Reconnecting with your Inner Child: A path towards healing

In counselling and psychotherapy, the concept of the “inner child” refers to the part of ourselves that still holds the emotions, memories, and needs from our early life. This isn’t about regressing or being childish—it’s about recognising that the experiences we had growing up continue to influence how we think, feel, and relate to others as adults.

Our inner child holds both our earliest joys and our deepest wounds. It's the part of us that once felt safe, playful, curious—and also the part that may have felt hurt, abandoned, or misunderstood. When these early emotional needs weren’t met, we often adapt by developing protective strategies: perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional numbness, or hyper-independence. These defenses serve a purpose, but they can also disconnect us from our core self.

In therapy, reconnecting with the inner child is often a powerful part of healing. It invites us to acknowledge the younger version of ourselves with compassion rather than judgment. Instead of dismissing past pain with “That was a long time ago,” we learn to say, “What did that child need that they didn’t receive?” It’s not about blame—it’s about awareness and integration.

Working with the inner child might involve guided imagery, journaling, or simply slowing down to notice when a younger part of us is being triggered. For example, if someone feels overwhelming rejection in a situation that doesn’t warrant it, we might explore whether that emotion links back to earlier experiences of being unseen or dismissed. By meeting that part of ourselves with understanding, we start to re-parent and nurture the inner child in ways we never could before.

This work can be incredibly moving—and, at times, painful. But it's also profoundly freeing. Clients often report that by embracing their inner child, they begin to feel more emotionally grounded, more authentic, and more connected to their creativity and joy.

Ultimately, our inner child doesn’t need to be “fixed.” They need to be heard, seen, and held. When we create space for that in our adult lives, we foster deeper self-compassion, resilience, and a stronger sense of who we truly are.

Because healing isn’t just about moving forward—it’s also about gently reaching back and saying, “You didn’t deserve that. I’m here now. And I’ve got you.”