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