Join the conversation inside the Inner Circle

Table of Contents

Introduction and Welcome (00:00:00) Emily introduces the podcast, offers a free resource, and welcomes guest Lisa Watson.

Lisa’s Background and Approach (00:01:30) Lisa introduces herself, her work as a transformational life coach, and her "parent yourself" method.

Understanding Trauma Beyond Catastrophic Events (00:02:43) Discussion on the misconception that only major events cause trauma; all children experience trauma to some extent.

The Roots and Impact of Childhood Trauma (00:03:45) Lisa explains how not feeling safe to be authentic is a core trauma, and how childhood experiences shape adult behavior.

How Children Internalize Shame and Disconnection (00:05:55) Lisa describes how children absorb shame and disconnect from their authentic selves due to common parenting reactions.

Personal Experience with Inner Child Work (00:08:18) Lisa shares her own deep inner child healing journey and the intense emotions involved.

Correcting Behavior Without Shaming (00:09:26) Advice on addressing children’s behavior with understanding, not shame, and the importance of connection.

Parenting Triggers and Learned Behaviors (00:10:07) Emily and Lisa discuss how parents’ reactions are often rooted in their own childhood experiences and learned behaviors.

Tips for Early Healing and Inner Child Work (00:11:42) Lisa offers practical advice for listeners starting their healing journey, emphasizing inner child healing and self-kindness.

Understanding and Communicating with Your Inner Child (00:13:21) Lisa explains how to dialogue with your inner child, validate their feelings, and avoid re-traumatization.

Energetic Healing and Rewriting Childhood Narratives (00:16:50) Lisa discusses the energetic aspect of healing, bringing the inner child into the present, and setting new boundaries.

The Power of Triggers and Self-Compassion (00:18:20) Emily and Lisa reflect on how triggers can be transformative when met with self-compassion and inner child care.

How to Connect with Lisa and Her Resources (00:19:32) Lisa shares her websites, upcoming projects, and ways listeners can connect with her and her work.

Closing and Final Thoughts (00:20:28) Emily thanks Lisa, recaps resources, and closes the episode with encouragement for listeners.

Healing the Inner Child: Transforming Motherhood After Trauma

Motherhood is a journey filled with love, challenges, and growth. But for many, it’s also a path that brings old wounds to the surface—especially for those who have experienced trauma. In a recent episode of the “Mamahood After Trauma” podcast, host Emily sat down with transformational life coach and author Lisa Watson to explore how healing your inner child can break generational cycles and create a more peaceful, empowered parenting experience.

This in-depth blog post unpacks the main themes and actionable insights from their conversation, offering a comprehensive guide for mothers (and anyone) seeking to heal from childhood trauma and parent with greater compassion and self-awareness.


Understanding Trauma: It’s More Than Catastrophic Events

Redefining Trauma

One of the most powerful takeaways from Lisa Watson’s approach is her expanded definition of trauma. Trauma isn’t limited to catastrophic events like abuse or neglect. Instead, it often stems from everyday experiences where children feel unsafe to be their authentic selves.

Key Insights:

  • Subtle Trauma: Many adults carry wounds from moments when they were shamed, dismissed, or punished for simply being themselves.
  • Societal Conditioning: Society often perpetuates fear and disconnection, making it easier to control people who are disconnected from their authentic power.
  • Generational Patterns: Most parents unconsciously pass down their own unresolved trauma, not out of malice, but due to a lack of understanding about childhood development and emotional needs.

Actionable Advice:

  • Reflect on your own childhood. Were there moments you felt unseen, unheard, or unworthy? Recognizing these subtle traumas is the first step toward healing.

The Parent Yourself Method: Healing the Inner Child

What Is the Inner Child?

The “inner child” refers to the part of you that holds onto childhood experiences, beliefs, and emotional wounds. Lisa Watson’s Parent Yourself Method is about re-parenting this inner child—giving yourself the love, validation, and safety you may not have received growing up.

Why Inner Child Healing Matters in Parenting

  • Triggers in Parenting: When your child’s behavior triggers a strong emotional response, it’s often your inner child reacting—not just your adult self.
  • Automatic Responses: Many parents repeat the patterns they learned as children, such as yelling or shaming, because that’s what feels familiar.
  • Breaking the Cycle: Healing your inner child allows you to respond to your children with empathy and understanding, rather than repeating harmful patterns.

In-Depth Tips for Healing and Conscious Parenting

1. Recognize and Validate Your Own Trauma

Lisa’s Insight: The biggest obstacle is often not recognizing your experiences as trauma. Many people minimize their pain because it wasn’t “bad enough.”

