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