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Discover how starting emotional abuse counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
Karen Todaro is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Virginia who has 41 years of experience working with adults, co...
About
Karen Todaro is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Virginia who has 41 years of experience working with adults, couples, teens, and children experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, unwanted behavior, and relationship issues.
Karen completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of South Florida and her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She utilizes cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, relational, emotionally focused, and life coaching approaches to therapy while maintaining the flexibility, awareness, and creativity to best meet the unique needs of each client. Her focus is to be mindful of your prior life experiences, individual skillset, and timeframe in setting and reaching your goals in order to live your best life.
Karen is non-judgmental, warm, and caring and seeks to build a relationship with you based on mutual trust and respect through open communication. She will assist you with identifying your strengths and building on them so that you can reach your goals efficiently and move forward towards a more optimistic, productive, and rewarding future.
Education and training
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Mariellen Blanton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) who has 30 years of e...
Mariellen Blanton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) who has 30 years of experience working with adults seeking assistance with life stressors, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, loss, substance abuse, and restoring balance in life.
Mariellen completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology at St. Leo University and her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Norfolk State University. She utilizes solution focused, cognitive behavioral, supportive, mindfulness-based approaches to therapy while offering a safe, accepting forum in meeting each individual’s needs to empower all to flourish. Mariellen presents flexibility along with being attentive to what will work best for each individual’s distinctive needs and concerns.
Mariellen strives to create a calming and helpful relationship with you as a way to work together with you in building upon your existing coping strategies and achieving your goals while living a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.
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I am passionate about supporting individuals in their journey towards improved mental health and well-being....
I am passionate about supporting individuals in their journey towards improved mental health and well-being.
James Martin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 15 years of experience. He specializes in anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, anger/stress management, grief/loss, and major life transitions.
James obtained his Master's degree in Counseling and Human Development from Radford University. He utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy, including person-centered therapy (PCT), REBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and more.
If you're ready to work with James, he is dedicated to helping individuals set and achieve their therapeutic goals, empowering them to lead more fulfilling lives. Schedule today.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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Emotional abuse counseling helps victims heal from abusive relationships. Examples of emotional abuse may include:
Emotional abuse counseling with our Thriveworks therapists in Virginia Beach 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.
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.
Emotional abuse counseling with one of our Thriveworks therapists in Virginia Beach, VA can last for a few weeks, months, or longer, depending on the individual’s exact needs and preferences.
Emotional abuse is what an abuser uses to control and overpower the one they’re abusing. The abuse involves a steady pattern of verbal affront, often in the form of threatening, bullying behaviors. Criticism can also be relentless, sometimes barefaced and at other times more subtle. However, these lesser tactics are no less offensive or damaging. In fact, subtle emotional abuse can sometimes cause even more harm. Devious intimidation may include manipulation and shaming, but in a less obvious way.
An abuser often acts the way they do because of childhood wounds and anxieties they haven’t dealt with. In other words, they too were victims. They never learned anything about coping mechanisms. Most abusers are unable to develop healthy relationships with other people. It’s a vicious cycle. Both the abuser and the abused share some common, painful and destructive traits such as:
The negative spinoffs of the above feelings can often make living a normal life difficult if not impossible in some instances. Self-help books and videos can help those who seek support to some degree. In most cases, emotional abuse therapy administered by professional counselors is the best way to go.
Victims of this kind of abuse don’t always see the maltreatment as abusive. What happens is that they develop a kind of coping mechanism of denial. This helps them to diminish the ordeal as a way to cope with the associated stress. They can’t really cope with it though, not in the long term anyway. Long term emotional abuse will almost undoubtedly cause severe emotional trauma. Three of the typical symptoms materialize as:
If you can identify yourself as a victim of emotional abuse, try not to let it continue. Sometimes it will mean ending a relationship but you have to decide what’s more important to you. To continue usually means the suffering gets worse, never better.
Our Virginia Beach licensed emotional abuse therapy counselors are there to help anyone who reaches out. Call us today to see how we might be able to support you and your issues, or schedule online to begin.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Virginia Beach is located near S Independence Blvd and Edwin Dr, off I-264. It is near Lake Trashmore and a short distance from the Virginia Beach Central Library.
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