Have you ever responded as an adult in a childlike manner? Unresolved wounds from childhood can continue to shape our adult lives. Our inner child can influence our adult behaviours, relationships, and emotional responses. Healing our inner child can help us move forward with more emotional freedom and joy.
So, what is your Inner Child?
The inner child represents the part of us that holds childhood memories, emotions, and beliefs. It embodies our earliest experiences—both the joyful and the painful. This part of us carries the sense of wonder, creativity, and playfulness we had as children, but it can also hold unhealed wounds from past hurts or unmet needs.
If this part of us felt neglected, abandoned, or invalidated, we might struggle with self-worth, fear vulnerability, or repeat unhealthy patterns in relationships. On the other hand, when we embrace and nurture our inner child, we can cultivate deeper self-love, compassion, resilience, and emotional freedom.
“The inner child is still alive in the grown up. It waits patiently to be heard”.
Signs of an unhealed inner child
Unresolved childhood wounds can manifest in various ways; what is showing up for you?
- Perfectionism and self-criticism – feeling like you are never “good enough.”
- People-pleasing tendencies – struggling to set boundaries or constantly seeking validation.
- Fear of abandonment or rejection – difficulty trusting others or feeling anxious in relationships.
- Suppressed emotions – struggling to express sadness, anger, or joy freely.
- A lack of spontaneity or playfulness – feeling disconnected from creativity and fun
How to reconnect with your inner child?
Healing the inner child is an ongoing process. Therapy, especially inner child work, can help uncover and heal deep-seated wounds. A therapist can guide you in safely processing emotions and reparenting yourself with love and care. Therapies such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) have been found effective in inner child healing. NLP helps reframe limiting beliefs and past traumas, while EFT (also known as tapping) aids in releasing emotional blockages.
""When you are disconnected from your inner child, you cannot truly know yourself."
Healing Your Inner Child
Healing the inner child is not about blaming the past but rather embracing the present with self-compassion. It is about acknowledging and validating the child’s feelings, reframing any limited beliefs and about honoring the parts of yourself that still need love and attention. By doing so, we may enhance our emotional wellbeing, allowing us to receive more joy, love and carefreeness for which to live life, being authentic to yourself and the best version of you. The truth will set you free!
Let me help you reconnect with your inner child, your inner child is calling you...
References
- Bradshaw, J. (1990) Homecoming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child. Bantam. GB.
Church, D., Yount, G., & Brooks, A. J. (2012). The effects of Emotional Freedom Techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 891-896.
Miller, A. (1987). The Drama of the Being a Child. Basic Books. GB.
Schwartz, R. (1995). Internal Family Systems Therapy. Guilford Press.
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