This week is about inner-child work, the patterns we carry from childhood, and how our past can continue to shape the way we think, feel, and behave as adults.

Our guest is Kati Morton, a licensed therapist, author, and educator who has millions of followers online. She joins us to break down what inner-child work actually means, why certain patterns can be so difficult to change, and how understanding where they came from can help us respond differently in the present.

We get into how our childhood experiences create an emotional blueprint for relationships, conflict, asking for help, and even how we see ourselves. Kati explains why we can know intellectually that a behavior isn't serving us and still find ourselves repeating it—and what we can actually do about it.

We also talk about emotional triggers, boundaries, people-pleasing, and the difference between understanding your past and using it as an excuse.

If you've ever wondered why you react the way you do, why you keep repeating the same patterns, or how much of your adult life is still being shaped by your childhood, this episode is for you.

New episodes every Thursday. Follow on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram at @freetherapy.

And as a reminder, we are not therapists, and while this may feel like therapy, it's not. So if you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional who can help.