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Offered in-person & online

Our therapists offer emotional abuse therapy in Alexandria, VA

Get in-person or online care, and cover the majority of the costs with your insurance.

Connect with a therapist, psychiatrist or counselor near you
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686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a emotional abuse counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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All VA providers are fully booked, but check back tomorrow — sessions become available daily!

Starting Emotional abuse counseling

What is emotional abuse counseling?

Emotional abuse counseling helps victims heal from abusive relationships. Examples of emotional abuse may include:

  • Blaming others for their own behavior.
  • Publicly mocking, humiliating, name-calling, embarrassing, criticizing.
  • Separating someone from their family and friends.
  • Withholding affection or love.
  • Downplaying another person’s experiences, perspectives, emotions, or thoughts.
  • Using or objectifying people.
  • Denying access to money, medical care, food, transportation, or other crucial resources.
  • Using guilt, threats, or intimidation.

How does emotional abuse counseling work?

Emotional abuse counseling with our Thriveworks therapists in Alexandria gives people the safe space they need to identify and understand the harm they’ve experienced and move forward. Through therapy, many victims have rebuilt their self-esteem and self-worth; recognized that they did not cause the abuse, but their perpetrator is responsible for the choice to harm; identified their wounds and found the treatment they need; healed from trauma; re-established their personal safety; grieved their losses; formed new, loving relationships; and learned to trust their experiences and emotions.

Is emotional abuse counseling conducted in person or online?

Emotional abuse counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does emotional abuse counseling last?

Emotional abuse counseling with one of our Thriveworks therapists in Alexandria, VA can last for a few weeks, months, or longer, depending on the individual’s exact needs and preferences.

Need more help deciding?

Counselors Who Help Emotional Abuse Victims in Alexandria, VA (Franconia)—Therapy for Safety and Healing

Every relationship will with have tiffs and disagreements at times, and when these are done with respect, they are signs of a healthy and secure connection. However, people who abuse emotionally denigrate, agitates, and control.

Emotional abuse can be defined as the systematic use of feelings to gain control over another person. However, illustrating instances of emotional abuse may be more clear. The following are examples of emotional abuse:

  1. Showing acute possessiveness and jealousy over another (“You are mine”).
  2. Shaming, mocking, humiliating, embarrassing, criticizing, or name-calling, often done publicly (“Can you do anything right?”).
  3. Deflecting responsibility for their own choices and actions onto others (“This is your fault…”).
  4. Isolating someone from their friends and family (“You can’t visit your dad. I need you.”).
  5. Withholding affection and love (Ignoring another person for days).
  6. Falsely blaming another person (“You stole [harmed, lied, forgot, et cetera] …” when they know you did not).
  7. Dismissing and minimizing another person’s thoughts, experiences, or feelings (“You’re just sensitive.”).
  8. Objectifying people (“Man up!” or “You’re such a girl!”).
  9. Intimidating, guilting, or threatening to get what they want (“If you were a good child, you would…”).
  10. Denying accesses to important resources (medical care, food, money, education, and/or transportation).
  11. Harming or trashing another’s possessions without permission (Throwing away an important letter, burning a beloved photo, et cetera).
  12. Crazy-making/gaslighting (Undercutting other people’s confidence in their experiences, memories, feelings, or thoughts).
  13. Outbursts of emotion, particularly anger, that keep others on edge (Emotional responses that do not correlate to situation).

Unseen Wounds to the Spirit

Emotional abuse wounds a person’s mind, soul, and spirit. The injures may not be visible, they may not bleed or scar or bruise, but they are excruciating. There are many forms these wounds can take, including psychosomatic pain, hyper-vigilance, suicide idealization, depression, fear, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. Victims of emotional often experience…

  • Feelings of blame—as if they provoked the abuse or deserved it.
  • Terror of their perpetrator.
  • A distrust of their own experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
  • Doubt that they can do anything that is right.
  • Walking on eggshells around their abuser.
  • Feelings of powerlessness and worthlessness.

