Meet Children Where They Are: Manassas Practitioner Breaks Down Play Therapy

MANASSAS, VA – Local families will have a new option for therapy and support when a new play-based therapy center opens in Historic Downtown Manassas in July.

Michelle Walker and Samantha Long will launch the Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center on Church Street on July 11. The practice will offer child-centered play therapy, caregiver support, professional training and other professional services, as well as free monthly story time events. More community events are being planned.

The new therapy center will open its doors on July 11, with a ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. and an open house until 1 p.m.

Walker, co-owner of the practice and a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist supervisor, described play therapy to Patch. She discussed her plans for the practice and what she and her team hope to provide for Manassas families.

What is play therapy?

Walker describes play therapy for children as similar to talk therapy for adults: a therapeutic process that helps them work through inner conflicts, increase self-awareness and discover their own strengths and resources.

“However, children communicate differently than adults,” she explained. Because of how the brain develops, “children primarily express themselves through play, symbolism, metaphor and behavior rather than through abstract thinking and verbal discussion. In play therapy, the therapeutic relationship becomes the primary agent of change, while play serves as the child's natural language and vehicle for communication.”

Walker says the team at the Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center is extensively trained in child-centered play therapy (CCPT), an evidence-based practice designed specifically for children ages 3–12, though its principles are broadly applicable. CCPT is founded on the belief that children possess an innate capacity for growth, healing and self-direction.

What do play therapists do?

Rather than directly teaching skills or solving problems for children, play therapists are trained to understand and respond to the child's play communication, Walker said.

“Through this process, children develop greater self-awareness, resilience, emotional regulation and a stronger sense of self," she added. "As therapists, we observe and support the natural shifts toward growth that emerge within the safety of the therapeutic relationship.”

Why is play therapy important?

Mental health graduate programs tend to focus on preparing professionals to work with adults, Walker said, adding that children require specialists who understand their developmental needs just as they need pediatric medical specialists.

However, there's an acute lack of trained play therapists in the area.

“Prince William County has a limited number of Registered Play Therapists and even fewer providers who work with children under the age of 8,” Walker said.

They want to help fill that gap. In addition to providing services for children and families, they’re also approved providers of continuing education in play therapy through the Association for Play Therapy.

What kind of work is the team most passionate about?

Each team member at the Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center has worked with children and families facing adversity, be it loss, trauma, medical crises or other challenges.

“Across our collective experiences, we have found a strong passion for supporting young children and families navigating trauma, attachment challenges, grief and loss, anxiety, and caregiver-child relationship concerns,” Walker said. "We strive to understand the meaning behind a child's experiences and how those experiences have impacted their emotional, relational, and developmental world.”

What will the new center offer?

Walker says she hopes the new center will be a place where people can find support, regardless of whether their practice is ultimately the right fit.

“We believe support should never be limited to those who become our clients,” she said. Wellness is a community endeavor, and “when families have access to resources, connection, and quality mental health care, the entire community benefits.”

The new center also aims to be a resource for community members who are curious about play therapy or who need guidance in finding services.

How does therapy intersect with community?

Walker said the team is excited for their upcoming community events. “When families are supported, connected, and empowered, children thrive,” she added.

The first of these events will be Preschool Story Time, a free monthly event launching on June 25. In addition to a book reading, Walker said, there will be regulation, art or sensory-based activities, and opportunities for parents and caregivers to ask questions about the new practice and possible services.

More events are coming, like parent workshops, psychoeducational groups, book clubs, caregiver support opportunities and child-focused activities.

“Our goal is to create spaces where families can access quality information, feel supported, and build meaningful connections with others in the community.”

Why Manassas?

The team has a personal and professional connection to Manassas and Prince William County. Two of their therapists are raising families in western Prince William County, and a third has lived in Northern Virginia for nearly a decade.

“Manassas offers a unique blend of community connection, accessibility, and growth,” Walker said. “It felt like the perfect place to plant roots and further our mission of strengthening the social and emotional wellness of our community.”