Healing Your Inner Child: What It Means and How Therapy Can Help
If you have ever felt stuck in patterns you cannot explain, reacted strongly to small triggers, or struggled to feel worthy of love, your inner child may be asking for care. Inner child work invites you to reconnect with the parts of you that learned how to survive early on, then gently help them feel safe, seen, and supported. This is not about blaming your past. It is about creating the safety and compassion you needed, so you can move forward with more ease.
At Inspire Wellness Therapy in Calgary, we approach inner child healing with warmth, curiosity, and respect. You set the pace. We bring evidence-based tools, a steady presence, and a holistic lens that honors your mind, body, and spirit.
“Inner child healing is the act of turning inward with compassion, reminding yourself that the parts of you that once felt small and unseen are worthy of love today.”
Inspire Wellness Therapy
What Inner Child Therapy Involves
Inner child work can help when you notice patterns like:
Big reactions to small triggers, especially related to rejection, criticism, or abandonment
People-pleasing, perfectionism, or overachieving to feel safe or accepted
Numbing, overworking, or avoiding emotions to get through the day
Feeling like you are “too much” or “not enough,” even when evidence says otherwise
Difficulty trusting, setting boundaries, or receiving care
Persistent shame or self blame that does not shift with logic
A sense that a younger part of you takes over during conflict, intimacy, or stress
If you see yourself here, you are not broken; your nervous system learned brilliant strategies to keep you safe. Therapy helps you keep what still serves you and release what does not.
The Five Inner Child Wounds
Different models describe core childhood wounds in various ways. A commonly used framework identifies five themes. You may relate to one or several:
1. Abandonment. Fear of being left or unseen. You may cling, withdraw, or scan for signs someone will leave.
2. Rejection. Expectation of not being accepted. You might suppress needs, overperform, or reject yourself first to avoid pain.
3. Betrayal. Trust was broken by important others. You may struggle to rely on people, need control to feel safe, or test loyalty.
4. Humiliation. Being shamed for needs or mistakes. You might feel small, hide parts of yourself, or become hyper independent.
5. Injustice. Experiencing rigid, unfair environments. You may be highly self critical, perfectionistic, or intolerant of needs.
Naming a wound is not a label. It is a compass. It points to what your inner child needed and still needs now, such as attunement, protection, affirmation, or fairness.
How Therapy Helps You Heal Inner Child Trauma
Healing is both emotional and physiological. In session, you will learn to notice what your body does when a younger part is activated, then offer what it needs in real time. Core elements include:
Regulation skills. Grounding, orientation, breath patterns, and small movements to settle your system.
Attachment repair. Experiencing a safe, steady relationship with your therapist to model secure connection.
Memory processing. Titrated work with memories using approaches like EMDR, imagery rescripting, or gentle exposure so you do not relive trauma; you reprocess it.
Parts dialogue. Speaking with younger parts to hear their fears, validate them, and meet their needs now.
Boundary practice. Learning to say no, ask for help, and protect your energy without guilt.
Meaning making. Updating old beliefs with compassionate truths aligned with your adult self.
When appropriate, we integrate body based work with talk therapy. If you are curious about somatic approaches, meeting with a somatic therapist can deepen your sense of safety and embodiment while you do inner child work.
Gentle Steps You Can Take Right Now
Therapy is powerful, and there is also healing you can begin on your own. Try a few of these:
Create a “safety kit.” Include a soothing scent, soft texture, grounding playlist, and a few compassionate statements you can read when triggered.
Write to your younger self. One page, present tense, offering validation and the reassurance you needed then.
Reparent through routine. Choose one daily act that says “I have you,” such as preparing a nourishing breakfast or a 10 minute walk.
Use temporal language. When activated, say, “A younger part of me is here, and I, the adult, am also here.” This helps you hold both.
Practice boundary micro steps. Start with small no’s and small asks that honour your capacity.
Seek resonance. Share your process with one safe person who can reflect, “I see you and it makes sense.”
If you feel flooded or numb while trying these steps, pause, breathe, and consider working with a therapist. You do not have to do this alone.
What a Session at Inspire Wellness Therapy Looks Like
We begin with a gentle intake to understand your history, strengths, and goals. You can choose in person or secure online sessions.
Together we build a clear plan, paced to your nervous system. Safety and consent guide every step.
Your therapist will teach regulation skills early on so deeper work feels tolerable and contained.
As trust grows, we explore memories and patterns with care, always returning to stabilization when needed.
We end sessions with grounding and practical next steps, so you leave feeling steady.
If trauma is part of your healing, our trauma therapists can integrate EMDR and other evidence-based methods within a holistic plan that fits your unique needs.
