Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

25,282 people sought family therapy help in Virginia in the last year

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

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

Good news! We have 81 therapists in Virginia available for an online or in-person session.
Benjamin Clark

Hear from Benjamin Clark, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

View Benjamin Clark's profile

What is your go-to approach for family therapy?

The preferred modality for family therapy is based around cognitive behavioral relationship therapy in regard to family dynamics.

What tools do you teach in family therapy?

I teach about a variety of topics and tools, including:

  • Negative ruminations
  • The cognitive triangle, hierarchy of needs, and stages of life
  • Coping skills and strategies for managing and regulating emotions and stress
  • How to recognize, challenge, and reframe cognitive distortions, otherwise known as automatic negative thoughts
  • Addressing barriers to change by cultivating awareness and mindfulness
  • Communication skills to be able to express what they feel and how to ultimately advocate for their needs with the people in their life and take appropriate pauses in order to respond rather than react
  • Breathing exercises
  • Processing journaling
  • Use of calendars and schedules and
  • Reality-checking fears and anxieties
  • Cognitive restructuring

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in family therapy?

Progress is being made when clients are able to come back session after sessions and confidently report their individual efforts and family ability to use skills, strategies, and routines they have been working on in treatment.Also, when they are using terminology they learned, demonstrate increased awareness of family dynamics, and show an ability to regulate and manage whatever they are there working on in treatment goals.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement family therapy?

Clients can supplement their work in family therapy with positive, healthy, and effective family check-ins, daily rituals, and activities (or what we refer to as pleasant events) in their daily lives and routines that encourage progress towards the needs of the household. Clients can also discuss activities, practices, routines, and habits that provide life satisfaction and help them feel like they are working toward long-term life goals for themselves and their family.

What should someone do to prepare for starting family therapy?

Clients can prepare for their first family session by thinking about the areas of their lives in which they hope treatment can help address the symptoms they are experiencing as an individual and the concerns or problems they are facing as a family.

Starting Family therapy

What is family therapy?

Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.

How does family therapy work?

Thriveworks family therapists in Woodbridge, VA usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.

What is the most effective family therapy?

The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.

How do I know if my family needs therapy?

This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.

What is included in family therapy?

In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.

What is the success rate of family therapy?

Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.

Is family therapy conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks therapists in Woodbridge, VA offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does family therapy last?

Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.

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 Woodbridge 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

  • CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield DC | BCBS PPO

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

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Self-pay costs at Woodbridge
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

4.7 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
Mariah is excellent and always exceeds expectations. I am very grateful to have such a caring and dedicated Dr.
Read more Mariah is excellent and always exceeds expectations. I am very grateful to have such a caring and dedicated Dr.
Lester Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Very helpful and I feel lucky to have her.
William Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
☆☆☆☆
I want to start off by saying that my two counselors I had were great, but the thrive works Business model is lacking a care for its clients. I had my heat go out and I missed my session because I was working for eight hours straight on it and was told that I shouldn’t have been working on my heat and made my appointment because it’s more important than my family. Will not recommend, and I had a horrible experience with Thrive works as a business model but again my two counselors were wonderful. I got nothing but respect for them.
Read more I want to start off by saying that my two counselors I had were great, but the thrive works Business model is lacking a care for its clients. I had my heat go out and I missed my session because I was working for eight hours straight on it and was told that I shouldn’t have been working on my heat and made my appointment because it’s more important than my family. Will not recommend, and I had a horrible experience with Thrive works as a business model but again my two counselors were wonderful. I got nothing but respect for them.
Donnie Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Johanna Lee has been my therapist for the past 7 months and I am extremely pleased with her! She is very professional and goes above and beyond to meet my needs. Thriveworks makes the whole process easy because I can text them to solve any issues I’m having.
Read more Johanna Lee has been my therapist for the past 7 months and I am extremely pleased with her! She is very professional and goes above and beyond to meet my needs. Thriveworks makes the whole process easy because I can text them to solve any issues I’m having.
Woodbridge Feb 2022
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I mentored Sharon in her master’s and doctoral studies where I found her to be thoughtful and discerning. She always generated a sincere sense of passion as her desire was not just to obtain degrees but to build the skills and knowledge base to support people within her community. Transparent in all her interactions with me and fellow students, she was unapologetically true to Biblical standards as the foundation of her interactions with others. I am confident that she will continue to be a thoughtful and wise counselor to all who seek her guidance and compassion.
Read more I mentored Sharon in her master’s and doctoral studies where I found her to be thoughtful and discerning. She always generated a sincere sense of passion as her desire was not just to obtain degrees but to build the skills and knowledge base to support people within her community. Transparent in all her interactions with me and fellow students, she was unapologetically true to Biblical standards as the foundation of her interactions with others. I am confident that she will continue to be a thoughtful and wise counselor to all who seek her guidance and compassion.
Woodbridge Dec 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Sharon is the epitome of integrity. She operates in humility and truth. She embodies what I call the three Cs: Caring, Considerate, and Compassionate. She sees you, hears you, and listens attentively and intuitively to your concerns. Her advice is sound and non-judgmental. Sharon's quiet, calm, and peaceful spirit puts you at ease, and makes you feel comfortable. I often seek her advice when life becomes difficult. I highly recommend Sharon for those that are broken, and in need of much healing and inner peace.
Read more Sharon is the epitome of integrity. She operates in humility and truth. She embodies what I call the three Cs: Caring, Considerate, and Compassionate. She sees you, hears you, and listens attentively and intuitively to your concerns. Her advice is sound and non-judgmental. Sharon's quiet, calm, and peaceful spirit puts you at ease, and makes you feel comfortable. I often seek her advice when life becomes difficult. I highly recommend Sharon for those that are broken, and in need of much healing and inner peace.
Woodbridge Dec 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Sharon Fernandez excels in Professionalism, Prepardness, and Integrity. Her ability to express concern about sensitive subject matter is very comforting.
Read more Sharon Fernandez excels in Professionalism, Prepardness, and Integrity. Her ability to express concern about sensitive subject matter is very comforting.
Woodbridge Nov 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Sharon shows a great deal of compassion, wisdom and kindness when sharing my concerns/issues with her. She is professional yet very personal as she guides and provides the help I need. If you are looking for a counselor that cares Ms. Sharon is an excellent choice.
Read more Sharon shows a great deal of compassion, wisdom and kindness when sharing my concerns/issues with her. She is professional yet very personal as she guides and provides the help I need. If you are looking for a counselor that cares Ms. Sharon is an excellent choice.
Woodbridge Nov 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Woodbridge is located on Hunter Pl, which is right off of Minnieville Rd. We share a building with Elite Realty and Associates and are across the street from Oberryman Insurance Agency.

Phone number

(571) 365-3172

Languages spoken by VA providers

  • Telugu
  • English
  • Creole
  • French
  • Tagalog
  • Farsi
  • Romanian
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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