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686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks in the last year

Discover how starting domestic violence therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

Good news! We have 60 therapists in Massachusetts available for an online or in-person session.

Starting Domestic violence therapy

What is Domestic violence therapy?

Domestic violence therapy is a specialized form of counseling that helps victims and their families heal from abusive relationships. It is a crucial component of the broader efforts to address and combat domestic violence, a pattern of abusive behaviors within intimate relationships that can encompass physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or economic abuse.

How does Domestic violence therapy work?

In domestic violence therapy, therapists create a safe and supportive environment. Domestic violence therapy is often part of a broader support network that includes legal assistance, shelters, and community resources. Its aim is to break the cycle of abuse, promote safety, and foster healthier relationships.

Is Domestic violence therapy conducted in person or online?

Domestic violence therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and via Online therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does Domestic violence therapy last?

Domestic violence therapy can last for a few weeks, months, or longer, dependent on the individual's exact needs and preferences.

Need more help deciding?

Big Little Lies, the best-seller turned HBO miniseries has become a phenomenon—capturing people’s attention with its witty one-liners, suspense-filled plot, and dynamic characters. But Liane Moriarty’s story has also provided a platform for social dialogue about domestic violence.

(Small spoilers ahead!)

Among all the kindergarten mothers, one stands above the rest and is the envy of all—Celeste White appears to have a dream life. She is rich, educated, and beautiful. She has adorable twin boys and a successful, doting husband. Celeste’s husband, Perry, advertises their perfect life on his manicured Facebook page, but there is an important aspect to their relationship he leaves out: he hurts Celeste.

Celeste truly is in love with Perry, but she hates when their relationship becomes a war zone. She experiences conflicting and tormenting emotions. Celeste often puzzles, “I don’t know why I stay. I don’t know why I deserve this. I don’t know why you do this, why we do this, why this keeps happening.”

An estimated 25 percent of women and 8 percent of men experience physical, emotional, and/or sexual violence from their partner. They know, like Celeste, that the outward appearance of a relationship can differ drastically from the private reality. Escaping from the violence can be more difficult than it seems. Often, people need a professional’s guidance to find safety and heal.

Has your partner harmed you? If so, know that the counselors at Thriveworks Cambridge understand the challenges of leaving a violent relationship, and we are available to offer support to domestic violence victims.

The Severity of Domestic Abuse

After leaving a partner who hit her, one woman described what it was like to live in a violent home, saying, “He would be alternately kind and then fly off the handle for no reason. I always lived in fear of his temper. It was very stressful.”

This woman verbalized an experience that victims of domestic violence understand all too well: ever-present stress. If violence has occurred, even once, then the possibility of it happening again always threatens. When people sense a threat, their brain automatically responds by going into a flight-or-fight mode and by releasing stress hormones that allow the body to respond to the threat.

The stress hormones, adrenalin and cortisol, can save people’s lives when released on rare occasions. Dr. Nadine Burke Harris clarifies that while the fight-or-flight system “is wonderful if you’re in a forest and there’s a bear, but the problem is what happens when the bear comes home every night, and this system is activated over and over and over again, and it goes from being adaptive, or life-saving, to maladaptive, or health-damaging.”

When people live in a violent home, therefore, they face the short-term harm and bodily damage from the violence. However, they also must deal with health problems that inevitably arise because of long-term exposure to the toxic environment violence creates. Domestic violence is a serious threat to those exposed to it.

Domestic Violence: A Predictable Cycle

Domestic violence nearly always follows a repeating and escalating cycle. Each phase can take years, months, weeks, days, or just hours. Without significant intervention, the cycle may repeat and escalate—with each iteration more violent than the last.
The Honeymoon Phase: Even violent relationships have periods of calm and peace, and the violent partner may promise, “I will never do that again… that was the last time… I’ll get help.” However, these times are often just the calm before the storm.

The Tension Building Phase: Daily tensions rise as the violent partner often requires more and more appeasement to keep the peace. This phase, according to many victims, is like walking through a minefield. Victims often attempt to shield their partner from stress/responsibility or they may give into unreasonable demands—hoping that the violence will not come.

