Hi,
I know someone who benefitted from a therapist who worked on the "inner child."
According to this kind of therapy, the child was not fully loved and appreciated when he was growing up so he has to learn to nurture and love that part of himself now as an adult -- instead of looking to the outside world for that appreciation. As adults, we can re-evaluate past patterns.
That's how I understand it anyway.
Mari
http://www.brockman-counseling.com/child.htm
Quote:
This concept called an Inner Child has been a part of the world for a very long time. Carl Jung called it the "Divine Child" and Emmet Fox called it the "Wonder Child." Some psychotherapist call it the "True Self". And Charles Whitfield called it the "Child Within."
The Inner Child refers to that part of each of us which is ultimately alive, energetic, creative and fulfilled; it is our "Genuine Authentic Self", who we know deep within us, our "Real Self."
With our parents not really knowing, they helped to create this Inner Child. Society also helped with the creation. And most of us deny that there even exists such a part of us. When this child self is not allowed to be heard, or even acknowledged as being real, a false or co-dependent self emerges. We begin to live our lives as victims. Then we have situations that arise in our lives in which we keep having unresolved emotional traumas. The gradual accumulation of unfinished mental and emotional business can lead to chronic anxiety, fear, confusion, emptiness and unhappiness.
Denial of the Inner Child and the co-dependent self are particularly common among children and adults who grew up in troubled families. This is where chronic physical mental illness, rigidity, coldness or lack of nurturing is common.
Yet, there is a way out. There is a way to discover and to heal our Inner Child and to break free of the bondage and suffering of our co-dependent or false self.
Not everyone was mistreated or abused as a child. No one really knows how many people have been loved and guided in healthy ways. Some have estimated 5 to 20 percent.
This means that from 80 to 95 percent of the people did not receive guidance and love which is the way we know how to form healthy and loving relationships and to love ourselves.
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http://www.coping.org/growth/little.htm -- this link has lots of info that is easy to read
Quote:
What is the unfinished business of the "Inner Child"?
From growing up in a dysfunctional family, emotional maturity was stunted. This failure to mature left the "Inner Child" unfinished because we:
-Grew up too fast.
-Became small adults; little ``moms'' and ``dads.''
-Were either over responsible or overachievers.
-Were emotionally vulnerable.
-Were not given a chance to grow and mature in a normal sequence of events.
-Put on a public ``mask'' or image to stifle our child-like needs.
-Repressed joy, vision, and feelings.
-Still have a ``inner child'' waiting to grow up and take its proper place.
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Also, many books an Amazon. Here is one:
http://www.amazon.com/Recovery-Your-.../dp/0671701355
Recovery of Your Inner Child: The Highly Acclaimed Method for Liberating Your Inner Self
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