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Offered in-person & online

Our therapists in Alexandria, VA offer counseling for loneliness

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 loneliness counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

No current openings

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

Starting Loneliness counseling

What is loneliness counseling?

Loneliness counseling is a specialized form of therapy focused on helping individuals navigate the emotional challenges and isolation associated with persistent loneliness. Counselors and therapists at Thriveworks in Alexandria, VA create a supportive and understanding environment where clients can delve into the root causes of their loneliness and develop strategies to establish meaningful social connections.

How does loneliness counseling work?

Loneliness counseling employs a multifaceted approach, utilizing Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to reframe your negative thought patterns, enhance communication, and improve social skills. It also incorporates interpersonal therapy to address relationship patterns, and mindfulness practices to manage feelings of loneliness and self-criticism. Goal-setting is also encouraged to help you actively pursue social connections and community engagement. Through these techniques, loneliness therapy empowers individuals to overcome isolation, develop meaningful relationships, and enhance their overall emotional well-being.

Is loneliness counseling conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks loneliness counseling in Alexandria, VA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does loneliness counseling last?

Loneliness counseling can take different amounts of time. It depends on how lonely a person is and how they’re doing in counseling. Normally, it involves many sessions that last from a few weeks to a few months. The exact number of sessions and how long it takes are determined with the loneliness counselor’s input.

Need more help deciding?

Instagram. Facebook. FaceTime. Google Chat. Snapchat. Twitter. People are connected in ways that were not possible 15 years ago, and yet, loneliness and isolation are major challenges in today’s world. Just as people can be in a crowded room and feel alone, so can people be video chatting with someone on the other side of the world and feel alone. With modern technology, people are almost never by themselves, but many researchers have detailed how social media has contributed to the rising problem of loneliness.

Connecting with others and being around them are two distinct experiences. Feeling lonely has more to do with an emotional disconnect from people than simply being away them. For example, many people update their status on social media, but are the updating their friends and family about their happiness, their fears, or their concerns? Going further, are they ready to listen without judgment as their loved ones share? To overcome social isolation, healthier connections must be formed.

“Our uniqueness makes us special, makes perception valuable—but it can also make us lonely. This loneliness is different from being ‘alone’: You can be lonely even surrounded by people. The feeling I’m talking about stems from the sense that we can never fully share the truth of who we are. I experienced this acutely at an early age.” —Amy Tan

Many people are either putting their devices down to have more face-to-face connection or they are learning how to use social media to connect more deeply with their friends and family members. They are following Amy Tan’s advice and sharing the truth of who they are. They are sharing joy and sadness as well as pictures from their dinner out with friends, and in the process, they are feeling less lonely.

Connection is a social skill that anyone can learn, and many people are working with a counselor or coach to learn it and overcome isolation. Skilled mental health professionals can lead their clients through mental and social exercises that may lead to more community and less loneliness. Thriveworks Alexandria is seeing more and more clients who want to experience less loneliness and more connection. These clients and our therapists are working together to overcome isolation.

Tips for Overcoming Loneliness

Social skills are called skills because people can learn and improve them. Much like physical muscles that can be exercised and strengthen, so can people become better at connecting with their friends and family. Here are a few ways…

Tip 1: Reimagine Community.
All too often, when people think of community, an image from a Normal Rockwell painting appears. Unfortunately, community is not so idealistic, but there is good news. Community is not a 1960s clean-cut picture upon The Saturday Evening Post, but it can be whatever people want.

People define their own community. For some, community is joining a public park’s kickball league or playing pick-up basketball at the YMCA. For others, it may mean living physically near your friends, whom you trust. Community may look like friends pulling you away from your work to go out for drinks. Community can be anything people want. Take some time to think, where do you feel connected? How can you incorporate more of those experiences into your life?

People can also find community anywhere. For some, community is within a religious community. For others, it is in a bustling city where the corner store is open 24 hours a day. For others, community is a rural town where people have known each other for generations. For many, community can be online, intentionally connecting through a support group. Community can be anywhere people can be known.

Tip 2: Build an Inner Circle.
The difference between being with people and connecting with people is the difference between someone being an acquaintance and someone being in your inner circle. There are three criteria a person to be in your inner circle:

  1. Do you interact with this person outside of the context where you met them? If so, then the relationship is being built on more than convenience. Relationships that are built upon convenience will end when the context that formed the relationship ends. Deeper connections can survive in multi-contexts.
  2. Have you spent time with this person just to be together? Going shopping with a friend is great. Poker night can be a fantastic activity. However, if you can to be with these people without the activity, would you have anything to talk about? When you know that your poker buddy is going through a divorce or your stop for a coffee during the shopping trip, the relationship is going deeper.
  3. Can you share the joys and hardship of life with this person? It takes trust to open up about the triumphs and struggles of life to another person, and anyone in your inner circle should be trustworthy with the vulnerabilities you share. Likewise, you should be trustworthy to receive the vulnerabilities they may share.

Counseling for Loneliness at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA

Are you intrigued about learning more skills? Maybe you are ready to fight the loneliness in your own life. The counselors at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) are ready to listen and help.

When you contact our office, you may be meeting with your therapist the following day. We also accept most insurance plans. We do not have a waitlist, but we do offer evening and weekend appointments.

Let’s start building community together. Contact Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) 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
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
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

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
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm

Shown in ET

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