Inner child therapy works from the idea that parts of us retain the emotions, memories, and needs from childhood. If those needs went unmet, they can shape how we think and behave as adults.
The therapy aims to identify those old wounds, give them space to be expressed, and respond to them with the compassion they didn’t receive originally. Techniques include guided imagery, journaling, letter writing to your younger self, and dialogue exercises.
It’s not a standalone modality — it’s woven into approaches like CBT and schema therapy. The goal is integration: the adult self and the inner child stop working against each other.
Sources:
- Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/memberarticles/inner-child-therapy
- BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/inner-child-what-is-it-what-happened-to-it-and-how-can-i-fix-it/
- Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/inner-child-therapy
- Positive Psychology: https://positivepsychology.com/inner-child-healing/