It helped me to open up to people, first talking things through with a puppet, alone on a beach, I cried I felt deeply, the sea was calming, and the puppet was the kind person I was the hurt child.

It seems that I have a tangle between my inner thoughts/emotions and expressing myself to others, I had no-one to support me with these things as a kid, so it has been alien, locked away until about 2 years ago, I’m 48. Also the constant fear of not being enough, low self esteem has put me off telling people stuff, believing what I have experienced is evidence of being broken and not as good as everyone else.

I still occasionally talk to a puppet that way, but not a days I have internalised the supportive character who helps the vulnerable character.

I am also actively using meditation to replay and feel what is stuck, I believe this will in time help the inner child grow and be less effected by stuck thoughts and emotions.