Our Inner Child and Trauma with a 't' or a 'T'

In the quiet, nurturing space of my yurt, surrounded by nature and stillness, I often witness something profound: the gentle unfolding of someone reconnecting with their Inner Child. It’s a sacred part of my work, offering space for healing both the big, life altering traumas (Trauma with a capital T) and the more subtle, cumulative wounds (trauma with a small t) that can quietly shape our beliefs, behaviours and sense of safety in the world.
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When we speak of Trauma with a capital T, we’re referring to experiences that overwhelm our system’s capacity to cope. These might include events like abuse, accidents, sudden loss or medical emergencies. These moments often register in our body and nervous system with a strong imprint, sometimes long after the event itself has passed.

But not all trauma is loud. 

Trauma with a small t refers to the more everyday, chronic or less overt experiences that can still be deeply impactful. These might include emotional neglect, feeling persistently unseen or unheard, being shamed as a child or growing up in an environment that was unpredictable or emotionally unsafe. Over time, these “smaller” experiences can compound and shape how we see ourselves and relate to others. They may whisper instead of scream but they still leave a mark.

Within all of us lives our Inner Child, a part that remembers what it was like to feel wonder, playfulness, and joy but also fear, loneliness and confusion. In trauma healing, especially the kind I support, this Inner Child becomes an essential guide.

Sometimes the adult self is ready to talk, to process and to heal but a younger part may still be frozen in fear, still believing it is not safe or not enough.

By mindfully and compassionately reconnecting with the Inner Child, we create a bridge between past and present. We invite that part of us to feel seen, heard and safe, often for the first time.

How I Work With Trauma and the Inner Child: Every session begins with mindfulness and breathwork to help clients arrive, not just in the physical space but in their body, in the moment. This gentle landing creates the safety needed to explore tender areas.

From there, I draw upon a variety of techniques, depending on the person’s needs in that moment:

• EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) helps to gently process stuck emotional energy, often allowing clients to name and shift old beliefs connected to trauma or their Inner Child.
• Reiki offers calm and regulation for the nervous system, especially when words feel too much or aren’t enough.
• Mindfulness and guided visualisation allow clients to “meet” their Inner Child in a supported way, offering loving presence, compassion and sometimes even re-parenting moments.
• EMMETT technique supports body based release when trauma is held physically, often easing tension or discomfort that has been stored for years.

Sometimes, all that is needed is to sit with the sadness of a five year old who didn’t feel safe or to celebrate the delight of a part that finally feels free to laugh. These moments are quiet but powerful.

Whether your trauma is big or small, sharp or quiet, you are not broken. Your response was your body and mind doing their best to protect you. And now, healing is possible, not through force but through kindness, patience and presence.
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Working with trauma and the Inner Child is not about “fixing” something wrong; it’s about returning to yourself. And in that returning, remembering that you are worthy of love, safety, and joy.