What is an inner child in hypnotherapy?
Many hypnotherapists will use versions of what is called inner child work. There are several formal definitions of the Inner child. Few hypnotherapists use these definitions rigidly. Within the context of hypnotherapy, the inner child is most often represented as:
A part of the mind which has been traumatised. As a traumatised part it has broken off and become separate.
This is sometimes called a wounded inner child. This traumatised part is often represented as a child because it was created by childhood psychological trauma.
- Note – There are joyful and playful variants of the inner child. These are less commonly engaged with in hypnotherapy.
The creation of an inner child through trauma.
An inner child may be created by a single trauma, or several lesser traumas. Children do the best they can with what they have got. What they have to work with is often restricted by society and their lack of life experience. As a result, they tend to adopt strategies which are imperfect. The child will have found a way to protect themselves emotionally from the trauma by separating (dissociating) themselves from the emotional pain. In the process they will have developed an inner child.
How inner child behaviours manifest.
There are two things tend to result from the presences of a wounded inner child:
- From time to time the Inner child takes over – Frequently this takes the form of meltdowns, tantrums and behaving in a way which matches or mirrors the origin trauma.
- Coping strategies are adopted – These are often behaviours which allow for the person to move out of their mental pain such as: drug use, excessive eating, self-harm, arguing and fighting. Alternatively, they may be externalised behaviours such as arguing, fighting or vandalism.
How would a hypnotherapist work with an Inner child
There are several likely steps to this process:
- Initial work will be done to ensure the patient is in a strong mental potion for the subsequent work.
- They will access the inner child through the imagination in a hypnotic state. This may be done by eliciting the inner child’s voice or by imagining them them. In this way communication between the patient and the Inner child can be initiated.
- Communication is conducted between patient and the inner child. This may be done to understand the development of the inner child and what it is doing, or reassure it that it is accepted and safe.
- Reintergration will be sought. This may be after a single session or several encounters. The aim of the reintegration is to bring the experience which the inner child developed to help with back into the whole. This allows for the development of a new way of being informed by the wider adult understanding and opportunities.
Does it work?
With the right patient, at the right time, Inner child work can produce powerful shifts which can appear to be almost miraculous. However, with most patients it opens them up to change which will require behaviour change techniques to capitalise upon. Following Inner child work such techniques as…
- Direct hypnotic suggestion.
- Desensitisation.
- Goal setting.
- EMDR.
…may be used to help the patient create lasting change.
