[dizgirl2011]

Hi,

I was wondering for those of you who are working on your inner child, or who have done in the past, what type of activities did you do in therapy, aside from talking about your inner child? Did you do anything else to help that part of you during your sessions? E.g. play a game or something like that perhaps?

This question could also sort of be asked of those with DID who have child identities within which may come out during sessions?

I am just wanting to open up the ideas of alternative things to do during the session for inner child work?

Thanks

[laceylu]

Old T made me write with my other hand to let the inner child out. I color and draw pictures now. I may have DID because my little girl is so strong-the jury is still out. I am very confused about inner child right now. I am reading the book Getting through the day by nancy napier which i think may be helpful to you. it talks about the difference between multiples and diff. parts of personality. it speaks to inner child stuff.

[sunrise]

My T and I have done ego state therapy, which you can do with any ego state, including the child ones. ("The inner child" is an ego state.) We don't do any special activities. Usually I just act as the liaison between T and the ego state, reporting to T the child's thoughts or words or posing T's comments or questions to her. So "conversation" would be the main activity. T has also worked with me to teach me to comfort and console ego states who may need it, so I have done comforting in therapy too, like taken the child into my arms, said comforting words to her, etc. T likes me to report back to him so he is in the loop. What did you say to her? How did she respond? Did she say anything back? What is she thinking? He can get pretty insistent with wanting to know what is happening, LOL.

At one time, it was one of my non-child ego states that my T wanted to work with and I could get him to make an appearance in therapy by thinking about a certain thing or reading a certain letter or email I had that made him angry. I could "provoke" him into appearing by upsetting him with these things. I hated doing that. Not nice. But it was fast and worked. You can't just always command states to appear and have them manifest. So it was a trick. But I didn't like it. I don't do that anymore.

Dizgirl, I think you will find what works for you with the "inner child" you are working with. I have heard of the trick of writing with your non-dominant hand, but you will probably discover other ways too that work for you and your child. What sorts of activities do you do with your inner child in your therapy?

Good luck.