The Summer Your Inner Child Deserves
Summer can stir up nostalgia: bike rides at dusk, the smell of sunscreen, the first bite of a cold popsicle on a hot afternoon. But for many of us, childhood summers weren’t all carefree and magical. Maybe you had to grow up too fast. Maybe there wasn’t much joy or presence in your home. Or maybe you were surrounded by people but still felt unseen.
As a therapist, I often help clients connect with their inner child. This is the part of us that still holds emotional memories, unmet needs, and early beliefs. In therapy, we can begin to understand these younger parts through Parts Work and Internal Family Systems (IFS), two approaches that help us build more compassion, curiosity, and healing from the inside out. You can learn more about how IFS can help you heal here.
One of the most powerful ways to begin this work is through reparenting: learning to give ourselves the care, attunement, and joy we may have missed out on. And right now is the perfect time to start.
What Is Reparenting in Parts Work and IFS?
In IFS, we explore the different “parts” of ourselves like the inner child, the perfectionist, or the protector. Each part holds a story or a role it took on to help us survive. Some parts are still carrying wounds from the past, and many are longing to feel safe, seen, and soothed.
Reparenting means meeting those younger parts with your adult “Self,” which is the grounded, calm, compassionate core of who you are. It’s about listening to what those parts need and offering them what they didn’t receive the first time around.
Ways to Connect with Your Inner Child this Summer
- Buy yourself a popsicle or soft serve
- Ride your bike without a destination
- Play with sidewalk chalk or blow bubbles
- Make a DIY craft or collage
- Build a pillow fort or lay on the grass to cloud-watch
- Dance in your living room to music you loved as a kid
- Make lemonade or sun tea from scratch
- Re-read a favorite childhood book
- Go barefoot in the grass and just notice the feeling
- Press flowers or leaves into a notebook
- Take yourself on a solo picnic
- Watch a nostalgic summer movie
- Build something with Legos or sand
- Go to a fair or farmers market
- Collect rocks, shells, or bugs on a walk
A Loving Reminder
Parts Work therapy and Internal Family Systems aren’t just about understanding what happened in the past. They’re about healing in the present and learning to respond to yourself with love and respect.
Reparenting helps you develop a new internal relationship. While deep healing takes time, these small moments of joy, rest, and freedom add up. This summer, don’t just survive the season. Tend to yourself tenderly. You’re allowed to be soft. You’re allowed to have fun. You’re allowed to give yourself the summer you needed.
Interested in Parts Work or Internal Family Systems therapy?
We offer a compassionate, client-centered approach that supports reparenting, inner child connection, and nervous system healing. Reach out if you’d like to explore working together.
If you’re considering working with a therapist in Denver, Rocky Mountain Relational Therapy serves Denver and surrounding communities including Alta Vista Area, Arvada Plaza Area, Scenic Heights, Lamar Heights, Allendale Area, Rainbow Ridge, Club Crest, Highlands, Northwest Arvada, Wheat Ridge. The first step is to schedule a free initial consultation; that way you can get a feel for us and decide whether we’re best placed to help you. Simply visit our booking page to schedule your consultation.