41: When You Feel Like A Child Again: Young Parts, Protectors, and Self-Leadership

Feeling Young Again: Working With Parts, Shame, and SafetyHost Jesse Deal welcomes listeners to the Trauma Unbound podcast, shares a trigger warning, and describes his trauma-recovery journey and trauma coaching. He explores feeling suddenly “stuck back in time” when younger parts surface, using an example of freezing in a grocery store toy aisle while staring at stuffed animals: a playful eight-year-old part appears, while a protector part shames him to avoid humiliation and danger. Jesse connects this to pendulation and explains why public spaces can feel unsafe for inner work, then shows how he revisits the moment at home to identify sensations, validate the younger part, and negotiate with the protector to try new tactics. He discusses building capacity, meeting parts with compassion, communicating these experiences with trusted people, and how healing happens through connection and practice.00:00 Welcome and Safety Note00:50 Feeling Like a Child Again01:43 Toy Aisle Trigger Story04:03 Pendulation and Two Places06:25 Creating Safety at Home08:17 Meeting the Cowboy Part09:45 Talking to the Protector12:08 Keys to Deeper Healing15:23 Sharing Parts With Others19:37 Curiosity and Compassion Practice21:20 You Are Not Alone22:33 Closing and Support the ShowEmail me:  [email protected]:  https://www.traumaunboundcoaching.comWebsite Group Page https://www.traumaunboundcoaching.com/trauma-informed-group-coachingIG:  @traumaunboundYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@traumaunbound