What is the role of inner child work in CPTSD recovery?

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) recovery often involves reconnecting with one's inner child, a process that can offer profound healing by addressing deep-seated emotional wounds. Tanner, a proponent of integrating inner child work with a broader Parts Work approach, argues that while inner child work can be beneficial, it may not suffice for those seeking comprehensive CPTSD recovery. Drawing from her background in research and Internal Family Systems, Tanner emphasizes the need for recognizing and integrating all parts of the self, including Protective and Wounded Younger Parts, to foster a more holistic, Self-led healing journey. She envisions CPTSD recovery as a multidimensional endeavor, encouraging individuals to see themselves as the main characters in their own transformative journeys, thereby empowering them to break cycles of trauma through self-discovery and consent-based trust-building.

Key TakeAways

- Inner child work in CPTSD recovery emphasizes integrating parts work to address protective and wounded younger parts.

- Encouraging self-led empowerment in CPTSD recovery involves seeking out resources rooted in consent and permission.

- Connecting with wounded younger parts through somatic work and inner journeying can lead to healing from past traumatic experiences.

- Parts work for CPTSD focuses on collaboration with protective and wounded younger parts to facilitate healing.

Actionable Insights

- Integrate parts work to address protective and wounded younger Parts in CPTSD recovery

- Seek out resources that empower individuals to guide themselves through the healing process

- Connect with wounded younger parts through somatic work and inner journeying

- Facilitate a softening and transition to power between protective and wounded younger Parts in the internal system

Quotes

“Wounded Younger Parts are the core or epicenter of where the trauma has been stored. Once you arrive at that place [and] you've gotten permission, access, and trust from Protective Parts, unburdening that and releasing that is ridiculously simple.” — Tanner [10:24]

“What you'll often find with Wounded Younger Parts is they are simply a scared child, a scared version of you, a scared adolescent version of you, frozen in time at a scene of betrayal, rejection, or abandonment.” — Tanner [13:46]

“The bulk of the parts work for CPTSD is building trust and facilitating a softening and transition to power between your Protective Parts running your internal world and you ascending to your rightful seat of power as the leader of your system.” — Tanner [20:34]

“Inner child work with parts work is seeing yourself as a fragmented human with Protective Parts, Wounded Younger Parts, and you leading yourself—separated from these Parts but in collaboration with these Parts—to offer unburdening [and] integration.” — Tanner [22:44]