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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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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 Allentown 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 Allentown, PA can last for a few weeks, months, or longer, depending on the individual’s exact needs and preferences.

Need more help deciding?

Love Is Patient and Kind, Not Controlling—Therapy and Counseling for Emotional Abuse in Allentown, PA

When children are teased or taunted, they are often told the old nursery rhyme, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” While this is often offered to comfort a child, it rarely does. Even young children know that words and emotionally hurtful actions can wound a person’s spirit. In some cases, emotionally manipulative words may be emotional abuse.

Many support systems are in place for people who are being emotionally abused or have been. Recovery is possible, and often involves mental health counseling. Trained therapists have guide victims on how to reestablish their safety and find healing.

The therapists at Thriveworks Allentown have helped many people recover from emotional abuse. We want to empower our clients to find heal from the past abuse and build a future where they flourish. If you have suffered from emotional abuse, reach out to Thriveworks Allentown for help.

Emotional Abuse: A Description and Examples

Respectful arguments are healthy, normal dynamics within any relationship. They show that each individual is free to think and feel without one dominating the other. Emotional abuse, however, occurs when one person seeks to control the other through a pattern of emotionally manipulative behaviors.

The forms that emotional abuse can take are limitless, and often, recognizing emotional abuse is easier than defining it. Examples of emotional abuse may include…

  1. Refusing to accept personal responsibility for one’s own behavior.
  2. Falsely accusing others and/or blaming victims for the abuse they suffer.
  3. Publicly and openly embarrassing, humiliating, mocking, name-calling, or criticizing another.
  4. Cutting off others from their loved ones.
  5. Holding back affection or love to gain a desired result (When you… I will…)
  6. Denying or downplaying another person’s experiences, feelings, and thoughts. (“You’re too sensitive; you’re overreacting.”)
  7. Objectifying other people.
  8. Withholding deserved access to important resources, including medical care money, transportation, and/or food.
  9. Using guilt, intimidation, or threats to control other people.
  10. Without permission, harming or trashing another’s personal and prized possessions (a meaningful letter, a special photograph, et cetera).
  11. Using anger and moodiness to keep others on edge.
  12. Displaying possessive or jealous behaviors.
  13. Gaslighting.

These examples often begin slowly. At first, emotional abuse is not egregious or overt, but as victims become desensitized to the maltreatment, perpetrators escalate the harm.

Emotional Abuse: Safety and Healing

Just as many people who experience a physical injury need to see a health care professional, so many people who have experienced injuries to their spirit need to see a mental health professional. The therapists at Thriveworks Allentown would like anyone who has experienced emotional abuse to know…

  • Abuse is never a victim’s fault.
  • People are responsible for their choice to harm.
  • Emotional abuse is often traumatic.
  • Recovery takes time and effort but is possible.
  • One’s physical and emotional safety are important.
  • It is possible to love and trust again.

Scheduling Emotional Abuse Counseling at Thriveworks Allentown

If you have experienced emotional abuse and if you are ready to work with a therapist, contacting Thriveworks may be a helpful next step. We want to support our clients from the moment they first call our office throughout their treatment.

New clients often meet with their counselor within the same week of calling our office. We make evening and weekend sessions available, and most insurance plans are accepted. If you are ready to start therapy, we are ready to be there for you. Call Thriveworks Allentown 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 Allentown therapists and counselors accept 44 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Ambetter from Pennsylvania Health and Wellness

  • AmeriHealth Administrators

  • AmeriHealth Medicare Advantage

  • AmeriHealth Pennsylvania

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Capital BlueCross of Pennsylvania | BCBS

  • Capital BlueCross of Pennsylvania | BCBS Medicare Advantage

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

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Self-pay costs at Allentown
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

3.7 Learn about verified reviews
☆☆☆☆
I looked around for a therapist for a month or so I found this place and I read and reread the reviews and Lauren’s bio a few times When I finally called a few months ago the woman who took my information and answered my questions, I specifically asked if I needed a new letter for my emotional support dog would they be able to help. She assured me absolutely yes. We do it all the time Now a few months into my sessions I asked Lauren for a letter to give my landlord. Lauren informed me over 3 weeks ago she would ask her boss. 2 weeks later she told me no, her boss said no. I had to go online. A year ago my landlord did not like the online one and wanted it from a local Therapist This past week when I had my appointment with Lauren, she said she couldn’t, i asked what kind of therapist she was. Because I was told when I decided to come to your practice that I could get one, I was told I had to have a few sessions with the therapist Now on Tuesday 2/13 I asked, she told me she was meeting with her boss the next day and would tell him what I was told She said she would email me the next day, now it’s Saturday and nothing. I now am so upset that I put all this time into a therapist that isn’t qualified to write a letter, not because of her, but from some rule that I was lied to about on the onset Now I really think I need to go find a true therapist The fact I’m told to go online to get one from a stranger, while I am in therapy Makes me question your practice In sales we call it bait and switch
Read more I looked around for a therapist for a month or so I found this place and I read and reread the reviews and Lauren’s bio a few times When I finally called a few months ago the woman who took my information and answered my questions, I specifically asked if I needed a new letter for my emotional support dog would they be able to help. She assured me absolutely yes. We do it all the time Now a few months into my sessions I asked Lauren for a letter to give my landlord. Lauren informed me over 3 weeks ago she would ask her boss. 2 weeks later she told me no, her boss said no. I had to go online. A year ago my landlord did not like the online one and wanted it from a local Therapist This past week when I had my appointment with Lauren, she said she couldn’t, i asked what kind of therapist she was. Because I was told when I decided to come to your practice that I could get one, I was told I had to have a few sessions with the therapist Now on Tuesday 2/13 I asked, she told me she was meeting with her boss the next day and would tell him what I was told She said she would email me the next day, now it’s Saturday and nothing. I now am so upset that I put all this time into a therapist that isn’t qualified to write a letter, not because of her, but from some rule that I was lied to about on the onset Now I really think I need to go find a true therapist The fact I’m told to go online to get one from a stranger, while I am in therapy Makes me question your practice In sales we call it bait and switch
Donna Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Top notch service! Excellent 1-on-1 counseling. Very pleased with her help so far!
Paul Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Mikayla is by far the most responsive and compassionate therapist I ever had. She listens, and gives advice and truly cares. I am very grateful for her and the convenience of my weekly sessions.
Read more Mikayla is by far the most responsive and compassionate therapist I ever had. She listens, and gives advice and truly cares. I am very grateful for her and the convenience of my weekly sessions.
Kristen Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Allentown is located off of Hausman Rd., in a building with several other businesses. These include Integrity Personnel, Inova Technologies, and GPI/Greenman-Pederson, Inc. There is a small lake behind our building.

Phone number

(484) 246-8451

Languages spoken by PA providers

  • English
  • Spanish
  • French
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
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

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Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
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

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