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The Power and Art of Healing Your Inner Child

Guest post by: Joan Childs

Article Overview: This article is a brief summary of the benefits of Inner Child Work in psychotherapy; it's etiology, manifestations and resolution. Based on the work of several contributors in the field of psychology, this article enightens the reader to the long term benefits that produce transformation and permanent change in the lives of individuals who feel stuck in their personal growth and development. The article that will follow, Why Is It So Difficult To Change?, will elaborate on the obstacles and pitfalls of change, allowing the reader to understand that change in behavior is perhaps one of the most difficult efforts for the human condition. This article will illustrate primarily the causes that produce dysfunction and emotional arrest in human beings.

The Power and Art of Healing Your Inner Child



The Power and Art of Healing Your Inner Child

Perhaps, the work I am most known for is healing and championing the Inner Child. In 1989, I first became acquainted with John Bradshaw for his efforts in bringing this work to the forefront of transformational psychology. Although, often called "pop psychology" or "fringe" among those unfamiliar with his work, it has been long proven perhaps one of the most successful models for change. The profound changes that I witnessed made me begin my journey along with him. In 1990 I established the first affiliate of The John Bradshaw Institute, known as Joan E. Childs and Associates.

Prior to then, John established an in-patient treatment center in Ingleside, Ca. for the purpose of healing the wounds of the "Inner Child" in all those patients who admitted themselves into the Institute whether for alcohol, drugs or codependency. What he uncovered was, no matter the compulsion, the underlying issues were related to "Codependency" caused by neglect, abandonment and abuse. The behavior was just the extension of the wound. Some adult children went to alcohol; some to drugs; and others to people or activities to self medicate. When all the behaviors were modified, it was discovered that the underlying pain and/or emptiness was severe and needed to be addressed and treated.

Although his theory was not original, he parlayed and synthesized his concepts and ideas on the works of others such as Virginia Satir, Martin Buber, Alice Miller and many others, who, not unlike him, believed that children who come from dysfunctional families, suffer wounds that manifest into destructive behaviors, mood disorders and psychiatric illnesses that may not have occurred if they had healthy parenting. The adage, "we reap what we sow" was brought to light in what we observed in our independent practices.

Since we all come from dysfunctional families to a greater or lesser degree, we bring our left over baggage along with us into our adulthood. The average age that a person realizes that he/she may be dragging baggage from the past into the present, comes around the age of forty. Some come in sooner, others later, but there seems to be a magic bell that goes off when an individual reaches a certain maturity that calls them to begin to self examine and ask the question: "What is my part in this mess I seem to be recreating throughout my life?" When this question is considered and explored, the answers are not far away. Although the work of therapy is tedious, long and expensive, the outcome is worth the investment.

Change is difficult. We ask the question, why? In the next article, "Why is Change So Difficult", I will elaborate on the reasons why people find it so hard to re-engineer themselves. Once the dye has been cast, change becomes an enormous task. It takes a deep commitment and a willingness to expand our perceptions, understand the past and give up our beliefs. It is our belief system that dictates our behavior.

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Article Tags: codependency, dysfunctional families, Inner Child Work



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