Reconnecting with Your Inner Child: The Path to Healing and Play

As a child, I was always seen as more mature than my friends.

My mom loves to tell the story of my first day at preschool when, at just two years old, I walked up to the teachers, sat beside them, crossed my legs, and said: "Let’s talk."

No one was surprised. I spent my first three years surrounded by four adults, absorbing their words, their mannerisms, and the way they navigated life.

As I grew older, I continued living in my own world. When friends came over to play, they often ended up playing with my younger sister while I was lost in books, drawing, or simply my thoughts.

I hated the mess, the chaos, and the idea of my toys being "ruined."

I didn’t play like other kids. I always preferred structured activities over free play.

I was, without a doubt, an old soul in a child’s body.

Breaking Free from the "Mature Child" Identity

Two years ago, when I started my master’s in Gestalt Art Therapy, I suddenly found myself surrounded by adults who played like children. It felt bizarre, uncomfortable, and honestly, a little irritating.

My first instinct? Judgment.

I thought their behavior was immature, like they were avoiding the deeper work we were all there to do. And I wasn’t shy about my opinions—I rolled my eyes, criticized their playfulness, and resisted every moment of it.

But deep down, something else was happening.

I envied them.

These people were tapping into something I had locked away for years—the freedom to play, to be spontaneous, to express joy without self-censorship.

My inner child was screaming to join in, but I had no idea how to let her out.

It took time—a lot of time—to shift from judgment to neutrality, and finally, to acceptance. I had to admit to myself that I wanted that freedom. That I wanted to be silly, to let go, to laugh without restraint.

But that process wasn’t easy. It took nearly two years to slowly break down the walls I had built around my playful, carefree self.

Each art therapy session, each module in my program, brought me a little closer to the inner child I had ignored for so long. Through creative exercises, I learned to embrace spontaneity. Through group activities, I found myself laughing and playing in ways I hadn’t since childhood—perhaps not even then.

It was liberating, but also terrifying.

Now, as I approach my final months of the program, I feel an unexpected excitement. I’m curious to explore how I can connect with myself in even more playful and innocent ways—just like a child.

This transformation is still unfolding, but I know one thing for sure: the journey from "mature" to playful is not a straight line.

But every day, I walk it with more confidence.

Inner Child Healing: More Than Just Play

Reconnecting with our inner child isn’t just about having fun. It’s about healing, rediscovering joy, and learning to approach life with curiosity and wonder.

It’s about giving ourselves permission to be vulnerable and letting go of the need for constant control.

As I embrace this part of myself more fully, I can’t wait to see where it leads.

What Is the Inner Child—and Why Does It Matter?

Inside every adult lives a child—one that is always growing, evolving, and needing care, attention, and nurturing. This part of us isn’t just a relic of childhood memories; it’s a subconscious force that influences how we feel, react, and connect with the world.

The concept of the inner child was introduced by Carl Jung, and it’s more than just an abstract idea—it’s a real, living presence within us. Our inner child carries our deepest wounds but also our greatest potential for creativity, joy, and authenticity.

We don’t just have one inner child; we have many, representing different stages of our early life. Some of these inner selves hold our happiest memories, while others carry unprocessed pain.

Healing this part of ourselves isn’t about "going back"—it’s about integrating these lost pieces so we can move forward as whole, emotionally balanced adults.

Rebuilding Self-Love Through Inner Child Work

One of the biggest reasons inner child healing is essential is that most of us don’t truly love ourselves.

No matter how much love or pain we experienced growing up, we all emerge from childhood with an altered self-image. Emotional wounds shape how we see ourselves, and for many, that leads to deep-seated self-doubt or self-rejection.

To live fully, we must learn to rebuild self-love—especially for the parts of us that still feel small, fragile, and unworthy.

Relearning Play: The Key to Creativity and Emotional Freedom

To reconnect with our true selves, we must learn how to play again.

As adults, we forget what that means. Play isn’t just a way to pass time—it’s the foundation of creativity. When we create, we reveal who we truly are.

Art therapy teaches us to play again. It brings us back to the pure joy and curiosity we had as children.

Play isn’t just for kids. It’s a spiritual state, a force that lifts us above the routine of daily life and connects us to something bigger.

To play, we need three things:

✨ Curiosity – Seeing the world with fresh eyes
✨ Imagination – Tapping into the limitless world inside us
✨ Presence – Fully engaging in the moment

Art therapy is a powerful way to reconnect with this playful, free-spirited side of ourselves. Something as simple as drawing with your fingers or creating without rules can unlock a part of you that’s been hidden for years.

A Simple Art Therapy Exercise to Reconnect with Your Inner Child

One easy way to access your inner child is through drawing with your non-dominant hand.

Here’s how:

1️⃣ Find a quiet space where you feel comfortable.
2️⃣ Gather some paper and your favorite colors—crayons, markers, anything that feels playful.
3️⃣ Use your non-dominant hand to draw. Don’t focus on how it looks—just let go and see what appears.
4️⃣ Pay attention to how you feel. Does it frustrate you? Free you? Amuse you? Let yourself feel whatever comes up.

This exercise bypasses your logical mind and taps into your raw, unfiltered emotions. Try it and let me know how it goes!

The Dark Side of Childhood: Facing the Wounds

Of course, reconnecting with your inner child isn’t just about play. Childhood can be a painful place, filled with loneliness, fear, and misunderstanding.

Many of us bury these painful memories, hoping to forget them. But they don’t stay buried forever.

Eventually, they surface—in our relationships, our anxieties, and the way we move through the world.

Healing these wounds takes courage. It’s not an overnight process, but through therapy, creativity, and introspection, we can start to bring light to the darkest corners of our past.

Giving Yourself Permission to Play

Most of us were raised with rules: Don’t touch. Don’t move. Don’t be too loud.

These restrictions left us with an inner critic that sees play as childish or a waste of time.

But think about the moments when you’ve felt truly alive—when you laughed uncontrollably, followed your passion, or felt a spark of inspiration.

Those moments shouldn’t be rare. They should be part of everyday life.

Reconnecting with your inner child isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Art therapy is one of the most powerful ways to do this. When we engage with creativity through movement, colors, and self-expression, we tap into a part of ourselves that is both deeply authentic and free.

Your Inner Child Is Waiting

My journey through Gestalt Art Therapy has been one of healing, play, and self-love.

I hope my story inspires you to reconnect with your own inner child. That part of you—the playful, curious, joyful part—deserves to be seen, embraced, and nurtured.

Because life isn’t meant to be just responsibilities and routines.

There is always room for play, curiosity, and authenticity.

And it starts with giving yourself permission. 🎨✨

Book your art therapy session and reconnect with your inner child today!