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