What we treat
Online & Telehealth Therapy
Telehealth therapy at Aurora Counseling Associates is the same care we provide in our Natick, MA office, delivered through secure video sessions for clients located in Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan, Florida, or Connecticut. We have been doing this work for years and have learned what makes telehealth effective and where it falls short.
Who telehealth works well for
Most of the work we do in person works equally well over secure video. Telehealth is often the better choice for:
- Clients with busy schedules: no commute, easier to fit between work and family obligations.
- Parents of young children: especially in the postpartum period, when leaving the house is its own project.
- Clients whose mobility, health, or transportation makes in-person sessions difficult.
- Clients in MetroWest towns where the drive to Natick adds substantial time to each session: if you are in Sudbury, Sherborn, Hopkinton, or anywhere beyond walking distance from Natick center, telehealth can make weekly therapy realistic in a way driving might not.
- College students at home over breaks who want continuity with a therapist they already know.
- Clients who travel for work within their licensed state.
- Clients whose home setting supports privacy and quiet.
- Clients who already have a therapeutic relationship and want to continue it during a move within an allowed state, a long stretch of weather, or a period of illness.
Where in-person tends to be the better fit
We do not pretend telehealth is right for everything. In-person sessions are often the better choice for:
- Clients who cannot secure private, quiet space at home.
- Children under about age 10, for most of the work, though some play-based telehealth can work.
- Couples and families where multiple participants on one screen is awkward, though we make this work for many couples successfully.
- Trauma processing work in certain phases, where the regulatory support of being in the room with the clinician is needed.
- Clients in active mental health crisis where higher levels of monitoring are appropriate.
- Clients who feel less connected to the work without the physical presence of the room.
We will help you think through which mode is right for you, and we are flexible: many clients alternate between in-person and telehealth sessions over time.
States we are licensed in
Telehealth in the United States is regulated by the state where you are physically located at the time of the session, not by where the therapist is. Our clinicians are licensed across Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan, Florida, and Connecticut. Not every clinician is licensed in every state; we will match you with a clinician licensed where you are.
You must be physically located in one of those states at the time of the session, even if you live somewhere else. If you travel out of state for vacation or work, sessions during that travel are generally not possible unless you happen to be in one of our licensed states.
How the technology works
We use secure, encrypted telehealth platforms designed for healthcare. You will get a link before your session; you click it and join. No downloads required for most clients. You will need:
- A device with a camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or smartphone)
- A reasonably stable internet connection
- A private, quiet space where you can speak without being overheard
- Headphones if other people are in the home or workspace
If the connection drops, we will switch to phone for the remainder of the session.
What telehealth sessions are like
Once the technology fades into the background, the work feels much like in-person therapy. You and the clinician see each other on screen. The session structure is the same. The work is the same.
Treat your space like a session room
Close the door. Tell housemates you are unavailable. Silence your phone notifications.
Camera on, full upper body in view
We need to see your face and posture.
Hold the same time slot week to week when possible, the same way you would in person.
If you travel out of state for vacation or work, sessions during that travel are generally not possible unless you happen to be in one of our licensed states.
Confidentiality and privacy
Telehealth sessions are end-to-end encrypted through our secure platform. Confidentiality on the clinician's end matches in-person. The privacy variable shifts to your side: who is in your home or workspace, and how confident are you that the conversation is not being overheard. We will discuss this at intake and figure out what works.
Insurance and rates
Telehealth sessions are billed the same way as in-person sessions. Self-pay is $200 to $250 per session. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts Health Plan, Tufts Health Direct, Harvard Pilgrim, Point32Health, Optum, United Behavioral Health, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, and Health Plans Inc. Some clinicians also accept Aetna and United Healthcare. HSA, FSA, and out-of-network superbills available. Rates and insurance.
Questions
Common questions
Is telehealth as effective as in-person therapy?
What if I am traveling to another state during my session time?
What if my internet drops mid-session?
Can my teenager do telehealth from their bedroom?
Do you offer telehealth for couples?
What about Medicare and Medicaid telehealth coverage?
Can I switch between telehealth and in-person sessions?
Where to next
Related areas we work in
Get started
Ready when you are
If telehealth is what would make therapy realistic for you, request an appointment or call (508) 650-0991. We will match you with a clinician licensed in your state.