The Wounded Inner Child

Psychologist Carl Jung called the energies that reside within us archetypes, and one of the primary archetypes we all possess is that of the Inner Child. The inner child is the part in our psyche that retains its innocence, creativity, and sense of wonder and awe - irrespective of our actual biological age. The Wounded IC feels that in the deepest parts of their being, there is something terribly wrong with them. In this episode we’ll discuss what it looks like to be an adult who in childhood was silenced, leaving a huge gaping wound in the psyche, often masterfully repressed by us as adults – yet its impacts are deep AND far-reaching. Most of us will likely have been shaped and moulded to some extent, but here we’re taking about when this kind of abuse is extreme and is now controlling your adult Self, most of the time. These adults feel confused, guilty even about their true purpose, and on an even deeper level - who they actually are. This particular wound makes us question our instincts, by not listening to our gut feelings / our own inner guide - and then our entire being. It destroys our self-confidence, eventually leading us to sometimes abandoning our own Inner Child, to varying degrees. As children when our wings are clipped we can’t fly, so it’s kind of hard to get off the ground to fully take flight to discover who we are. This episode is not about blame, but how to heal to WIC once we’ve recognised the pattern in ourselves. Hāweatea Bryson is a Māori healing practitioner, Psychotherapist, Nature-based therapist, and Rite of Passage guide. Committed to the resurgence of rites of passage, she co-leads global trainings in rites of passage and eco-therapy. She is the founder of Nature Knows, specializing in trauma, transition, and transformation. This includes early childhood or adult trauma, existential crisis, spiritual emergency, family and relationship counseling. Ngāi Tahu & Waitaha are her tribes. www.natureknows.co IG: @nature_knows