HEALING THE INNER CHILD Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Process

Course overview

In psychodynamic psychology, the inner child is akin to an unconscious subpersonality that consists of what a person learned and experienced in the earliest years of their life. For many, trauma creates an alienation from oneself. This inner child personality becomes subordinate to the conscious mind. The concept of the inner child was first proposed by psychologist Carl Jung after he examined his own childlike inner feelings and emotions. Jung postulated that this inner part of all of us influences everything we do and the decisions we make. The inner child has been picking up messages long before it could fully process what was happening mentally and emotionally. It holds emotions, memories, and beliefs from the past, as well as hopes and dreams for the future. When the inner child runs the show, clients may experience an array of triggered responses and strong emotions. Inner child work is a trauma-informed approach for those who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect earlier in life. This course explores the various philosophies surrounding the inner child and inner child work.