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

Need more help deciding?

When you hear the word abuse, you probably think of the physical acts—the ones that leave a victim visibly battered and hurt. Your mind probably skips right over another serious, scarring form of abuse: emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is rooted in the manipulation of another’s emotions to control them. It is far more common than physical abuse, and it, too, leaves one battered and hurt—just on the inside.

“Emotional abuse is like brainwashing in that is systematically wears away at the victim’s self-confidence, sense of self, trust in her perceptions and self-concept.” –Beverly Engel

It’s often difficult to detect emotional abuse. The victims feel shame or guilt and so they don’t open up about their experience; they don’t seek help. Common beliefs include: “I deserved it,” “I’m overreacting,” “Nobody wants to hear my pity story,” and “They wouldn’t believe me if I told them.” That said, it’s important these individuals do open up about their experience and seek help, as emotional abuse can hurt one for years to come. Here at Thriveworks Counseling in Newton, MA, we believe that you can heal from abuse and live a happy life again. And emotional abuse counseling can play an instrumental role in accomplishing that mission.

What Constitutes Emotional Abuse?

Emotional abusers use various tactics to control their victim(s), like shaming and intimidation. Here are a few of these techniques explored, with examples:

  • Criticism: Abusers will criticize the victim on a regular basis and convince them that they deserve this criticism. Here’s an example: Sam throws all of the dirty laundry into the washing machine. Later, when he switches the clothes over to the dryer, he forgets to take out Sarah’s new blouse. He sees that it shrank to half its previous size and kicks himself for it. When Sarah finds out, she criticizes him for it and calls him “worthless.” He agrees, declaring he can’t do anything right.
  • Humiliation: Emotional abusers also often use humiliation to their benefit; they relentlessly tear their victim down in front of others. Here’s an example: Elina and Jack are celebrating Elina’s job promotion over a nice dinner at their favorite restaurant. When the waiter brings the check, Elina snatches it and teases Jack for making less money than her. “Don’t put the check in front of him, he couldn’t possibly afford this dinner on his salary,” she tells the waiter.

Other tactics of emotional abuse include isolation, mind games, bullying, insults, and excuses for the abuser’s unacceptable behavior. They’ll use whatever techniques allow them to gain more and more control over their victim.

How Can Emotional Abuse Counseling Help?

The first step in healing from emotional abuse is removing yourself from the abusive relationship or situation. This might mean breaking up with your abusive boyfriend or girlfriend, moving out to separate yourself from an abusive parent, or cutting ties with an abusive friend. The next step is to process the abuse and do your best to understand how it affected/is affecting you. An emotional abuse counselor at Thriveworks in Newton can help you make these strides toward healing and moving past the damage of emotional abuse.

Start Emotional Abuse Counseling at Thriveworks in Newton Today

If you are a victim of emotional abuse, consider partnering up with a counselor at Thriveworks in Newton. Our providers are qualified and trained to help you heal from this traumatic experience. They can help you understand, process, and move forward from the abuse. Ultimately, their mission is to assist you in living the happy, healthy life that you deserve. To schedule a session or learn more about our services, call (617) 992-2827.

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 Newton therapists and counselors accept 33 insurance plans

  • Aetna

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

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts | BCBS

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • Fallon Health

  • First Health Network

  • Harvard Pilgrim

Show more
Self-pay costs at Newton
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

5.0 Thriveworks Newton reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
My husband and I worked with Emily for a few months and her guidance had really made a difference in our marriage. In fact, my husband was skeptical about couples counseling initially, but really came to value it after a few sessions; the only reason we stopped was because our insurance changed. Both of us found Emily to be a compassionate and fair listener who recommended concrete tools and practices for us that turned out to be quite helpful.
Read more My husband and I worked with Emily for a few months and her guidance had really made a difference in our marriage. In fact, my husband was skeptical about couples counseling initially, but really came to value it after a few sessions; the only reason we stopped was because our insurance changed. Both of us found Emily to be a compassionate and fair listener who recommended concrete tools and practices for us that turned out to be quite helpful.
Newton Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I admire her integrity, honesty and work ethic. She is easy to talk to and is a great listener. She has consistently demonstrated emotional fortitude and sound Judgement, and will add great value to your organization.
Read more I admire her integrity, honesty and work ethic. She is easy to talk to and is a great listener. She has consistently demonstrated emotional fortitude and sound Judgement, and will add great value to your organization.
Newton Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Maureen is a competent, warm, and caring counselor.
Newton Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Kelly is very caring and understanding towards others. I would definitely recommend her for therapy!
Read more Kelly is very caring and understanding towards others. I would definitely recommend her for therapy!
Newton Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Maureen is compassionate, empathic and an excellent listener. She poses questions and scenarios to truly help the individual reflect. This method of helping allows each person to define their own answers and gain their own success. Maureenʻs years of experience and intellect has prepared her to truly help others. Kudos to anyone lucky enough to work with her.
Read more Maureen is compassionate, empathic and an excellent listener. She poses questions and scenarios to truly help the individual reflect. This method of helping allows each person to define their own answers and gain their own success. Maureenʻs years of experience and intellect has prepared her to truly help others. Kudos to anyone lucky enough to work with her.
Newton Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Maureen is wonderful and caring. I would recommend her services to anyone.
Newton Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have had the opportunity to work alongside Maureen Sullivan, and I am so grateful she is a provider in the therapeutic world. She brings the highest level of experience, creativity, patience, and grit, while remaining open and resourceful. She is truly a gem who is trustworthy; the quintessential dynamic therapist.
Read more I have had the opportunity to work alongside Maureen Sullivan, and I am so grateful she is a provider in the therapeutic world. She brings the highest level of experience, creativity, patience, and grit, while remaining open and resourceful. She is truly a gem who is trustworthy; the quintessential dynamic therapist.
Newton Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Newton is off of Boylston Street and Jackson Street. We share a building with Razelles Skin Care Salon. Down the road is a Life Time Fitness and Winston Flowers.

Phone number

(617) 380-4684

Languages spoken by MA providers

  • Greek
  • Russian
  • English
  • 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

Shown in ET

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

Shown in ET

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