02/12/2026
It’s a widely accepted truism that we have to accept ourselves in order to accept others, to love ourselves in order to love others. That often feels like an undertaking beyond the capacity of my traumatized clients or even repulsive to them.
As my client Dan said once, “Do I have to love myself to get better? Because if I do, I think it’s hopeless.” I reassured him: “Do you love animals?” I asked. “Of course.” “Do you hate children or do you feel for them?” “Of course, I feel for children - what kind of monster would I be if I hated kids?” “OK, then there is no obstacle to your becoming the person you were meant to be.
All you have to do is to be open to the young wounded children inside you instead of hating them or ignoring them. Are you up for it?” “Yes,” and then there was a pause: “but I don’t have to love myself, do I?” “No, just the kids inside you.”