Inner child work is a transformative approach within clinical practice, offering creative tools for healing psychological wounds rooted in childhood experiences. This therapeutic technique invites individuals to reconnect with their inner child—an essential part of themselves often buried beneath the weight of adult responsibilities and societal expectations. In addition, inner children often carry trauma and attachment wounds, and therefore it may be necessary to attend to these aspects of ourselves during treatment of PTSD.

By engaging in activities such as art, journaling, or guided visualization, clients can express feelings that may have long been suppressed. These creative outlets not only facilitate emotional release but also foster self-compassion and understanding.

As clinicians, we play a pivotal role in guiding clients through this journey of (re)connecting with their inner children, helping them explore past traumas and uncover patterns that may hinder personal growth. Inner child work cultivates a safe space for individuals to confront unresolved issues, allowing for integration and healing. As clients nurture their inner child, they often experience greater emotional resilience and improved relationships with themselves and others. Ultimately, integrating inner child work into clinical practice empowers our clients to reclaim their joy and authenticity, promoting lasting well-being.

This will be an experiential webinar, so please be sure to have a notebook or journal on hand.

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Summarize the history of inner child work in the field of psychology.
• Describe the principles of inner child work.
• Describe the ethical use of inner child work in therapy.
• Use inner child work with a variety of mental health issues.
• Develop creative interventions to use with inner child work.
• Explain how to ensure for the safety of clients when doing inner child work.