Inner child work addresses the child-self who developed borderline personality disorder-related patterns in response to early experiences — and who still needs healing.
What Inner Child Work Means for Borderline Personality Disorder
The 'inner child' isn't metaphysical — it refers to the internalized representations of childhood experiences that drive adult borderline personality disorder patterns.
When borderline personality disorder arises in adult situations that echo childhood experiences, the inner child's unmet needs or fears are often activated.
Inner Child Work Techniques for Borderline Personality Disorder
- Compassionate self-dialogue: Speaking to the part of yourself that developed borderline personality disorder patterns with the kindness you'd offer a child
- Journaling to your younger self: What would you tell the child experiencing borderline personality disorder for the first time?
- Imagery work: Guided visualization to 'reparent' the child who developed borderline personality disorder responses
Finding a Therapist for Inner Child Work and Borderline Personality Disorder
Schema therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and psychodynamic therapy all incorporate inner child work as part of borderline personality disorder treatment.