How long do counseling sessions typically last? 

Each session is 50 minutes long. I try really hard to stick to that, even though I know there is so much to talk about! It’s important for me to respect my clients’ time, so it’s part of my role as the therapist to keep an eye on the clock. (I won’t be checking my phone every few minutes—don’t worry.) I’ll set a gentle reminder when we have about 10 minutes left so that we can wrap-up, debrief, and get you back to whatever else you have going on. 

What happens during the first counseling session? 

During our first session, we will do a few ‘housekeeping’ details, and then we’ll dive into what’s going on in your life that’s preventing you from fully embracing it. You might be overwhelmed thinking about spilling your whole past to a complete stranger in the first session. I would be too, and we won’t be doing that. I’ll guide you step by step so you don’t feel like you have to give me your life history during our first meeting.   

How often will I need to come to therapy? 

What I’ve found to be the most effective is having clients come for weekly sessions at the same day/time each week. I know how it feels to forget an appointment, and I don’t want counseling to add to you feeling like you’re not enough. By keeping a set day and time, clients find that it’s easier to remember and plan for. And by meeting weekly, you also make more progress in a shorter amount of time—as much as I’m sure I will enjoy our time together, I don’t want you to be in therapy forever :)     

How long will I need to come to counseling? 

Everyone is different of course, but most of my clients are ready to graduate from therapy in 3 to 6 months. If you feel like working with me would be a good fit (after your free consultation), you’ll commit to 12 sessions. At the end of those 12 weeks we will assess if you feel like you are ready to graduate from counseling or if you would like to continue working with me toward your goals. Or, and this is ok too, we might decide that referring you to a different provider might be the best option. However it looks, we want to get you feeling better so you can jump back into life. 

Who do you work with?

I work mostly with individuals who are drowning (or at best treading water) in their lives. You used to be able to do it all, but for some reason, even the small things seem so hard. I’m here to offer relief! I provide a combination of practical tips you can implement right away and doing deeper work of looking at the thoughts and feelings that might be causing your depression and anxiety. That sounds a bit heavy—and sometimes it is, but clients tell me they look forward to their sessions each week because it feels so good to be feeling better!  

Where do sessions take place?

My practice is completely virtual, so your counseling sessions can take place wherever you have a device and a stable internet connection! Some people meet at their kitchen table, in their car, at a coffee shop, or in their bedroom. Whether you are in Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, Seattle or beyond, I’m here to help.

What do I do with my kids during therapy?

What I recommend is finding a quiet place for you to really be able to focus on your session. I know finding childcare is challenging. Especially with Covid, it can be even harder to find a safe place for your children to go or to find someone to come into your home. If finding outside childcare just isn’t an option for you, some clients try to plan their counseling sessions during their child’s naptime or when their kids have screentime. 

How much does each therapy session cost? 

Payment is due at the start of every session; I use an online portal to collect payment from a credit or debit card to keep things simple. The fee for each 50 minute session is $125. For the first intake session, the fee is $150.

Are sessions covered by my insurance? 

I’m in network with several insurance companies: Aetna, Premera, LifeWise, and Cigna. I’m also an out of network provider for most PPO plans, what that means is I won’t bill your insurance directly. However, I do work directly with Premera and Aetna. For private pay clients, I’m more than happy to help you get reimbursed. Most clients make it work by submitting an itemized receipt (superbill) to their insurance companies, who then reimburse for a portion of the fee. I’ll provide you the superbill if that’s the route you would like to go. Every insurance company is different, so you’ll want to call the number on the back of your card to see how your specific insurance company does things.

Email me to begin therapy for anxiety, depression, or postpartum concerns. As a licensed counselor in the state of Washington, I am here to help!

virginia@auroratherapy.org