At first I didn’t understand inner child work either. But I would like to share my understanding and experience. Sorry if the post is very long.
Your t uses the word parts. Mine used the word ego.
From a very young age, ( I believe the age of two) we start to store memories in the deep part of our brains. It can be good or bad, but their there. The older we get the closer the memories are to the surface. If you experience trauma as a child it is stored and as we know, some we remember, some we don’t.
The memories are there and so is the emotions that go with the memories.
As adults we may not have the memory because it’s so deep but we do have the emotions that is connected to the memory. As a child our egos are one. When we experience trauma the ego splits, it’s how we survive. When the ego splits, anxiety comes in because we are no longer a hole. As adults we can trigger these childhood emotions and split egos. Sometimes ( not all ) our behaviour can be viewed as childish, that’s because it is the inner child.
As an adult I’m out spoken, have good Communication skills and would take no BS from anyone. Then BAM! Someone I trusted and loved became aggressive, very angry, emotionally and verbally abusive. My father became an alcoholic a little later in my childhood. He could be verbally,emotionally and at times physically abusive but also a very loving and caring father. So here’s my trigger. Anyway, now I’m in therapy and
working on my inner child. I was able to connect with her and the trauma I experienced and when my egos split.
My egos that split where, safe and strength. If I wanted to feel safe I couldn’t feel strong. If I wanted to feel strong I couldn’t feel safe. Through EMDR and art therapy I was able to bring the two egos back together. Which helped my anxiety. Then I worked on nurturing my inner child and making her feel safe. Reconnecting with her by, in some ways play. Like colouring in adult colouring books, playing video games with my kids, watching a kids movie,etc.
My adult self had to prove to my inner child self that she was safe and I would protect her. That meant, I would not let anyone abuse me in anyway.
Sorry this was so long and I understand if no one made it to the end. I just hope in some way it helped.
