restin, i can see how if you were resistant to the therapeutic relationship that you found something to provide a reason to avoid forming that therapeutic bond, but i do think that could happened for T clients with any therapeutic technique such as changing your thoughts in CBT or going overboard on setting boundaries or with owning your power, etc.. inner child work is just one more tool in the tool box of techniques that can be used in a variety of settings like individual therapy, a 12-step group, group therapy or on one's own. some types of treatment are better suited to particular disorders but the books i have on inner child work all discuss the great benefits of getting help from others through therapy or commonly 12-step groups. i have not heard any recommendation to do inner child work instead of therapy but just as another method of help. there are even therapies such as IFS or ego state therapy that utilize the concepts but it is all within–rather than separate to–the therapeutic relationship. what i am saying is that i don't think there is any inherent danger in inner child work but rather that it just wasn't the right method for you in your particular situation and this is common with all types of therapy for particular individuals.