The child is the father of the man. -- Wordsworth The inner child, that vital but submerged part of the self thatconnects us to both the joy and sadness of our childhood, is a key to ourachieving fullest expression as adults. "This child entity," says our editorJeremiah Abrams, "is the self we truly are and have always been, livingwithin us in the here and now." This volume, a collection of 37 wide-ranging articles, defines andgives concrete reality to the abstract image of the inner child, revealing it tobe the unifying symbol of the self, a symbol that represents, accourding toCarl Jung, "the part of the human personality which wants to develop andbecome whole." The essays from depth psychology, literature, the 12-Step Programperspective, and other disciplines are woven together with Abrams'thoughtful commentary to address the compelling themes the inner chldbrings to our awareness. Many of the selections address very practicalobjectives. - Realizing the promise of the child within and living out its destiny. - Reclaiming the innocence, playfulness, and wonder of the child inadulthood. - Healing the abandoned or abused inner child and resolving oldtraumas. - Tapping the child as symbol for our creative energy. - Forgiving our parents. - Developing compassionate awareness to be a better parent. - Completing the deverse unfinished business of childhood.

Are you outwardly successful but inwardly do you feel like a big kid? Do you aspire to be a loving parent but all too often “lose it” in hurtful ways? Do you crave intimacy but sometimes wonder if it’s worth the struggle? Or are you plagued by constant vague feelings of anxiety or depression? If any of this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing the hidden but damaging effects of a painful childhood—carrying within you a “wounded inner child” that is crying out for attention and healing. In this powerful book, John Bradshaw shows how we can learn to nurture that inner child, in essence offering ourselves the good parenting we needed and longed for. Through a step-by-step process of exploring the unfinished business of each developmental stage, we can break away from destructive family rules and roles and free ourselves to live responsibly in the present. Then, says Bradshaw, the healed inner child becomes a source of vitality, enabling us to find new joy and energy in living. Homecoming includes a wealth of unique case histories and interactive techniques, including questionnaires, letter-writing to the inner child, guided meditations, and affirmations. Pioneering when introduced, these classic therapies are now being validated by new discoveries in attachment research and neuroscience. No one has ever brought them to a popular audience more effectively and inspiringly than John Bradshaw.

In Homecoming John Bradshaw one of the world's leading figures in the field of psychology and recovery, explains his revolutionary techniques to reveal the inner child.He believes that the wounds we receive during childhood and adolescence can continue to contaminate our adult lives. His methods explained clearly in this book, help people to reach back to the child inside and heal those wound.Homecoming includes unique questionnaires which allow readers to work through John Bradshaw's world-famous inner child course themselves. There are specifically designed exercises that allow you to reclaim and nurture your inner child, so that you as an adult can grow and move on. 'Three things are striking about inner child work' says John Bradshaw. 'The speed with which people change the depth of that change, and the power and creativity that can result when the wounds from the past are healed For more information on John Bradshaw please visit www.johnbradshaw.com

Recovery of Your Inner Child is the only book that shows how to have a firsthand experience with the Inner Child--actually feeling its emotions and recapturing its dominant hand. Expanding on the technique she introduced in The Power of Your Other Hand, Dr. Capacchione shares scores of hands-on activities that will help readers to re-parent their vulnerable Inner Child and heal their lives.

This invaluable guide goes beyond existing self-help books, enabling readers to stay healthy and meet the challenges of daily living. Parker shows how examining the attributes of God as a good parent helps us develop a nurturing parent voice. Includes exercises that foster understanding of the inner child's position in the family.

The revered Zen teacher presents Buddhist meditation and mindfulness practices as tools for healing fraught relationships and difficult emotions—so we can move past childhood trauma. Based on Dharma talks by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and insights from participants in retreats for healing the inner child, this book is an exciting contribution to the growing trend of using Buddhist practices to encourage mental health and wellness. Reconciliation focuses on the theme of mindful awareness of our emotions and healing our relationships, as well as meditations and exercises to acknowledge and transform the hurt that many of us experienced as children. The book shows how anger, sadness, and fear can become joy and tranquility by learning to breathe with, explore, meditate, and speak about our strong emotions. Reconciliation offers specific practices designed to bring healing and release for people suffering from childhood trauma. The book is written for a wide audience and accessible to people of all backgrounds and spiritual traditions.

Recovery therapist Cathryn Taylor offers a step-by-step guide to reparenting the children within and healing their shame, anger, and feelings of abandonment. Using written and verbal exercises, guided imagery, journaling, drawing, mirror work, and rituals, you can change your experience of the past. For each of the seven stages of childhood, you will follow six steps: • Identify your pain. • Research its childhood roots. • Re-experience the pain. • Separate from it. • Grieve the losses of each stage. • Ritually release the pain and reclaim the joy of each inner child. In the end, you will reap the rewards of the wisdom of your true self. "This easy-to-follow six-step formula helps you contact true spirituality through ritual and imagery, while healing your inner children. The book is brilliant, and serves as a bridge between the psychological and the spiritual."--Laurel King, Author of Women of Power and coauthor of Living in the Light "Cathryn Taylor takes the next step: for her, the inner child is a palpable and real force in life. Methodically she applies a healing formula for each stage of growth and development, offering each of us valuable help in completing the child’s unfinished business."--Jeremiah Abrams, Editor of Reclaiming the Inner Child