Counseling How

Inner Child Work in Fort Collins

Care for the younger you that still shows up today

Inner child work in Fort Collins at Foundations Counseling helps adults who notice old childhood hurts showing up today as harsh self talk, people pleasing or reactions bigger than the moment. With a counselor, you get to know those younger parts and meet them with care. Private pay, about $200 per session, free consultation, first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is inner child work at Foundations?

Inner child work in Fort Collins at Foundations Counseling helps adults who notice old childhood hurts showing up today as harsh self talk, people pleasing or reactions bigger than the moment. With a counselor, you get to know those younger parts and meet them with care. Private pay, about $200 per session, free consultation, first appointment usually within 48 hours.

What is inner child work?

Cleveland Clinic describes inner child work as the process of acknowledging, understanding and healing the wounds of your inner child. The "inner child" is not a literal second self. It is a way of describing the feelings, beliefs and needs you carried as a kid that still shape how you react as an adult, such as believing you have to earn love or that your needs are too much.

What does an inner child session look like?

It is talk therapy with a particular focus. You and your counselor notice moments when you feel younger than your age, like freezing when someone is upset with you, and get curious about where that reaction learned to show up. You might write a letter to yourself at a certain age, picture a younger you and ask what they needed, or practice speaking to yourself the way a kind adult would. Cleveland Clinic notes that a therapist using cognitive behavioral therapy can help you uncover where beliefs about yourself come from, especially those rooted in childhood. If the language of parts appeals to you, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a related approach.

Who is inner child work for?

People often look for it when they grew up with a parent who was struggling, distant, critical or unpredictable, or when they had to grow up fast. According to the CDC, adverse childhood experiences can have lasting effects on health and well being well into adulthood. You do not need a dramatic story to benefit. Many people come in because of quieter patterns: perfectionism, a constant inner critic, trouble resting, or feeling responsible for everyone else's mood. If those patterns sound familiar, self esteem counseling and codependency counseling may also be useful.

Is inner child work safe if my childhood was painful?

It can be, with the right pacing. Cleveland Clinic cautions that confronting your inner child can bring up very difficult memories, and that people with childhood trauma or abuse should work with a licensed clinical therapist. Your counselor will keep sessions at a pace you can handle, build ways to steady yourself first, and never push you to relive details. If trauma is the main concern, trauma therapy may be the better starting point.

Who will I work with?

A smaller number of Foundations counselors offer inner child work, based at our Fort Collins (Southeast) office, and they also see clients through online counseling anywhere in Colorado. Tell us you are interested when you reach out and we will match you with one of them. Your first meeting with that counselor is a free consultation. If the first match does not feel right, our Counselor Match Guarantee means we will find another counselor who fits better.

Safety and what this page does not cover

Inner child work is not crisis care. If old memories bring up thoughts of suicide or self harm, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Foundations does not offer memory recovery techniques, legal advice about childhood events, or medication. Questions about medication belong with your physician.

Ready to talk?

For a place to start, read how to move past being raised by struggling parents. When you are ready, book a free consultation or call 970.227.2770.

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GUARANTEED COUNSELOR MATCH

Inner child work asks you to be vulnerable, so trust in your counselor matters. If your first match does not feel right, we will help you find a better fit. How the Counselor Match Guarantee works.

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HOW WE APPROACH INNER CHILD WORK

Your counselor helps you notice when old hurts are driving today's reactions and practice meeting those younger feelings with care, at a pace that feels safe.

• Reflective talk therapy, letters and imagery, chosen with you.
• Internal Family Systems (IFS) ideas for exploring parts of yourself.
• CBT tools to question beliefs formed in childhood.

All Therapies

Do You Feel...

What brings people to counseling rarely arrives as one clear moment. More often it builds quietly: a feeling that lingers, a pattern that keeps repeating, a sense that something is off. If any of these sound familiar, reaching out to Foundations is a simple first step.

A Harsh Inner Critic

A voice in your head that is quick to call you stupid, lazy or not enough can sound a lot like what you heard, or feared hearing, growing up.

People Pleasing at Any Cost

Saying yes when you mean no, smoothing over every conflict and feeling responsible for everyone's mood can leave little room for what you actually need.

Reactions Bigger Than the Moment

Do small things sometimes set off huge feelings, like panic when someone sounds annoyed or tears over a minor mistake? Old hurts often show up this way.

Feeling Younger Than Your Age

In certain moments you may suddenly feel small, frozen or helpless, as if you are a kid again instead of the capable adult you are.

Grew Up Too Fast

If you took care of a parent, siblings or the household as a child, you may still struggle to rest, play or let anyone take care of you.

Never Quite Good Enough

Perfectionism and the sense that love has to be earned can push you to keep achieving while never feeling settled or proud of yourself.

Needs That Feel Like Too Much

Do you hide what you want or feel embarrassed for asking for help? Many people learned early that their needs were a burden to others.

Patterns You Swore You Would Break

Noticing yourself repeating what your parents did, in your relationships or with your own kids, can bring guilt and a strong wish to do it differently.

Old Hurts You Have Outgrown Explaining

You may feel you should be over your childhood by now, yet certain memories and feelings still sting. Counseling offers a gentle, paced way to tend to them.

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Find the Right Match

We understand that the journey to emotional well-being begins with connecting you to the right counselor. That's why we proudly offer our unique Counselor Match Guarantee. We don't just pair you with any counselor; we meticulously match you with someone who aligns with your specific needs, preferences, and goals for healing and growth. If the initial pairing needs to be corrected, we encourage you to explore our diverse and experienced team until you find the perfect fit.

Your comfort and progress are paramount, so we ensure you always have a supportive and confidential environment to pursue your journey of self-discovery and healing. Choose us as your trusted partner in this transformative experience—because your well-being deserves the utmost care.

Begin your journey today and take the first step towards a brighter, more fulfilling tomorrow. Let us guide you to emotional wellness with our dedicated and compassionate counseling services.

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