THE EMPTY CHAIR — TO MY YOUNGER SELF
What would you say if the younger version of you could sit opposite you now?
To My Younger Self is the third resource in The Empty Chair trauma series. It explores childhood and adolescent trauma through a carefully paced exercise that allows the adult self to offer understanding, perspective and protection to the younger self.
This is not about changing the past or forcing an 'inner child' experience. Readers can imagine a younger version of themselves, use a photograph or symbolic object, write to a particular age, or keep the chair completely empty.
Inside the PDF:
• grounding and present-day orientation before beginning
• understanding why children may blame themselves
• prompts for removing misplaced responsibility
• exploring what the younger self needed to hear
• protection and boundary exercises
• recognising unmet childhood needs
• making room for grief about what should have been
• guidance when affection or compassion feels difficult
• body and nervous-system check-ins
• an anonymous personal perspective
• recognising what survived without romanticising trauma
• a personal message from Maggie
• closing and re-grounding exercises
• books, clinical reference points and support guidance
A central theme throughout the guide is that a child is not simply an adult with fewer years. Children have less power, less information and fewer choices, and may depend entirely on the people around them.
The resource encourages readers to replace adult hindsight with fairness and understanding, while making clear that they never need to force memories or continue an exercise that feels overwhelming.
Created for the Trauma section of the Space to Breathe Therapy Support Hub. Educational resource only; it does not replace individual therapy, clinical assessment or urgent support.