Recovering from Emotional Abuse at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia)

If you understand what it is like to be in relationship with someone who is emotionally abusive, there is help. Thriveworks Alexandria counselors have helped many people heal from the trauma that emotional abuse causes. If you are ready to begin therapy, our mental health professionals are ready to meet with you.

Thriveworks Alexandria is ready to give you support and guidance as you re-establish your personal safety. Book online or give our office a call to get started today.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Alexandria therapists and counselors accept 28 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia Medicare Advantage

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia | BCBS PPO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS HMO

  • CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS PPO

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

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Self-pay costs at Alexandria
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.9 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
I was very satisfied with first session/consultation with my therapist. I feel confident she will address my needs and look forward to working with her.
Read more I was very satisfied with first session/consultation with my therapist. I feel confident she will address my needs and look forward to working with her.
Marjorie Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
At 75 years old and still learning is wonderful. My counselor is simply an outstanding individual and human being. The "bank is closed", I understand more clearly by my counselor who, have been instrumental in " breaking down some walls" in my forward motion and healing from the pain
Read more At 75 years old and still learning is wonderful. My counselor is simply an outstanding individual and human being. The "bank is closed", I understand more clearly by my counselor who, have been instrumental in " breaking down some walls" in my forward motion and healing from the pain
Horace Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Bank closure is fundamentally when a financial institution goes bankrupt; however, parents can't go into bank closure for their children, family, and friends. Nevertheless, parents do close their bank (hearth) to minimize disrespect, abuse, and abundant misuse of LOVE. So I closed my life to abuse, disrespect, and misuse of ❤️
Read more Bank closure is fundamentally when a financial institution goes bankrupt; however, parents can't go into bank closure for their children, family, and friends. Nevertheless, parents do close their bank (hearth) to minimize disrespect, abuse, and abundant misuse of LOVE. So I closed my life to abuse, disrespect, and misuse of ❤️
Horace Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★
I am very happy with my therapist, I would give him 5 Stars but I am handicapped and the facility I go to has No Handicap access, No ramp or elevator and is on the third floor of a three story building.
Read more I am very happy with my therapist, I would give him 5 Stars but I am handicapped and the facility I go to has No Handicap access, No ramp or elevator and is on the third floor of a three story building.
Ed Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My therapist, Dee Jacobi Edwards, continues to help me deal with my individual struggles in life so that I can achieve peace in dealing with life situations. She is a wonderful therapist.
Read more My therapist, Dee Jacobi Edwards, continues to help me deal with my individual struggles in life so that I can achieve peace in dealing with life situations. She is a wonderful therapist.
Louisa Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★
Love our therapist.
Heidi Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My daughter's dad and I had a few sessions with Dee Jacobi-Edwards and she was great. She was very neutral and honest with both of us when it came to our disagreements and downfalls. She was also extremely patient with us throughout our sessions. I would absolutely recommend Dee.
Read more My daughter's dad and I had a few sessions with Dee Jacobi-Edwards and she was great. She was very neutral and honest with both of us when it came to our disagreements and downfalls. She was also extremely patient with us throughout our sessions. I would absolutely recommend Dee.
Alexandria Mar 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have been battling anxiety and depression for years, and Mary Alice Fields has helped me finally find some relief. She is dedicated to helping her clients live their best possible life, and she has helped me gain some peace in my life. I know she has help countless others, and I would highly recommend her to anyone who suffers from depression or anxiety issues.
Read more I have been battling anxiety and depression for years, and Mary Alice Fields has helped me finally find some relief. She is dedicated to helping her clients live their best possible life, and she has helped me gain some peace in my life. I know she has help countless others, and I would highly recommend her to anyone who suffers from depression or anxiety issues.
Alexandria Jan 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Alexandria is located off of Franconia Rd., just behind Oak Tree Plaza. We share a building with MRM Associates. Right next door to us is a MakeSpace, and the closest bus stop is at Franconia Rd. & Beulah St.

Phone number

(703) 454-8246

Languages spoken by VA providers

  • Portuguese
  • English
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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