Inner child work

[summer_rain]

Hi everyone, ive been and am starting to embark on inner child work-- if any one have any comments/suggestions/ideas/experiences id love to hear about them

[Liveinhope]

Hi Summer rain

I guess it depends what the inner child may have to say, for me it has taken 4 years to get to this point of now refinding that inner child and some of what she has had to say has been painful and difficult, often leaving me feeling as the adult worse, but its not all doom and gloom after the initial days I feel a sense of lightness as though some of the load being carried for so long is shared and with that come perhaps the strength to walk a little further than before and one day perhaps feel free, so go for it, embrace it and you will find some relief in having done so

Good luck

[summer_rain]

Originally Posted by Liveinhope

Hi Summer rain

I guess it depends what the inner child may have to say, for me it has taken 4 years to get to this point of now refinding that inner child and some of what she has had to say has been painful and difficult, often leaving me feeling as the adult worse, but its not all doom and gloom after the initial days I feel a sense of lightness as though some of the load being carried for so long is shared and with that come perhaps the strength to walk a little further than before and one day perhaps feel free, so go for it, embrace it and you will find some relief in having done so

Good luck

Hi LiveinHope, thanks for your reply. Truth is Ive been looking to do it for some time and im hoping today I'll be meeting the person I'm going to start doing it with. My counselor told me of how its hard but there's a big sense of losing baggage afterwards-- im ready to do it. I just worry about visualizations and such, whilst I can feel my inner child and talk to her I find it hard to get in a 'child like' state-- since I don't have much experience with children. Any thoughts?

[Cherrypie]

Hi Summer Rain, a beautiful name and the image it evokes is very calming!

I don't think you are supposed to get yourself in that state.. you don't need experience of other children. Your child is within you and she has her life experience. She will either choose to come forward or not.. you will know when she does.. it may take time..

My child came forward and I found that I could remember childhood memories long forgotten. I personally found it an amazing and powerful experience but I feel strongly it needs to be embarked upon with an experienced counsellor. I have had some limited work on it with a trainee counsellor and whilst it was great work it feels a bit rushed and unfinished.. I think its too important to do half heartedly.

I wish you the very best experience...

Cherrypie
x

[Liveinhope]

yes I agree it needs to be an experienced person ,it has taken me years really I started with a lady who seemed to only be able to take it so far and it left me feeling insecure, I changed my counsellor and the one I see now has so clearly done this work before, we dont have those stilted silences and though its taken months I am feling I can find that child within and I to am remembering things that had just gone from my memory, some of which are not pleasant, but it depends how its dealt with and I am begining to trust her with my thoughts, but perhaps more importantly with the feelings that then follow and I am realising I will react to somethings we are discussing , but she has been able to convince me that how i react is sometimes positive and that she can direct me into a safe place again.

Its hard work and will take a long time, dont look to hard for the child, if the time is right she will come to you

best of luck

[Jenny]

I read half a book on Inner Child work (Homecoming by someone Bradshaw) and thought it was interesting. I wrote a few letters to myself etc but i guess my heart wasn't really in it. I'm afraid I really have a problem with my inner child.. i'm ok up to the age of 5.. i mean, i like Little Jenny until about then, but if i think of me at age 7 or so then i'm repulsed! It does make inner child work hard.

The book did suggest spending time around children if possible and i have to say that i think this was worthwhile for me. A friend of mine has a child and it was great for me to babysit one evening and play with her - and also see how i reacted to her when she cried, etc. I was actually quite caring and nurturing, so it goes to show it is within me, i just need to treat Little Jenny with that same nurturing!

I'm not sure where i'm going with this, so will leave it there. Hope it goes ok for you

[mary]

I just started inner child work and my therapist is good at what he does but i tend to fight the sessions as i really don't want to go back to the past. This child wants to so badly come out but each time she is hurt when she tries
I find it very disturbing remembering a past i fought about i guess it was the childs way to protect itself then. I really hate this child why because of how weak pathetic poor not strong at all and when she comes out all i feel is pain. My T has stopped working on this i think because it only upsets me and now is trying another approach something to do with chairs and becoming each person I don't know but will start that in 2 weeks. Your right though if the child wants to come out she will even if you don't want it she will fight to be heard and it really upsets me. You would think after all the attacks on her even now in the present she feels these attacks why doesn't this child just stay away stay hidden i don't get it. Anyway sorrry you certainly need a trained professional in this field to deal with the emotions and fall out from what is brought out in the sessions good luck

[Jenny]

A few weekends ago I went on an inner child workshop (Daphne Whitehouse).. it was good. We wrote letters to our parents, told ourselves affirmations, etc. I guess i struggle with doing it on an ongoing basis really.

[Bid]

inner child stuff is really good has worked with alot of my clients very deep and had good results