ABSTRACT
A key to Inner Child Therapy is respect for and acceptance of the present boundaries set by the Protector-Controller. This part has helped people survive and the author is cautious to take away defenses before healthier coping skills have been developed. Sometimes, the author will do parts’ work with the Protector-Controller to get “permission” to do feeling work with a client. The goals of parts’ work are identification of personality parts, separation of enmeshed parts, development of a relationships between each part and therapist and negotiation of new behavior from each part and more positive relationships among the parts. The inner kids tend to be very demanding, want to be in charge of the adult’s life, and have the attitude that nothing is ever “enough.” A hint to what personality part is being expressed is the therapist’s reaction to his/her client at any given time.
