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

Need more help deciding?

Emotional Abuse Recovery in Reston, VA—Therapists and Counselors

Normal, healthy relationships have disagreements. People are different, and when those differences are respected, people experience freedom. In contrast, emotional abuse is about controlling another person. Perpetrators use emotional manipulation to dominate.

Far from a one-time occurrence, emotional abuse is an intentional, established pattern. It often begins subtly, and victims usually have a hard time recognizing its early stages. As victims become desensitized to it, perpetrators escalate the manipulation.

Naming every possible behavior that is emotionally abusive would be impossible, but at the same time, giving examples is often helpful because emotional abuse can be more difficult to define and recognize than other forms of abuse. Examples of emotional abuse may include:

  1. Blaming others for one’s behavior.
  2. Publicly mocking, humiliating, name-calling, embarrassing, criticizing, et cetera.
  3. Separating someone from their family and friends.
  4. Withholding affection or love.
  5. Downplaying another person’s experiences, perspective, emotions, or thoughts (e.g., “It’s not that bad.”).
  6. Distracting others from one’s own responsibility by falsely accusing others.
  7. Using or objectifying people.
  8. Denying access to money, medical care, food, transportation, or other crucial resources.
  9. Using guilt, threats, or intimidation.
  10. Without permission, harming someone’s personal possessions, especially valuables (financially or personally).
  11. Keeping people on edge with moodiness or anger.
  12. Behavior that is jealous or possessive.
  13. Gaslighting.

Healing from Emotional Abuse

Many people have found hope and healing after a toxic relationship where they experienced emotional abuse. Counseling has given many people the safe space they need to identify the harm, heal, 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 the trauma.
  • Re-established their personal safety.
  • Grieved their losses.
  • Formed new, loving relationships.
  • Learned to trust their experiences and emotions.

Thriveworks Reston

The counselors at Thriveworks Reston understand the personal nightmare that victims of emotional abuse face, and know that every person deserves kindness, love, and respect. If you are in an emotionally abusive relationship or have been in one, you are not alone.

If you call Thriveworks Reston, know that you may be meeting with your therapist the following week. Our counselors offer weekend and evening session. We also work with many insurance providers.
No relationship should not undermine your self-worth. Call Thriveworks Reston today. We want to help.

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 Reston therapists and counselors accept 27 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 Reston
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 Reston reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
Michael was super in working with my wife, me and sometimes our son. He is a good listener, offers suggestions but in the end, we had to make our own decisions. It was good to bounce ideas off him and his manner makes one feel comforted after discussing issues with him. He also responded to my emails and emergency phone calls.
Read more Michael was super in working with my wife, me and sometimes our son. He is a good listener, offers suggestions but in the end, we had to make our own decisions. It was good to bounce ideas off him and his manner makes one feel comforted after discussing issues with him. He also responded to my emails and emergency phone calls.
Reston Mar 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Reston is located on Roger Bacon Dr., which is right off of Wiehle Ave. We share an office building with SCS Engineers, FVCBank, and Parabon Computation, to name a few. We’re also right by Fairfax fields and parks.

Phone number

(703) 782-3073

Languages spoken by VA providers

  • 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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