When someone shares a childhood trauma with you, it’s tough to know what to say. It’s tough to know what to respond. It’s important to know that while the adult self is sharing this experience with you, the inner child is present and the term “look how strong you’re today isn’t how fulfilling the inner child because the inner child wishes that the adult didn’t have to face it. It wished that the adult didn’t have to be so strong. It wishes that the adult didn’t have to experience that.

The inner child wants to be validated and held. So it’s important to say “I’m so sorry that you experienced that. That’s not okay. Wether it’s in somebody controls or not. Somebody should have been there for you. How are you doing? How are you processed through this? Do you need anything?”

And then you just listen compassionately. Say thank you, thank you for trusting me with that. Let me know if you need anything.