The Abusive Phase: The abuse may be physical, sexual, and/or emotional. Often, violent partners blame a flaw in their victim as the cause of the violence, but harming another person is always a choice. Violent people are responsible for their own choices. Violence is never deserved. It is also illegal.

Escaping and Recovering from Domestic Violence

Think through the phases of domestic violence and your own relationship. Have you experienced the cycle from your significant other? If you are living in a violent home, know that help is available. Thriveworks Cambridge has therapists who understand the minefield you have to walk, and we want to help.

Our goal is to provide client-centered care, so when you call our office, a person will answer. You may be able to see your therapist within 24-hours, and we have night and weekend appointments available. We do not keep waitlists, but we work with most insurance companies.

Do not wait to be safe. Call Thriveworks Cambridge, MA 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 Cambridge therapists and counselors accept 26 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS Medicare Advantage (HMO | PPO)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • Fallon Health

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

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Self-pay costs at Cambridge
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

4.5 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
All the people of thrive works have been great my doctor is awesome Dr. Lal
Anthony Dec 2023
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I am so pleased with my decision to see Rebecca at ThriveWorks in Cambridge. She is compassionate and understanding, but also pushes me to feel confident I can make changes in my life that are needed most. I feel so supported. Feeling grateful that I took a leap to try Rebecca!
Read more I am so pleased with my decision to see Rebecca at ThriveWorks in Cambridge. She is compassionate and understanding, but also pushes me to feel confident I can make changes in my life that are needed most. I feel so supported. Feeling grateful that I took a leap to try Rebecca!
Cambridge May 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Rebecca Rodriquez is a true professional. I have found her to be trustworthy and truly helpful. She demonstrates kindness, compassion and strong clinical knowledge in her therapeutic approach. I highly recommend her to all. She has been extremely helpful to me.
Read more Rebecca Rodriquez is a true professional. I have found her to be trustworthy and truly helpful. She demonstrates kindness, compassion and strong clinical knowledge in her therapeutic approach. I highly recommend her to all. She has been extremely helpful to me.
Cambridge Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have had the opportunity to work with Rebecca Rodrigues for a long time. She is a thoughtful professional, mindful clinician and highly respectful to her clients.
Read more I have had the opportunity to work with Rebecca Rodrigues for a long time. She is a thoughtful professional, mindful clinician and highly respectful to her clients.
Cambridge Apr 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Arielle has been an incredible help in my life and I can’t thank her enough for it!
Cambridge Jun 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I've had the pleasure of working with Alicia at her previous job. She is an incredible clinician who's knowledge, leadership, and compassionate made her an excellent supervisor and therapist.
Read more I've had the pleasure of working with Alicia at her previous job. She is an incredible clinician who's knowledge, leadership, and compassionate made her an excellent supervisor and therapist.
Cambridge Jan 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I had been unable to make an appointment with a therapist for a long time. Everyone had a three month waiting list. I took a chance and made an appointment here. I love Hannah, she’s excellent, and I’m glad I found Thriveworks. It’s too soon for me to weigh in on the additional services Thriveworks offers but it seems good!
Read more I had been unable to make an appointment with a therapist for a long time. Everyone had a three month waiting list. I took a chance and made an appointment here. I love Hannah, she’s excellent, and I’m glad I found Thriveworks. It’s too soon for me to weigh in on the additional services Thriveworks offers but it seems good!
Cambridge Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Hannah Fulkerson has been a great help in creating a dialogue between myself and my wife. Thank you.
Read more Hannah Fulkerson has been a great help in creating a dialogue between myself and my wife. Thank you.
Cambridge Aug 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Cambridge is located off of Massachusetts Ave, on the north side of the Charles River. Our office is in the Cambridge Tower next to Apollo Travel and Tours, Tanjore, and Cambridge Premier Realty. The closest bus stop is Massachusetts Ave opp Lee St. If you have trouble finding our office or have any questions about how to get here, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Phone number

(617) 380-4651

Languages spoken by MA providers

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Creole
  • French
  • Japanese
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
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

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
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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