Child & Play Therapy In-person at Thrive
Helping Children Feel Safe, Seen, & Supported Through Play
Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling — but they show us through behavior, play, and emotion. At Thrive, we offer child and play therapy to help children express themselves, build emotional regulation, and feel safer navigating big feelings, life changes, and relationships.
Our child and play therapy services are provided by Michaela Glowacki, a therapist trained in integrative, trauma-informed play therapy. Sessions take place in person in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in a space designed specifically to help children feel safe, comfortable, and free to express themselves.
Welcome to Play Therapy
Play therapy provides children with a safe, supportive space to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through play — their natural language. Through play, children can explore challenges, build coping skills, and work toward emotional growth and healing at a pace that feels right for them.
Rather than relying on verbal insight alone, play therapy allows children to:
Communicate emotions they may not yet have words for
Practice regulation and problem-solving
Process stress, transitions, or difficult experiences
Build confidence and emotional awareness
Experience connection and safety within the therapeutic relationship
At Thrive, play is intentional, guided, and grounded in evidence-based practice. Play therapy uses toys, games, and creative activities to help children communicate and process experiences in a developmentally appropriate way. Parents and caregivers are supported throughout the process, with guidance on how to strengthen connection, emotional regulation, and understanding at home.
Michaela’s Approach to Child & Play Therapy
Michaela’s approach to play therapy is integrative and flexible, drawing from both child-centered and directive methods depending on each child’s needs.
Sessions may include:
Sand tray work
Art-based and creative activities
Imaginative and symbolic play
Structured interventions informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Child-centered play therapy principles
This adaptability allows therapy to meet each child exactly where they are — supporting creativity while also fostering emotional insight, coping skills, and regulation.
Therapy Structure & Session Frequency
All new child clients are seen weekly during the initial phase of therapy. This consistency helps build:
Rapport and trust
Emotional safety
Predictability and containment
As therapy progresses, session frequency may be adjusted based on your child’s needs and therapeutic goals.
Partnering with Parents & Caregivers
Parents and caregivers play an essential role in a child’s growth and healing. In addition to your child’s sessions, Michaela offers parent sessions every 4–6 weeks as part of the treatment process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Play Therapy
How do I know if my child needs play therapy?
Children often show stress through behavior, emotions, or changes in mood rather than words. Play therapy can be helpful if your child is experiencing anxiety, big emotions, behavioral changes, difficulty with transitions, or challenges related to family, school, or past experiences. You don’t need to wait for things to feel “severe” — early support can help children build skills and feel safer expressing themselves.
Why play instead of talking?
Play is a child’s natural language. Many children do not yet have the words to explain how they feel, but they can express emotions, experiences, and needs through play, art, and imagination. Through play therapy, children are able to explore feelings, practice coping skills, and work through challenges in a way that feels safe and developmentally appropriate.
How often will my child attend therapy?
New clients are typically seen weekly at the beginning of therapy. This consistency helps build trust, safety, and momentum. As therapy progresses, session frequency may be adjusted based on your child’s needs, goals, and progress.
What is the parent’s role in play therapy?
Parents are an important part of the therapeutic process. While sessions focus on your child, parent check-ins are included every 4–6 weeks to share general themes, discuss progress, and provide guidance and support for home and school. This collaborative approach helps ensure therapy is aligned with your family’s goals.
Will I know what my child talks about in sessions?
Children benefit from having a private, safe space in therapy. Therapists share general themes, progress, and recommendations with parents, but specific details of play or conversations are kept confidential unless there is a safety concern. This balance supports trust while keeping parents appropriately informed.
How long does play therapy take?
Every child is different. Some children benefit from short-term support, while others need more time to work through deeper challenges. Progress is regularly reviewed, and goals are adjusted thoughtfully as your child grows and develops.
What if my child is shy or resistant to therapy?
That’s very common — and okay. Play therapy is designed to move at your child’s pace. Therapists focus first on building safety and connection, not forcing conversation or participation. Over time, most children naturally engage as they begin to feel comfortable and understood.
Evidence Based Practices used with Children at Thrive
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CBT-informed play therapy blends evidence-based cognitive behavioral strategies with play-based activities that are developmentally appropriate for children. Through games, stories, art, and structured play, children learn to recognize emotions, understand thoughts, and practice healthy coping skills in a way that feels engaging and supportive.
This approach helps children manage anxiety, big emotions, behavioral challenges, and negative self-talk by teaching practical tools they can use at home and at school. Skills are introduced gently and creatively, allowing children to build confidence, emotional awareness, and problem-solving abilities at their own pace.
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Child-centered play therapy gives children the freedom to express themselves through play at their own pace, in a safe and accepting environment. In this approach, the therapist follows the child’s lead, allowing them to explore feelings, experiences, and challenges in their natural language of play.
Through consistent, supportive presence, children build emotional awareness, self-confidence, and a stronger sense of safety. This approach is especially helpful for children who struggle to put feelings into words or who have experienced stress, transitions, or emotional overwhelm.
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Sand tray therapy allows children to express thoughts, feelings, and experiences through symbols and storytelling rather than words. Using miniature figures and a tray of sand, children create scenes that reflect their inner world in a way that feels safe, natural, and engaging.
This approach helps children process emotions, explore challenges, and make sense of experiences they may not yet be able to verbalize. Sand tray work supports emotional regulation, insight, and healing while allowing the therapist to gently guide the process based on the child’s needs and developmental level.
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Emotional regulation skills help children learn how to recognize, name, and manage big feelings in their bodies. Through play-based activities, games, and creative exercises, children practice calming strategies such as breathing, grounding, and problem-solving in ways that feel approachable and age-appropriate.
These skills support children in managing anxiety, frustration, impulsivity, and emotional reactivity—helping them feel more in control, confident, and capable both in therapy and in everyday life.
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Parent-child sessions are an important part of the therapeutic process and are offered regularly to support connection and carryover outside the therapy room. These sessions allow parents and caregivers to better understand their child’s emotional needs while learning practical tools to support regulation, communication, and connection at home.
During parent-child sessions, the therapist may share themes observed in play, offer guidance on emotional support strategies, and help strengthen the parent-child relationship in a way that feels collaborative, respectful, and empowering.