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Setting free your inner child

December 4, 2008 By Dr. Katrina Wood

an inner child in hiding

In everyone’s subconscious there is an abiding world. It is a place where our essential creative treasures lie and where all of the memories, experiences, and emotions that belong to our unique selves are stored.

It is important, however, not to presume that everyone is aware of, or connected to, him or herself, and that not everyone is mindful of both an outer and an inner world.

Often, these areas of the world within our minds are obscured and secret. These are the ideas, thoughts, and emotions of the child within you that have been locked away for as long as you can remember.

It’s possible that many of you may say this is not true for you — that there is no child within me anymore. But you are wrong.

Consider that you may have locked away these memories and emotions as a way to avoid chaos, pain, and/or ridicule.

What if this inner world does exist — that suppressed feelings in childhood do in fact carry over now into adulthood — and, like unattended wounds, may begin to fester.

In unveiling this concealed domain, there is a risk of certain pain and likely fear and a feeling of being lost. But it is the kind of pain that also brings relief when truths are revealed (about yourself and others), and emotions are displayed outwardly.

It is, as has been said, a necessary evil, in order to release the positive inner world of your child.

Filed Under: children, healing Tagged With: childhood trauma, inner child

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Southern California psychotherapistKatrina Wood is an author, lecturer and certified life coach focusing on psychotherapy and emotional healing. She lives in Los Angeles, where she runs the Wilshire/Valley psychotherapy center. ( More )

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This blog discusses psychotherapy issues in a general way. Readers should address pressing concerns via their personal-growth support system. Some problems covered here are best handled directly by mental health providers.

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