Preparing For, During, and After Therapy Sessions
Before: Set an intention such as “I want to understand why I shut down in conflict.” Eat, hydrate, and arrive with a gentle schedule.
During: Notice your body. Ask for pauses. You are in charge of the pace.
After: Ground before you leave. Journal a few lines. Plan simple care, like a warm drink or a short walk. Protect your evening if possible.
A Holistic Approach to Therapy
In Person or Online Therapy
Calgary, Alberta
Getting Started in Calgary
You deserve a caring space to meet your inner child with compassion. Inspire Wellness Therapy offers in person and virtual support tailored to you. If you are looking for therapy in Calgary, our team can help you start at a pace that feels safe. Many clients exploring inner child work also benefit from EMDR; you can learn more about EMDR counselling therapy and how it integrates with parts work on our site. If body based support resonates, exploring somatic therapy can be an empowering next step.
Key Takeaways
Inner child work helps you care for younger parts of yourself that still carry unmet needs and protective beliefs.
Signs you may benefit include strong triggers, people pleasing, shame, or difficulty with trust and boundaries.
The five wounds, abandonment, rejection, betrayal, humiliation, and injustice, point to needs you can now meet with compassion.
Therapy offers a safe, structured way to process memories, update beliefs, and build secure attachment with yourself and others.
You can begin gently today, then deepen the work with a therapist when you are ready.
When you are ready, we are here to support your healing, growth, and connection. Reach out for a complimentary consultation and take your next step toward a steadier, kinder relationship with yourself.
Our holistic approach to therapy emphasizes understanding and nurturing these fundamental aspects of ourselves. We create a safe space for exploration and healing through individual, relationship, and family therapy.
Our Calgary Locations
We proudly serve our community with two therapy locations in Calgary, ensuring accessible mental health support for individuals and families.
📍 [5920 Macleod Trail SW #460, Calgary, AB T2H 2G4] – Serving Therapy in South East and Therapy in South West Calgary.
📍 [#206-7, 301 14 St NW Calgary, AB T2N 1Z7] – Serving Therapy in North East, Therapy in North West Calgary, and Therapy near Downtown Calgary
Both locations offer a warm, welcoming environment designed to make you feel safe and supported during your therapy journey.
How to Get Started with Inspire Wellness Therapy
Taking the first step toward therapy can be life-changing. Here’s how you can get started today:
1. Visit Our Website: Explore our therapists’ profiles and learn more about our services at [Your Website URL].
2. Book an Appointment: Easily schedule your session through the Jane app or by calling our office.
3. Attend Your First Session: Begin your journey to healing with the support of our compassionate team.
Pursuing an autism assessment is an important step toward clarity, self-understanding, and accessing the right supports. At Inspire Wellness Therapy, we’re proud to offer autism assessments in Calgary that are thoughtful, professional, and tailored to each individual. Whether you’re seeking a diagnosis for yourself or a loved one, our experienced team is here to guide you with care and expertise.
If you’re ready to begin the process or simply want more information, we invite you to reach out. Getting tested for autism doesn’t have to be overwhelming—we’re here to walk beside you every step of the way.
Conclusion
Finding the right therapist in Calgary can be a life-changing step toward improved mental health and overall well-being. At Inspire Wellness Therapy, we are committed to providing compassionate, individualized care that meets your unique needs. Whether you’re looking for support with anxiety, trauma, relationships, or personal growth, our diverse team of experienced therapists is here to guide you.
Ready to take the first step? Inspire Wellness Therapy offers a free 15-minute consultation to help you start your journey. Contact us today to learn how therapy can support your goals and overall mental well-being.
Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’S)
1. What is inner child healing? It’s the process of reconnecting with the younger parts of yourself that may still carry unresolved pain or unmet needs. Healing involves offering compassion, safety, and understanding to those parts of you.
2. How do I know if I might benefit from inner child healing? If you notice recurring relationship struggles, difficulty setting boundaries, people-pleasing, or strong emotional triggers, it may point to wounds from your inner child that need attention.
3. Do I need a therapist to do inner child healing? Working with a therapist can be very helpful, but it’s not the only way. Journaling, guided meditations, practicing self-compassion, and creative activities like art or play can also support healing on your own.
4. Will I have to relive painful memories? Not always. Inner child healing isn’t about re-traumatizing yourself—it’s about learning to nurture and care for yourself now, while gently acknowledging your past.
5. How long does inner child healing take? There’s no set timeline. Some people notice changes quickly, while others find it’s a longer journey. Think of it as building an ongoing, compassionate relationship with yourself.
