Auntie FAQs
Sometimes you just want to talk. Not every conversation needs a professional or a plan. Maybe you want to be heard, share good news, or think something through with someone who has time for you. Auntie is that conversation. It is not therapy and it is not meant to replace it. It is simply a real conversation with someone who listens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Auntie?
Auntie is a personal listening and companionship service. It’s a real conversation with someone who listens. Maybe you have good news to share, something you want to talk through, an idea you want to think out loud, or you just feel like chatting. You book a time, an Auntie calls, and for your whole call you have someone who is fully present and genuinely listening. No script. No judgment. No advice unless you ask.
Who is Auntie for?
Auntie is for anyone who wants a real conversation. Some callers want to share good news, some want to talk through their day, some want to think out loud, and some just want to chat with someone who has time for them. You do not need a reason, and you do not need a problem. Someone to talk to. No referral. No intake forms. No reason required. No diagnosis required.
Is Auntie therapy or counseling?
No. Aunties are not therapists or counselors. They are real, caring people who know how to listen. Not therapy. Better than talking to yourself.
What happens in a call?
Calls are one-on-one phone conversations, 30, 60, or 90 minutes. You share what’s on your mind, your Auntie listens, and every call ends with something yours to keep, a word or phrase for that day.
What will she say first?
Your Auntie will check that you are in Virginia and over 18, then she will say something close to this: “I want you to know I am here to really listen to your joys or challenges. I will treat what you share with care. I am not a therapist, so I do not have the same legal confidentiality rules, but I take your privacy seriously. The main exception is if I become genuinely worried about your safety. In that case I would want to connect you with someone who can really help.” After that, the time is yours. There is no form and no list of questions.
How much does it cost?
A 30-minute conversation is $30, a 60-minute conversation is $60, and a 90-minute conversation is $90. You choose the length when you book.
How do I book?
Choose your call length and time on our booking page and you’re set. Whatever you want to talk about, we’re glad you called.
How does the call work?
You pick a length and a time, and you pay when you book. At that time your Auntie calls you on the number you gave us. If you need to move or cancel your call, use the link in your confirmation email. Changes made less than 24 hours before the call, and missed calls, are not refundable.
What if my Auntie’s call does not come through or ends early?
Give it ten minutes; a call can run a few minutes late. If your Auntie never calls, or the call ends early through no fault of yours, tell us through the After Your Call link in the email you receive the day after your call. Use that link within 48 hours of your scheduled call time. We review each report and, where the problem was on our side, offer a replacement call or credit at our discretion. Requests sent any other way cannot be reviewed.
Who can use Auntie?
Auntie is currently available to residents of Virginia.
What about my privacy?
Auntie does not record calls and does not keep notes of what you talk about. Your Auntie will treat what you share with care and discretion. Auntie is not a licensed service, so it does not carry the same confidentiality rules a licensed professional does, and we may need to act if we become concerned about someone’s safety. Our Privacy Policy explains what we collect when you book and how we handle it.
Is Auntie a crisis service?
Auntie is not a crisis service. For crisis support, please contact 988.
What Auntie Is Not
Being clear about what Auntie is not helps set the right expectation before you call. Auntie is a real conversation with someone who listens, and that is all it claims to be.
Auntie is not therapy. Aunties are not therapists or counselors. They are real, caring people who know how to listen. Not therapy. Better than talking to yourself.
Auntie is not medical or professional advice. Aunties do not diagnose and do not tell you what to do. No advice unless you ask.
Auntie is not a crisis service. For crisis support, please contact 988.
Auntie is not a recording or a record. Auntie does not record calls and does not keep notes of what you talk about. Your Auntie will treat what you share with care and discretion. Auntie is not a licensed service, so it does not carry the same confidentiality rules a licensed professional does, and we may need to act if we become concerned about someone’s safety.
Auntie is not a bot. Every conversation is with a real person who has time for you.
Auntie is not everywhere yet. Auntie is currently available to residents of Virginia.
Why Auntie exists
I went looking for someone to talk to, for myself and for people in my family. What I found were expensive options with waiting lists of two to six months. By the time a spot opened up, the thing we had wanted to talk about was already stale.
We didn’t need a professional. We needed a friendly, level-headed person we could call in a few days rather than a few months: Someone to connect with, laugh with, and think out loud with. Someone we did not have to check our insurance for first.
That is what Auntie is. You pick a time, and a real person calls you.
If you have ever been in that position, this is for you.
Tara, Founder of Auntie