When the Inner Child Comes Out to Play

One of my clients is doing some really powerful inner child work. During one of her sessions, she felt inspired to make art on one of her walls. Not on a canvas. Not on paper. Directly on the wall. I felt my own heart quicken at the possibility. Was it a bit of anxiety? Yup. Intrigue? Yes. Excitement? Absolutely. Did it feel kind of risky? You bet! But I jumped in with her as I do with my clients. We play together because that is an important part of our therapeutic relationship. After that session, I spent time with the image that had arrived on the back of my office/studio door. I then took it with me into my own therapy session with my therapist where I dove in a little deeper. Much deeper. My inner child came out to play and make a magical mess and seek from me acceptance, acknowledgment and at times comfort. It was a beautiful, beautiful reunion. I worked around one of my own childhood trauma wounds and tended to it with compassion, kindness and the kind of playful purpose that only art-making can bring. It was exhilarating, healing and yet another reminder of the exquisite threads of humanity that continue to gently weave themselves between me as a therapist, me as a trauma survivor, me as a wife, mother, daughter, friend and so much more. I love this work. I love that it challenges me to keep growing in all the ways I love so dearly. 🌱