Inner Bonding: Becoming a Loving Adult to Your Inner Child

This is a sequel to Healing Your Aloneness. It really could have been added onto the first book and re-published that way. It is very helpful to learn about the inner child dialogue process between the adult and child inside your head. There are many more helpful diagrams in this book than there was in the first book. This book is not just a review of the first book, it is much more than that. It in many ways explains the concept more clearly, with stronger (if lesser) examples. This book is written loudly and clearly, whereas the first book had some ideas that weren't explained as well as they are in this one. This book is for those who want to do serious work on themselves, for those in recovery from addictions, from codependency, from addictive relationships, overeating etc. But it is also for anyone who, as the previous book's title states, is lonely and doesnt know why. Inner Bonding is the solution to loneliness because it teaches me to be there for myself. This book is also spiritual, in that it reaches down to a deep level and transforms my life, daily. It teaches an inner habit. Truly an amazing habit and practice. I should warn you that God is mentioned in this book as part of this process that is needed. If you read the first book, a 'higher power' is mentioned in that book. It is helpful to believe in some sort of higher intelligence to do this process, and one does not have to actually believe in God for it.

I really enjoyed this book, it's full of insight and practical examples on how to regain and maintain your emotional independence and stay in touch with your feelings at all times. I definitely recommend this book. However, there a couple of points to consider. Author has a strong spiritual view on things, which feels very new age at time. It comes in the Step 4: Dialog with the "Higher Power" or "Higher Self". In her dialogues she sometimes says that a person can visualize Higher Power as "someone within" rather than "someone without". However she also states "We have to reach within our Child and without to a Higher Source... to find the whole truth for ourselves". For people who are not spiritual or have been hurt by religion this can be a major detractor, unless it's redefined solely as "Higher Self" or something similar. Personally, for me this is not a sticking point. Author does state that we are at all times only one person, however, most of the book focuses on dialoguing with the "Inner Child". I definitely see that this approach might not work for some people where fragmentation is an issue. Jean Jenson in 'Reclaim your life' recommends a similar approach however, she underlines the unity of a person to a greater degree and separates out the consciousness to child & adult.

...we would have the means to create real and lasting peace. Because we experience the world as we are, the way we relate to the world will be a direct reflection of the way we relate to ourselves. This book offers a framework within which we can relate to ourselves and others in an authentic, healthy, and empowered way. I acquired it at the advice of my Conscious Uncoupling coach as I faced the dark abyss of divorce from my husband of eight years. Every possible feeling of abandonement and worthlessness surfaced, and in spite of the urge to protect myself by getting angry and blaming everything on him, I dove deep inside of myself and discovered the ways in which I had implicitly agreed to be treated in the ways he was treating me...because they were mirroring the ways I was treating myself! After making that mind-blowing discovery, I committed to connecting with and prioritizing the happiness of my inner child, who was feeling worthless and abandoned by me. Once I began putting her needs first, listening to her input and taking loving action on her behalf, I started noticing some pretty significant positive shifts in the ways I was relating to the people in my life. I'd like to say that everything worked out with my husband, but that's not the case. We're still getting a divorce, but I see this as a chance to move on from my old paradigm and into a healthy new one, where I can give and receive the love I deserve. Now just imagine if all of the world leaders did this kind of work, instead of allowing their inner toddlers to run the show. It's up to us to step up and be leaders in our homes, peer groups and communities by taking on the responsibility to be there for ourselves and make sure that our needs are getting met--not at the expense of, but in concert with, those around us. If just a few of us step up, it can make a huge difference in the world. Get the book, do the work, and experience real and lasting peace, happiness and freedom in your life! I believe in you!

This book changed everything for me! It was the missing piece on a long journey of seeking and by far the most powerful. The workbook was also very helpful as well as listening to audio version of book on my morning walks. All my gratitude.

Her understanding of how to overcome hurtful life events is profound. Her exercises are very helpful.

Thank you for this book. Quick sending and good deal. I wanted to buy this book in french but it was out of order. So I find it in english and I'm happy.

The book is a very new perspective on how we deal with pain in our daily life. It is very useful to understand the concept of emotional neglect and understanding why others are the way they are.

This book is very well written. The author writes clearly and concisely. I came across the topic of healing our inner child many years ago, but at that time was not really receptive to this concept. I find the author gives excellent examples and explanations of how working with the sum total of all of our emotional experiences that have been less than empowering, and in many cases very distressing, can indeed help us to slowly transform our lives. The metaphor for this sum total in all of us, is the inner child. Upon reading this book, it really brings home what a very emotionally sick society we have out there. If everyone did this work, our society would change dramatically for the better. This is an outstanding self help book, and will certainly cause me to want to study this subject in much more depth. highly readable for those wishing to understand the routes of their suffering, and do something easy and practical about it!

As a skeptic of self-help books, I totally recommend this book. A must read: it can be even more helpful than therapy. I would also recommend reading "Attached", from a different author, that has a similar method and understanding of looking inwards. Highly recommended for whomever who is willing to go deeper and do some painful inner work in order not to be afraid of feeling whatever we have to feel.