I love the quote from Tom Robbins (Author) :  "It is never too late to have a happy childhood".

Sometimes the small child still living within us whose needs were never really met will make his/her presence felt! On the other hand, you might just want to be lighthearted and joyous, and that is expressing your inner child too.

He/she may be feeling sad or angry or fearful. This is usually because the adults around at the time when you were young were too busy trying to meet their own needs. This child still wants to be heard and understood, and sometimes he/she is very quiet or sometimes acts out difficult feelings when scared, frustrated or angry. The little child (YOU) may want reassurance, to find a way to accept whatever might have happened in the past, to relax and stop affecting your life in the present. He/she might want to drive out in the car, shut the windows and yell or cry!

Have you ever helped yourself to feel better by taking some time out, by buying yourself an ice cream, or having a bubble bath? These are ways in which you can give some attention to yourself. You can learn to meet your needs in the present and help yourself in time to become your own caring parent. This can happen naturally through experiencing in our counselling relationship what it is like to have someone listen to you, care about you as a person, and not judge or criticise you.

We can work on this in different ways, for example by simply remembering and talking, or by working creatively with drawing or sandtray (using various objects symbolising your memories or feelings), or by the two of us giving time and space for a little child to trust and speak out. I will never ask you to do or say anything you don't want to, you are always in charge, if I suggest something and you are unsure, just say no.

However, the opportunity is there to ask yourself, "what is it that I need?"