happens — we ask for 24 hours' notice so the slot can go to someone on the waitlist. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged half the session fee. Emergencies are treated like emergencies, not policy violations.

Yes. What you share stays between you and your clinician, with the standard legal exceptions every licensed clinician carries (risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else, and certain court orders — all explained plainly at your first session). Our virtual sessions run on encrypted, healthcare-grade video.

Yes — that's the point of having psychiatry in-house. If you and your therapist think a medication consult is worth exploring, Dr. Cho or Sanjay Raman can see you without a re-telling-your-whole-story handoff, and the two sides of your care actually talk to each other (with your consent).

Please don't wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or your local crisis line, or go to your nearest emergency room. Aurora is not an emergency service — but we will be here for the follow-through care once you're safe.