supervisee in Social Work

Michaela Glowacki

Play-Based and Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Help Children, Teens and Young Adults Build Confidence and Emotional Resilience

Michaela Glowacki, play-based child and adolescent therapist at Thrive Counseling for Healing and Connection in Fredericksburg, Virginia

Hi, I’m Michaela, and I am a supervisee in Clinical Social Work who specializes in providing therapy for children, teens, and young adults, with a primary focus on children and adolescents ages 4–15. I offer a warm, calm, and relatable presence that helps young people feel safe, understood, and supported as they explore their emotions through developmentally appropriate therapy.

I am passionate about helping children and teens navigate anxiety, big feelings, school stress, social challenges, and life transitions. I believe that with the right support, young people can learn to understand themselves, communicate more clearly, and build lasting emotional regulation and coping skills that support them into adolescence and young adulthood.

Who I Help

I work with:

  • Children ages 5–12 who benefit from play-based, expressive, and experiential therapy

  • Preteens and teens (10–15) navigating identity development, emotional regulation, friendships, or academic stress

  • Teens and young adults experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or difficulty adjusting to life transitions

  • Children and adolescents coping with anxiety, school challenges, or behavioral concerns

  • Young people adjusting to family changes, moves, grief, or loss

  • Parents and caregivers seeking guidance in understanding and responding to their child or teen’s emotional needs

My work focuses on helping young people express themselves, build coping skills, and feel more confident managing their emotions—often before they have the words to fully describe what they’re experiencing.

Background & Approach

I received my Master’s degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and have extensive practicum experience as a school-based social worker supporting children with emotional disabilities. I’ve worked in both educational and therapeutic settings, giving me a strong understanding of how emotional, behavioral, and social challenges affect children and teens at home, in school, and in relationships.

My therapeutic approach is:

  • Trauma-informed

  • Play-based and developmentally grounded

  • Rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

I use a combination of:

  • Play therapy techniques

  • Sandtray interventions

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Mindfulness practices

  • Emotion identification and regulation skills

As children grow, my approach evolves with them. With younger children, therapy is more play-based and expressive. With teens and young adults, sessions often include more conversation, insight-building, and skill development—while still incorporating creative or experiential tools when helpful.

I strive to create a space where children and teens feel safe to express themselves, explore their inner world, and practice new ways of coping. I partner closely with parents and caregivers so that progress in the therapy room can translate into meaningful support and positive change at home.

I am also in the process of completing the requirements to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), reflecting my commitment to child-centered, developmentally appropriate therapy.

Connect With Me

I offer in-person child and teen therapy in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and telehealth sessions for teens and young adults across Virginia.

If you’re seeking therapy for your child or teen—or support for a young person navigating anxiety, emotional challenges, or life transitions—I would be honored to work with you and your family.

Please reach out to learn more or get started. I look forward to supporting your child’s growth, emotional well-being, and resilience.

Request to schedule with Michaela

Frequently Asked Questions About Working With Michaela

  • Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of therapy that helps children express emotions, experiences, and worries that they may not yet have words for. Through play, creativity, and guided activities, children can process feelings, build coping skills, and develop emotional regulation in a way that feels natural and safe.

    Michaela uses play therapy intentionally and thoughtfully, always with clear therapeutic goals in mind.

  • Michaela works with children, preteens, and young teens, and she adapts her approach based on developmental stage. While play-based and expressive tools are central to her work, sessions with teens often include more conversation, skills-building, and collaborative exploration alongside creative or experiential interventions when helpful.

  • With teens and young adults, Michaela places a stronger emphasis on emotional insight, coping strategies, identity development, and communication skills. While play or creative tools may still be used, therapy becomes more collaborative and reflective—meeting older clients where they are developmentally and emotionally.

  • Yes. Michaela partners closely with parents and caregivers to support progress outside of sessions. Parent involvement may include check-ins, guidance around emotional support at home, and collaboration around goals—while still honoring the child or teen’s need for safety and privacy in therapy.