innerchild

The inner child is a metaphor used in psychology and self-help to refer to the part of a person's psyche that preserves early emotional experiences from childhood. It encompasses memories of joy as well as wounds and unmet needs. In therapeutic contexts, recognizing the inner child aims to acknowledge those early experiences and their ongoing effects on emotion, behavior, and relationships.

Therapies use the concept in various modalities, where clients are guided to identify and communicate with their inner child, validate feelings, provide self-compassion, and practice reparenting—offering the care and boundaries that were absent or insufficient in childhood. Inner child work is common in psychodynamic approaches, trauma-informed therapies, and in Internal Family Systems (IFS), which describes the psyche as a system of parts and often treats the inner child as a vulnerable part. Techniques include journaling, guided imagery, dialogue with the inner child, and developing self-soothing strategies.

Function and dynamics: The inner child is thought to react to present stressors through child-like emotions such as fear, shame, or joy, often triggered by reminders of early experiences. Healing work aims to reduce the impact of old wounds, increase emotional regulation, and improve self-care and boundaries.

Critiques: The term is a metaphor rather than a scientifically defined entity; some psychologists caution that it can be vague or misused, and empirical support is varied. Cultural and individual differences in parenting and developmental experiences should be considered.