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Offered in-person & online

Our therapists offer emotional abuse therapy in Manassas, VA

Get in-person or online care, and cover the majority of the costs with your insurance.

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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 Manassas 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 Manassas, 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 Counseling in Manassas, VA—Prince William Counselors, Therapists

Love means building up others—it seeks out another’s best. Unfortunately, many people experience the opposite in their relationships: people who tear them down. When people experience shaming, accusations, manipulation, or nit-picking from a spouse, a parent, a spiritual leader, a friend, or a co-worker, they may be experiencing emotional abuse.

The goal of emotional abuse is control: trying to dominate another person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Emotional abuse may not leave a bruise or mark, but the wounds are real. People who experience emotional abuse within any relationship may…

  • Be fearful of expressing their needs, thoughts, and emotions.
  • Trust their own experiences, perceptions, and/or memories.
  • Feel acute anxiety and hyper-vigilance.
  • Constantly wonder when the next emotional outburst or rage will occur.
  • Blame themselves for how they are being treated.
  • Think that they cannot do anything correctly.
  • Experience severe mental health problems.
  • Do you recognize anything on this list? If you do, your relationship may be emotionally abusive.

Wounds to the soul may not be visible, but the therapists at Thriveworks Manassas in Prince William County see them. Our professionals understand the trauma emotional abuse victims have survived, and they are committed to providing each client with holistic and personalized care.

Describing Emotional Abuse

Tiffs and bickering are normal parts of any relationship, and when they are respectful, they are healthy signs of interdependence where individuality is maintained. In contrast, emotional abuse uses feelings as weapons to control another person.

The forms emotional abuse can take are endless, but anyone who has experienced it will recognize it. Illustrations of emotional abuse are often powerful, and the following actions may be emotionally abusive:

  1. Unfounded accusations (“You broke [moved, stole, lost, et cetera]…” when they know that you did not).
  2. Outbursts of anger (Emotional responses that are out of balance considering the given situation).
  3. Withholding affection and love to get other people to behave a certain way (Pretending the other person does not exist instead of working through the problem).
  4. Objectifying other people (“What a girl” or “Man up”).
  5. Downplaying and minimizing others’ experiences, opinions, and/or emotions (“I doubt it was that horrible. You’re just sensitive.”)
  6. Using intimidation, threats, or guilt to get what is wanted (“If you really cared about me, you would…”).
  7. Blocking another’s means to accessing important resources (transportation, food, money, education, and/or health care).
  8. Possessiveness, entitlement, and/or jealousy toward another (“You belong to me.”).
  9. Cutting off others from their family or friends (“Why are you visiting them? Don’t you love me?”).
  10. Gaslighting (Sabotaging people’s confidence in their own experiences, thoughts, or memories).
  11. Mocking, humiliating, name-calling, shaming, criticizing, or embarrassing others (“You are such an idiot…”).
  12. Harming, breaking, or disposing of another’s mementos or meaningful possessions (Throwing away a beloved childhood toy, special picture, family heirloom, et cetera).
  13. Shifting blame and being defensive (It’s not like you’re an angel!”).

These tactics all vary in their details and circumstances, but the underlying method is the same: using emotions to gain control over another person. Often, emotional abuse begins subtly, and then, as victims become used to the treatment, it escalates.

Real but Invisible Wounds: Recovering with a Prince William Counselor at Thriveworks Manassas

When people tear down another person’s individuality, they are wounding that other person. Advocate Aisha Mirza explains, “It is not the bruises on the body that hurt. It is the wounds of the heart and the scars on the mind.” Some of those wounds may include depression, hypervigilance, psychosomatic pain, substance abuse, fear, anxiety, and suicidal idealization.

When people receive physical wounds such as a broken bone or a gash, they need to see a physician and receive medical care. Similarly, when people receive wounds to their souls, they often need to see a counselor or a therapist.

If you have experienced or are experiencing emotional abuse, know that you are not alone. The behaviors listed in this article are not healthy in any relationship, and if someone in your life is acting in those ways, help is available. Thriveworks Manassas has helped many clients find safety and healing after an emotionally abusive relationship.

If you want to meet with a mental health professional, Thriveworks Manassas in Prince William has appointments available, and we have done our best to make the process of setting up an appointment as easy as possible. Many new clients meet with their therapist within 7 days. A person answers our phone—not a voicemail or automated response. We also work with most insurance companies and have weekend and evening sessions available.

Call Thriveworks Manassas today. We are ready 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 Virginia therapists and counselors accept 1 insurance plans

  • See my self-pay options

Self-pay costs at Manassas
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

4.9 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
Sarah Hawkins is a very compassionate person. She always encouraged me to try my hardest to solved my problems using her advise. I am bless for having her as my therapist.
Read more Sarah Hawkins is a very compassionate person. She always encouraged me to try my hardest to solved my problems using her advise. I am bless for having her as my therapist.
Sarah Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
Ms. Brenda, is a outstanding MHP, she takes times to listen and gives outstanding advice. She always give suggested reading and the reading has helped tremendously.
Read more Ms. Brenda, is a outstanding MHP, she takes times to listen and gives outstanding advice. She always give suggested reading and the reading has helped tremendously.
ROBERT Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I had reached out to several therapists to find one that would fit. My therapist Noel, reached out and explained on what methods she uses to help with certain issues. She is a great fit for me and I am looking forward with working with her.
Read more I had reached out to several therapists to find one that would fit. My therapist Noel, reached out and explained on what methods she uses to help with certain issues. She is a great fit for me and I am looking forward with working with her.
Lynn Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I have looked so long for a new counselor and finally found a wonderful therapist through thrive works… Rhiannon Price has been working with me and has helped me so much
Read more I have looked so long for a new counselor and finally found a wonderful therapist through thrive works… Rhiannon Price has been working with me and has helped me so much
Michelle Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I really like my therapist Patricia Colby. She is so easy to talk to, and has a flexible schedule. She is understanding and really puts you at ease.
Read more I really like my therapist Patricia Colby. She is so easy to talk to, and has a flexible schedule. She is understanding and really puts you at ease.
Danielle Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My view with Dr. Young was a real eye opener.
Randy Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
My therapist has helped me a lot and I'm going to continue with my session to approve myself even more
Read more My therapist has helped me a lot and I'm going to continue with my session to approve myself even more
Natasha Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I was very satisfied with first session/consultation with my therapist. I feel confident she will address my needs and look forward to working with her.
Read more I was very satisfied with first session/consultation with my therapist. I feel confident she will address my needs and look forward to working with her.
Marjorie Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Manassas is off of Sudley Road, near Boost Mobile and Jersey Mike’s Subs.

Phone number

(571) 778-3537

Languages spoken by VA providers

  • English
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
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm

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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
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm

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