Working with the Inner Child in Counselling

 

I do a lot of work around the inner child in counselling.

 

The inner child can refer to emotions and feelings which are of a younger nature. These emotions often stem from early experiences and can get triggered in many different circumstances, for example, during times of stress, loss, transition, illness or relationship difficulties.

 

Sometimes, these feelings arise unexpectedly, and it can feel overwhelming. Circle Therapy in Birmingham can provide a safe and supportive space to begin to explore these younger parts of ourselves and the impact they continue to have on our adult lives.

 

The inner child carries old childhood wounds and can see the present situation through an old lens. For instance, if a friend doesn’t reply to a text, you may feel ignored or rejected. That feeling might not be about the present moment at all. It could be linked to a deeper sense of not feeling cared for as a child. Your friend may have simply been busy, but your inner child might be reacting to an earlier emotional injury.

 

The work we do in therapy involves recognising and connecting with this inner child. It’s about the adult or ‘inner parent’ part of your personality beginning to build a relationship with that younger self. This can be a gentle, compassionate process of engaging with and listening to your inner child, often for the first time.

 

This kind of therapeutic work can help with the following:

• regulating emotions such as anger, rage, frustration, fear, sadness and upset

• easing feelings of insecurity and jealousy

• learning how to soothe and comfort yourself

• becoming more accepting, compassionate and empathetic towards yourself

• reducing self-criticism and harsh internal dialogue

• working through abandonment wounds and unresolved loss

• setting healthy emotional boundaries between the adult self and the inner child

 

I might begin by inviting you to take a step back. To be both inside and outside of yourself at the same time. This can help you create some mental space, a gentle separation from the intensity of the emotion. From there, I might encourage you to imagine your inner child: how they feel, what they might need, and what you could say to them.

  

If you’re curious about how your inner child might be showing up in your life, and how this may be shaped by your personal or cultural background, therapy can offer a powerful space to begin that journey.