What exactly is inner child work?!
The concept of the inner child has been a topic of discussion in psychology and self-help circles for many years. It refers to the vulnerable, innocent and spontaneous parts of a person that exists within their subconscious mind. This part of a person is said to contain memories and emotions from childhood, and it is believed that this inner child can have a significant impact on a person's behavior, relationships and overall well-being in adulthood. The process of inner child work involves acknowledging, understanding and healing the traumas and emotional wounds of one's childhood.
Childhood experiences can shape a person's emotional and mental state for their entire life. For many people, childhood experiences can be full of love, joy, and happiness, but for others, childhood can be a time of trauma, abuse, neglect or abandonment. These traumatic experiences can leave emotional wounds that can impact a person's life in negative ways. For example, a person who experienced abuse as a child may struggle with trust issues in adulthood, or someone who experienced neglect may struggle with low self-esteem.
The Sumiloff Academy inner child work process is about helping individuals recognize and heal these emotional wounds. The goal is to help people become aware of their inner children and their impact on their lives, and to create a safe and nurturing environment in which they can process and heal their past traumas. This can involve exploring one's childhood experiences, examining the emotions and thoughts associated with these experiences, and learning new coping mechanisms to deal with the negative effects that these experiences may have had on their lives.
The first step in inner child work is to become aware of the inner children and their presence in one's life. This can involve paying attention to one's thoughts, feelings and behavior, and noticing patterns that may be related to childhood experiences. For example, a person may notice that they frequently avoid intimacy in relationships, or that they struggle with self-worth and confidence. These patterns can provide clues about the presence of inner children that may be in need of healing. We, at Sumiloff Academy, take a more scientific and direct approach to this work. We utilize tools such as Myers-Briggs, the Humanality Model, Human design and the Sedona Method to achieve a more direct access to your inner children's hopes, pain points, and fears.
Once an individual has become aware of their inner child, the next step is to create a safe and nurturing environment in which they can begin to process and heal their past traumas. This can involve creating a space in which they feel comfortable and supported, such as talking to a trusted friend or therapist, or using journaling or creative expression to express their thoughts and feelings. Most of our students work with a mentor for 6-12 months to make sure they have healed the destructive patterns that have taken a lifetime to build.
Inner child work can also involve visualization and imagination, such as imagining the inner children as separate entities and talking to them as if they were a real person. This can help individuals identify the emotions and thoughts associated with their childhood experiences, and can help them process these experiences in a safe and controlled way. The Sumiloff Academy's Round Table Model has been developed to make this process easier to learn and master.
Another important aspect of inner child work is learning new coping mechanisms to deal with the negative effects of past traumas. This can involve learning how to identify and manage triggers, developing healthy coping strategies such as exercise, mindfulness or meditation, and learning to set healthy boundaries and assertiveness skills. It's important to note that every person is a unique individual, and that what works for one person, may not work for another. Our mentors recommend success habits on an individual basis, so that our students can choose the ones that feel the most authentic to them.
Ultimately, Inner child work can help repair relationships with important people in one's life, such as parents, siblings or childhood friends, although the most important healing happens within. When we heal, we can come to terms with our past, and heal any emotional wounds from past life and relationships. For example, an individual may seek out a relationship with a parent who was emotionally absent during their childhood, or they may work on repairing a relationship with a sibling who was abusive.
Inner child work can be a challenging and emotional journey, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. By healing the past traumas and emotional wounds of one's childhood, individuals can experience a greater sense of peace, happiness and fulfillment in their lives. If this article spoke to you, join us at our online academy for healing, personal development and self-mastery, Sumiloff.com
Photo by Ricky Turner on Unsplash
Photo by Austin Pacheco on Unsplash
