Tween Therapy in Fredericksburg, Virginia
Developmentally Informed for Tweens Navigating Big Feelings, School Stress, & Growing Independence
The tween years can feel like a sudden shift. One day your child is relatively easy to read — and then almost overnight, the emotions are bigger, the friendships are more complicated, the school pressure is real, and the conversations feel harder to have. You're not imagining it. Ages 8 to 12 represent one of the most significant developmental windows of childhood — and for many tweens, it's also when anxiety, self-doubt, peer struggles, and identity questions start to take hold in ways that can feel overwhelming for the whole family. At Thrive Counseling for Healing and Connection, we offer specialized in-person tween therapy in Fredericksburg for children ages 8 to 12. Our therapists understand this stage of development deeply — and they know how to connect with kids who don't always have the words for what they're feeling.
What Brings Families to Tween Therapy
Parents often reach out when they notice a change — in mood, behavior, school performance, or social connection. Some of the most common reasons families seek tween therapy at Thrive include:
Anxiety and worry — persistent nervousness, avoidance, physical complaints before school, or difficulty managing uncertainty. For more on how we treat anxiety across all ages visit our anxiety and life transitions page
Depression and low mood — withdrawal, loss of interest, low energy, or a general sadness that lingers
Self-esteem and identity — a child who is hard on themselves, struggles to feel good enough, or is beginning to question who they are
Peer conflicts and social struggles — friendship drama, exclusion, bullying, or difficulty navigating the shifting social landscape of middle school
School transitions — moving to a new school, starting middle school, or adjusting to increased academic and social demands
Big emotions and behavioral changes — emotional outbursts, shutting down, increased frustration or irritability at home
Family transitions — divorce, moves, loss, or changes in family structure that affect a child's sense of stability
You don't need to wait until things feel severe. Many families come to us when something just feels off — and earlier support almost always leads to better outcomes.
Our Approach to Tween Therapy
Tween therapy at Thrive is developmentally informed and relationship-centered. At this age, the therapeutic relationship itself is one of the most powerful tools we have — a child who feels genuinely safe with their therapist is a child who can begin to do the real work of emotional growth.
Our therapists work at the intersection of play-based and talk-based approaches — meeting each child where they are developmentally and following their lead in how they feel most comfortable expressing themselves. Sessions are never forced or scripted. They're built around safety, trust, and connection.
Evidence-based approaches we use:
Play Therapy — Play is how children naturally communicate. Through intentional, guided play, tweens can express emotions, explore challenges, and process experiences in a way that feels natural and non-threatening.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — A structured, practical approach that helps tweens understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors — and develop healthier ways of responding to stress and difficult emotions.
Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) — For tweens who have experienced trauma, TF-CBT provides a safe, structured framework for processing difficult experiences and rebuilding emotional safety.
DBT-informed skills — Age-appropriate emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills that help tweens manage big feelings and navigate relationships more confidently.
Mindfulness and Somatic Approaches — Body-based and mindfulness strategies that help tweens recognize and regulate emotional and physical responses to stress.
EMDR — For tweens carrying difficult or traumatic experiences, EMDR offers a gentle, evidence-based path toward healing.
How We Work With Parents
Parents are essential partners in the tween therapy process — and we take that seriously.
Your child's therapist will work with you through dedicated parent sessions — held separately from your child's sessions — to share general themes from treatment, offer guidance on how to support your child at home, and gather any information you feel is important to their care. These sessions are designed to give you practical parenting tools while protecting the safety and confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship your child is building with their therapist.
When clinically appropriate, we also offer family sessions focused on specific goals — strengthening communication, helping your child learn to advocate for themselves in healthy ways, and supporting your family through transitions or challenges together.
Throughout the process, the therapeutic relationship with your child remains our highest priority. A tween who feels their therapist is truly their safe person — not an extension of their parents — is a tween who can do the real work of healing.
Our Tween Therapy Team
Tween therapy at Thrive is provided by our child and adolescent specialists. Every new client is personally matched with the therapist whose experience and approach is the best fit for your child's specific needs and personality.
• Michaela Glowacki, MSW — play therapy, sandtray, children ages 4–15, working toward RPT
• Angélica Guevara-López, MSW — bilingual Spanish/English, children ages 4 and up, play therapy, TF-CBT
• Sarah Hastings, MSW — tweens and teens navigating anxiety, stress, and life transitions
• Ashley Jordan, MSW — children, families, and emotional regulation
• Crystal Muir, MSW Intern — tweens navigating anxiety, school stress, and self-esteem
Your child doesn't have to navigate this alone — and neither do you. Tween therapy at Thrive offers a steady, safe, supportive space where your child can begin to make sense of the big emotions, social pressures, and identity questions that come with growing up. In person in Fredericksburg. Thoughtfully matched. Always at their pace. Ready to get started?
Not sure who would be the right fit? That's our job. Reach out and we'll guide you through it.
Some of the Evidence-Based Practices We Use With Tweens
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Play therapy allows children to express thoughts and emotions through play when they may not have the words. At Thrive Counseling, our therapists use play-based techniques to help children process emotions, develop coping skills, and build confidence in a safe and supportive environment.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a solution-focused, goal-oriented approach to changing unhealthy thinking and behavioral patterns.
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Tweens often carry stress in their bodies before they can put it into words. These approaches help tweens notice what's happening physically, develop simple calming strategies, and build a stronger connection between their body and their emotional world — in ways that feel natural and age-appropriate.
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy has been found to treat a wide variety of problems and provides clients with coping skills to better solve daily struggles. The main focus is to educate clients about their emotions and how to regulate them.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Tweens
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You don't need to wait until things feel like a crisis. If you've noticed a change in your child's mood, behavior, school performance, or friendships that has lasted more than a few weeks — or if your child seems to be struggling in ways that feel beyond what you can address at home — therapy can help. Early support during the tween years can make a meaningful difference in how your child develops emotionally and socially.
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Our tween therapy services are designed for children ages 9 to 12. If your child is younger, our play therapy program may be a better fit. If your child is 13 or older, our teen therapy services offer developmentally appropriate support for adolescents.
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Parents are important partners in tween therapy. Your child's therapist will meet with you in dedicated parent sessions — separate from your child's sessions — to share general progress, provide guidance for supporting your child at home, and gather any information that's important to their care. Family sessions are also available when specific goals call for them. Throughout the process we protect your child's sense of safety and the therapeutic relationship they're building with their therapist.
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Your child's therapist will share general themes, progress, and recommendations with you — but specific details of sessions are kept confidential unless there is a safety concern. This confidentiality is intentional and important. Tweens are in a developmental stage where building trust and having a space that feels genuinely their own is essential to the work. We keep parents appropriately informed while protecting that safety.
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Most new clients are seen weekly at the start of therapy. This consistency helps build trust, establish safety, and create momentum. As therapy progresses, session frequency may be adjusted based on your child's needs and goals.
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Reach out through our connect page and tell us a little about your child and what you're noticing. Our founders personally match every new client with the right therapist — you don't have to figure that out on your own.