In order to thrive and grow into our potentials, we all have basic needs that must be met consistently. The most basic needs are for food, safety and shelter. Other important needs are for loving attention, a sense of belonging, stimulation through learning and play, structure and boundaries, age appropriate responsibilities, respect, freedom to express oneself, to be heard, and creative outlets. As children if we do not have these needs met, or they are met erratically or inconsistently, we develop defenses and strategies to compensate. These strategies may help us cope and survive when we are young, but as we get older, these defenses, behaviors, perceptions and ways of being with ourselves, and our world, often become liabilities. Many common issues that clients want to work on in hypnotherapy are linked to these childhood patterns that limit.
Creating the Inner Family with Self Hypnosis
As children we all have needs that must be met appropriately and consistently for us to thrive and become self actualized as adults. If our needs are not met, or they are met erratically or inconsistently, we develop traits or characteristics that are our defensive attempts to meet out own needs. Many of our dysfunctions or coping styles are the consequence of these unmet needs and our responses to our childhood. Working with the inner family and our inner child is a therapeutic tool to intra-psychically begin to meet those nagging needs and to create corrective emotional experiences that have a lasting effect on who we are and how we function and respond in our relationship to ourselves, each other, and our daily lives.