THE MOMENT IN THERAPY WHEN YOUR “INNER CHILD” ISN’T SO SOFT Everyone talks about “meeting your inner child” like it’s this tender, heart-melting reunion. But sometimes… you meet them, and they’re not soft at all. Sometimes the “inner child” that shows up is sharp-tongued, cold, explosive, guarded, mean, or downright terrifying. And here’s the thing most people don’t know: What you’re looking at in that moment isn’t just the child. It’s the child blended with a protector. A tiny, vulnerable part