How to Apply:

  • Acknowledge Your Feelings: Give yourself permission to feel hurt, sad, or angry about your childhood experiences, no matter how “small” they seem.
  • Journaling Exercise: Write about moments when you felt misunderstood or shamed as a child. How did those experiences shape your beliefs about yourself?

2. Understand the Child’s Perspective

Lisa’s Example: When a child draws on the couch, they’re not being “bad”—they’re expressing creativity. Children under eight are in a “hypnotic” state, absorbing everything as truth.

How to Apply:

  • Empathy First: Before reacting to your child’s behavior, pause and consider their developmental stage. Are they capable of understanding the consequences?
  • Reframe Mistakes: See mistakes as opportunities for learning, not as reasons for punishment or shame.

3. Notice Your Triggers and Their Origins

Lisa’s Insight: Triggers often come from two places:

  • Automatic Response: Reacting as your parents did.
  • Inner Child Jealousy: Feeling resentment that your child gets freedoms you didn’t have.

How to Apply:

  • Pause and Reflect: When you feel triggered, ask yourself, “What does this remind me of from my own childhood?”
  • Self-Compassion: Speak kindly to yourself in these moments. Remind your inner child that it’s safe to feel and express emotions now.

4. Practice Inner Child Re-Parenting

Lisa’s Method: Give yourself what you needed as a child—emotional support, validation, and unconditional love.

How to Apply:

  • Daily Affirmations: Tell yourself, “I see you. I hear you. You are worthy and loved.”
  • Visualization: Imagine comforting your younger self during a difficult memory. Offer the words and support you needed then.
  • Set Boundaries: Stand up for yourself in the present. When you assert your needs, your inner child learns that it’s safe to have boundaries.

5. Reframe Healing: It’s Not About Reliving Trauma

Lisa’s Reassurance: Inner child work isn’t about re-experiencing pain. It’s about validating your story and creating a new narrative.

How to Apply:

  • Safe Exploration: Approach memories with curiosity, not judgment. Remind yourself, “I am safe now.”
  • Rewrite the Story: After acknowledging a painful memory, consciously choose a new belief: “I deserved love and safety then, and I do now.”

6. Embrace the Power of Self-Love and Self-Responsibility

Lisa’s Wisdom: No one else can “save” us—not a partner, not a new job, not even a therapist. True healing comes from within.

How to Apply:

  • Self-Parenting Rituals: Develop daily practices that nurture your inner child—gentle self-talk, creative play, or mindful self-care.
  • Community Support: Seek out resources, books, and communities (like Lisa’s coaching or Emily’s Unlocking Piece Guide) that reinforce your healing journey.

Expert Recommendations and Resources

Lisa Watson’s Offerings:

  • Parent Yourself Coaching: Personalized support for adults ready to heal their inner child.
  • Awaken The One Children’s Books: Mindfulness and self-empowerment stories for kids and parents.
  • Kickstarter Campaign: Support the creation of 39+ children’s books designed to teach emotional intelligence and break generational cycles.
  • Weekly Blogs & Upcoming Podcast: Ongoing education and inspiration for conscious parenting.

Emily’s Unlocking Piece Guide:

  • Free Resource: Practical tools to help you create calm, reclaim peace, and manage triggers.
  • Download Link: Available in the show notes of the podcast.

Key Takeaways: Transforming Motherhood Through Inner Healing

  • Trauma is universal and often subtle. Recognizing and validating your own wounds is the first step to healing.
  • Your inner child shapes your parenting. By re-parenting yourself, you break harmful cycles and create a nurturing environment for your children.
  • Triggers are opportunities for growth. Use them to understand your own needs and to respond to your children with empathy.
  • Healing is about rewriting your story. You are not defined by your past—you have the power to create a new reality for yourself and your family.
  • Self-love is the foundation. No external source can provide the healing you can give yourself.

Final Thoughts: You Are Not Alone

Healing from trauma and transforming your parenting is a courageous journey. As Emily reminds us, “Together, we’re mending the past so mamas can mama in peace.” Whether you’re just starting or deep into your healing, remember: you are worthy of love, safety, and joy—for yourself and your children.

Ready to take the next step?

You have the power to break the cycle. Start by parenting yourself with the love and compassion you always deserved.


About Lisa Watson

Want to be a guest on Mamahood After Trauma? Send Emily Cleghorn a message on PodMatch, here