What Your Inner Child Still Wants You to Know

Written by: Sharhonda Webster, MA, LPC | Founder of Redemptive Pathways

Imagine a little child standing in the corner of a room. She wants to be seen, but no one looks her way. Or maybe he’s sitting quietly at the dinner table, wishing someone would notice how sad he feels—but everyone is too busy. Sometimes the child gets scolded for crying, told to “be strong,” or given another toy instead of a hug.

That child doesn’t just disappear when we grow up. She lives inside us. He whispers in our fears, our relationships, and the ways we cope when life feels overwhelming. That’s the voice of the inner child—the part of us shaped by our earliest experiences of love, safety, or pain.

Every one of us carries pieces of our childhood into adulthood. Some of those pieces are filled with love, laughter, and comfort—but others hold pain, confusion, or unmet needs. These unhealed parts of us are often called inner child wounds.

Inner child wounds form when our core needs—safety, love, belonging, guidance, and validation—were not consistently met in childhood. They aren’t just distant memories. They often show up in how we see ourselves, how we cope with stress, and how we connect in relationships today.

The truth is, many adults are still carrying childhood stories they never had the chance to rewrite. Rather than simply learning about inner child wounds, I invite you to pause and reflect. Take a moment to listen closely—what might your inner child still be trying to tell you?

The Faces of the Wounded Inner Child

The Abandoned Child

This child grew up feeling left behind—sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally. A parent may have been absent, distracted, or too overwhelmed to provide consistent love and care. This child longed for stability but instead carried the ache of being unwanted or forgotten. As an adult, the wound often shows up as fear of rejection, clinging tightly to relationships, or feeling lonely even in the presence of others. Beneath it all is a deep yearning to be chosen and securely held.

The Rejected Child

This child remembers the sting of being told they were “too much” or “not enough.” Maybe they were criticized for their personality, dismissed when they expressed needs, or constantly compared to others. Over time, this child learned to hide parts of themselves to avoid pain. As an adult, this wound may echo through perfectionism, social anxiety, or silencing personal desires just to feel accepted. At the core lies a longing to be embraced without conditions.

The Shamed Child

This child learned early on that simply being themselves wasn’t safe. They may have been mocked, punished, or made to feel defective in ways that cut deeply. The message became: “Something is wrong with me.” As an adult, this wound may surface as hiding behind masks, avoiding vulnerability, or carrying guilt and embarrassment simply for existing. Beneath the layers is a child longing to believe they are worthy, lovable, and enough just as they are.

The Betrayed Child

This child once trusted fully, only to be let down or taken advantage of. Perhaps promises were broken, boundaries ignored, or safety violated. The result was a deep fracture in trust and a lingering sense of vulnerability. As an adult, this wound may appear as control issues, suspicion, or difficulty letting others truly get close. At the core is a child who desperately wanted safety, honesty, and someone to keep their word.

The Neglected Child

This child grew up unseen, with emotional or physical needs that went unnoticed, minimized, or ignored. Instead of being nurtured, they learned to numb out or disappear, convinced their needs didn’t matter. In adulthood, this wound often surfaces as difficulty identifying personal desires, feeling disconnected from emotions, or over-functioning to avoid emptiness. Deep down, this child longed for presence, attention, and the reassurance that their voice mattered.

The Parentified Child

This child was forced to grow up too soon. They may have cared for siblings, acted as a confidant, or taken on adult responsibilities in place of carefree play. Childhood innocence was traded for duty, and their needs often came last. As an adult, this wound can show up as guilt when resting, difficulty receiving care, or believing love must be earned through constant giving. Beneath the surface is a child who longed to be cared for, not just to care for others.

The Spoiled Child

This child may have seemed to “have it all,” but indulgence often masked absence. They were given toys, freedoms, or privileges instead of structure, guidance, and consistent emotional presence. Without healthy limits, they were left unanchored and unseen in deeper ways. As an adult, this wound may appear as entitlement, difficulty with discipline, or a restless search for validation. The truth is—they weren’t spoiled with love, but with substitutes for it, leaving an emptiness that things could never fill.

The Injustice Child

This child grew up in a world where fairness was absent. Maybe one sibling was favored while they were overlooked, or their feelings were constantly minimized and dismissed. They learned early that life was unequal and that their worth was always up for question. Beneath the surface lies a child who longed for validation but instead carried the sting of unfairness. In adulthood, this wound may manifest as rigidity, resentment, or a relentless drive to prove themselves through overachievement. What they truly wanted was acknowledgment and the reassurance that their value was never conditional.

✨ Each of these children still lives within us, not waiting for judgment but for compassion. Healing begins when we listen to their stories, honor their pain, and gently give them what they’ve always needed: love, safety, and belonging.

Why Inner Child Wounds Matter

Studies like the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study show us that unhealed childhood trauma is linked to depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and relationship difficulties. Neuroscience also reveals that trauma in childhood alters the brain’s wiring for safety, trust, and emotional regulation.

But the most important takeaway is this: these wounds don’t have to define you. The brain and the heart are capable of healing, especially when we create new experiences of safety, compassion, and connection.

Beginning the Healing Journey

Healing your inner child is like sitting down with that little boy or girl in the corner and saying:

“I see you. I hear you. I will not leave you.”

It begins with awareness—naming the wound instead of ignoring it. It grows through practices like journaling, guided imagery, or reparenting: giving yourself the love and care you didn’t receive. Healing deepens when you open yourself to safe, supportive relationships and therapeutic spaces where your story is honored, not judged.

The Truth About You

You are not broken—you are carrying unhealed parts of a story that deserves compassion. Whether you were abandoned, shamed, rejected, spoiled, neglected, or burdened too soon, your past does not define your future.

At Redemptive Pathways, we walk alongside individuals who are ready to break free from old wounds and embrace new patterns of love, safety, and connection. Healing takes courage, but you don’t have to walk this road alone.

✨ You can’t go back and change what your younger self went through. But you can become the safe, steady presence they always needed—and in doing so, give yourself the gift of wholeness.

Take the Next Step Toward Healing

Your inner child deserves to be seen, heard, and nurtured. If you’re ready to begin the journey of healing, schedule your FREE 15-minute consultation today and take the first step toward wholeness.

Redemptive Pathways, PLLC

🌐 Visit: redemptivepathways.org

📧 Email: redemptivepathwayspllc@gmail.com