You Deserve Safety, Respect, and Support in Your Relationships
Toxic and abusive relationships are characterized by a pattern of power and control,
where one partner seeks to dominate and intimidate the other. They are defined by
power and control. It often feels like walking on eggshells, never knowing when the
"tension" will lead to an explosion.
​
This abuse can take many forms, including:
​
-
Physical
-
Emotional
-
Verbal
-
Financial
-
Sexual
And often occurs in a cycle, with periods of tension building up, an explosive act of violence or emotional manipulation, and then a "honeymoon" phase where the abuser may express regret or promise to change.
​
Over time, you begin to feel trapped, isolated, and powerless, unsure of how to escape the cycle. The trauma from such relationships can leave deep emotional scars, affecting your sense of self-worth, trust in others, and your mental health in general.
​
Understanding that you were a victim of the abuse is often the first step toward breaking free. We are here to tell you that you are not at fault and that help is available.
What Is a Toxic or Abusive Relationship?
A toxic or abusive relationship usually involves long-term patterns of manipulation, intimidation, or control that undermine your safety, independence, and emotional well-being.
Emotional abuse may involve humiliation, gaslighting, constant criticism, or attempts to isolate you from friends, family, or support systems. Financial abuse can involve restricting access to money or using financial pressure to maintain control.​​​
​
These temporary moments of calm can make the situation confusing and difficult for you to leave the relationship. Over time, this cycle can leave you feeling trapped, isolated, and unsure of what steps to take next.
Many abusive relationships follow a recognizable cycle:
-
Periods of tension gradually build
-
An incident occurs (e.g., violence, threats, or intense emotional manipulation)
-
Afterward, the abuser may enter a “honeymoon” phase, apologizing, expressing regret, or promising change.​
How Abusive Relationships Affect Your Mental Health
Abusive relationships frequently result in trauma that can leave deep emotional scars that continue even long after the relationship ends.
Many survivors experience:
Loss of self-confidence and self-worth
Depression or emotional numbness
Difficulty trusting others
Low self-esteem
Anxiety or persistent fear
Relationship difficulties
Survivors often struggle with conflicting emotions, especially regarding the relationship itself and the potential next steps.
Our Approach: Healing After an Abusive or Toxic Relationship
Healing from intimate partner violence is a long and personal journey, but it begins with acknowledging the abuse and seeking support.
​
Safety is the first priority, so we will initially focus on making sure you have the right supports and resources in line to keep you protected.
​
Therapy can help survivors to process the trauma and rebuild a sense of identity and self-worth. Healing also involves regaining control over your life, which may include:
​​
-
Finding financial independence
-
Setting healthy boundaries
-
And developing new coping strategies for managing the emotional and psychological impact of an abusive relationship
It is essential to be patient and compassionate with yourself, recognizing that recovery is not linear but a gradual process that unfolds with time, support, and resilience.
​
We don’t just understand toxicity; we specialize in the subtle elements of it. We help you untangle the abuser’s voice from your own so you can remember who you were before the storm. Then, we take care to build the skills to ensure your future relationships are built on respect, not control.
Talk to Abusive Relationships Experts
While most therapists understand the basic tenets of toxicity and abuse in relationships, we specialize in this corner of the field.
Our approach is grounded in creating a supportive therapeutic environment where you feel safe exploring your experiences at your own pace. It is important that you connect with a therapist who understands all of the subtle elements of this experience and does not pressure you to make rash decisions but stands beside you, empowering you to make the choices that are right for your individual healing and growth.
Therapy at Rooted Survivors focuses on helping you rebuild your sense of self, strengthen personal boundaries, and develop healthier patterns for future relationships.
Safety and support come first
When working with survivors of toxic or abusive relationships, safety and stability are always our first priority.
Therapy can include discussions about safety planning, identifying supportive resources, and building a network that helps protect your well-being. This may involve connecting with trusted individuals, exploring community resources, or creating strategies that help you feel more secure in your day-to-day life.
The goal is to ensure that you have the support and stability needed to begin the healing process.
Meet Lauren, an Experienced Relationship Therapist
Lauren E. Taylor, LMFT
Practice Founder and Clinical Supervisor
EMDR and DBT certified
Licensed in CA, OK and NV
​​
My work as a therapist has been shaped by more than a decade of supporting people through trauma, relationship challenges, and intense emotional experiences.
I began my career in crisis and community mental health settings, working with teens and adults navigating severe mental illness, mood disorders, and high-risk situations. Those early years taught me how to stay present, calm, and effective in moments when clients felt overwhelmed or hopeless.
​
I specialize in helping women heal from toxic relationships, emotional abuse, and patterns of coercive control that leave lasting impacts on self-worth and emotional well-being. Many clients arrive feeling confused, hypervigilant, and disconnected from their own needs after years of prioritizing someone else's demands.
Together, we'll explore what happened, rebuild trust in yourself, and strengthen the boundaries needed for lasting change. Using EMDR, CBT, DBT, and relational therapy, I help clients move beyond survival mode and reconnect with their voice, identity, and sense of personal power. Healing is possible, and you don't have to do it alone.
See What Our Clients Say:
“Other therapists say they understand Domestic Violence but they just don’t. Working with Lauren is a totally different sense of peace in just knowing that she gets it.”
Toxic Relationships Therapy in California and Oklahoma: Rates & Conditions
Session fees
-
Pre-licensed $125
-
Licensed $150
-
Clinical Leadership $175
Virtual therapy sessions
Available across California and Oklahoma
Session length
Individual therapy sessions take 50 minutes
Abusive Relationship Therapy at Rooted Survivors Therapy across California and Oklahoma
Start Therapy with a Free Initial Consultation
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel intimidating, especially after experiencing a toxic or abusive relationship. We get that, and we want you to make an informed decision. That’s why we warmly invite you to book a free initial consultation with Lauren.
A free initial consultation gives you the opportunity to talk with a trusted therapist, share what brings you to therapy, ask your questions, and learn more about how abusive relationships therapy can help. You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
If you feel like we’re the right fit, we can discuss the next steps. However, we will never push you to start therapy if you’re not ready to do so.
​
If you’d like to know more, book your free initial consultation today.
I look forward to talking to you!
Lauren Taylor, LMFT