Hransush Shahnazariyan is an experiencedd somatic trauma theapist, Strategic Intervention Life Coach and trainer on international level

Why healing your inner child changes everything

The deepest wounds we carry are often the ones buried within us for the longest. These wounds, born from unprocessed childhood experiences, very usually unconscious, shape how we navigate the world as adults – manifesting as self-doubt, fear of abandonment, or emotional triggers we can’t always explain.

Inner child work offers a profound opportunity to reconnect with these wounded parts of ourselves. It allows us to heal past trauma, transform lifelong patterns, and reclaim the joy, authenticity, and love that have always been our birthright

“Healing our inner child isn’t about rewriting the past – it’s about giving ourselves

the love and care we always deserved.” Hranush Shahnazariyan, Somatic trauma therapist

What is inner child work?

Inner child work is a therapeutic approach that allows you to access and nurture the younger, vulnerable parts of your psyche. These parts hold:

• Early emotional experiences and beliefs
• Unresolved childhood wounds and coping mechanisms
• Suppressed emotions that continue to shape your adult life

Through this work, you can identify these wounds, release survival patterns that no longer serve you, and reparent yourself with compassion.

“The parts of us that were abandoned, dismissed, or wounded as children don’t just

disappear. They wait – sometimes in silence, sometimes in pain – until we are ready to listen.”

Do you really need inner child work?  

For many, the idea of inner child work may feel unnecessary or even uncomfortable. Typical excuses are:

• “I had a good childhood – why would this apply to me?”
• “This feels too emotional or abstract.”
• “I don’t want to dwell on the past.”

But this work isn’t about blaming caregivers or reliving painful moments. It’s about recognizing how early experiences shaped your present–your emotions, relationships, and sense of self–and using that awareness to create a freer, more aligned future.

“Healing your inner child doesn’t mean staying stuck in the past. It means freeing

yourself from the patterns that no longer serve you.”

How trauma shaped my path to healing 

When people ask how I became a trauma therapist, my answer surprises them: I never planned this path – it found me.

Trauma has been part of my family’s story for generations. I know the weight of it – how it fractures families, seeps into relationships, and changes how we see ourselves. I’ve lost loved ones to trauma and, at one point, felt like I was on the edge of losing myself, too.

But I also know what healing looks like.

After two decades spent on my own healing journey, I’ve learned what it means to move from survival to stability, from pain to peace, from self-protection to deep connection. Healing isn’t linear – it’s a constant, unfolding process. But it has brought me a life filled with joy, playfulness, and love that I once thought was unattainable.

“We are not meant to live in survival mode forever. Healing is our birthright.”

The following signs show your inner child needs healing

Imagine your emotions and thoughts as trains passing through your mind. Mindfulness – the space within you created by being fully present – allows you to stand at the station and watch them go by, without jumping on board.

Here’s how mindfulness helps you observe your emotions and thoughts:

• People-pleasing or fear of rejection
• Struggles with self-worth and self-trust 
• Emotional triggers that feel disproportionate to the situation 
• Fear of abandonment or difficulty with intimacy 
• Perfectionism, overachievement, or chronic self-criticism 

These patterns often stem from early experiences where emotional needs weren’t fully met.

Your nervous system and inner child healing

Childhood wounds don’t just live in your memories–they’re stored in your nervous system.

When we didn’t feel emotionally safe as children, our nervous systems adapted to protect us:

• Freeze: Shutting down and disconnecting
• Fawn: Pleasing others to avoid conflict
• Fight/Flight: Staying on high alert to survive

These survival patterns often follow us into adulthood, shaping our relationships, behaviors, and emotional regulation.

Healing your inner child means not just emotional awareness, but learning to regulate your nervous system and feel safe in your body again.

How to soothe your nervous system

• Grounding techniques (walking barefoot, deep breathing, meditation)
• Gentle movement (yoga, stretching, or shaking out tension)
• Self-soothing touch (placing a hand on your heart or holding your arms in a hug)
• Connecting with safe people (co-regulation with loved ones or a therapist)

“Trauma isn’t just stored in memories–it’s stored in the body.

Healing means learning to feel safe in your body again.”

Steps to take to begin inner child work

Healing your inner child is a tender, ongoing process of listening, validating, and nurturing yourself in ways your younger self needed most.

1. Acknowledge your inner child

• Picture yourself as a child. What do they look like? How do they feel?
• Speak to them with warmth and reassurance.
• Allow any emotions that arise to surface without judgment.

“Your inner child has been waiting for you to notice them. Start by simply saying, ‘I see you. I’m here now.”

2. Identify core wounds

• Reflect on childhood experiences that shaped your beliefs about yourself.
• Notice recurring patterns in your relationships–what triggers you?
• Journal about early memorie s that hold emotional weight.

3. Practice self-compassion

• Replace self-criticism with gentle self-talk.
• Engage in activities that bring you joy and creativity.
• Give yourself permission to rest and receive care.

“The way we speak to ourselves matters. Be the voice of kindness you needed as a child.”

4. Reparent yourself

• What did you need to hear as a child? Say it to yourself now.
• Set healthy boundaries to protect your emotional well-being.
• Create safety in your daily life – through routine, self-care, and emotional awareness

Take the first step to heal your inner child today

For the past 15 years, I have guided over 1,000 people from more than 65 countries through the transformative process of inner child work.

I believe in this healing because I have lived it. I have seen how reconnecting with your inner child can release trauma’s grip, soften self-doubt, and lead to a life of love and freedom.

Start now with a simple step:

• Find a photo of yourself as a child. Look at it with compassion.
• Imagine what it needed to hear. Speak to it with kindness.
• Remind it: “You are safe. You are loved. I’m here now.”

Join our Somatic Experiencing® retreat

If you feel ready to go deeper, I invite you to join our Somatic Healing Retreat in Mallorca. Together with an amazing team another 4 therapists, in a safe and nurturing environment, we will:

• Reconnect with your inner child through guided practices
• Release stored trauma in a gentle, body-based way
• Experience deep healing surrounded by the beauty of nature and community

“Healing your inner child doesn’t mean forgetting the past – it means giving yourself the future you deserve.”

Learn more about our retreat