2 min read

Client Case: Finding The Key To An Open Heart

It's very common for clients who have experienced profound childhood trauma, neglect and abuse to feel like their heart is trapped in a vibrational cage or prison.

My client was struggling to feel their emotions and their heart. We were in a long term healing programme and had already established a trusted therapeutic relationship. My client (let's call him Fred) was also training to be a therapist himself.

"It feels like there's a cage around my heart with like twenty giant padlocks and I can't get in"

"Looks like we might need a trip to Homebase to get these padlocks off your heart," I replied

The client's eyes widened as he described what he was seeing - twenty large padlocks, bolted onto his heart. "What's happening with your heart right now?" I asked.

"It's got padlocks on it," he said, he seemed stuck

"How many?" I asked

"About twenty." He replied

"What does your heart look like with twenty padlocks on it?"

"They're big padlocks"

"What do you want to do?" I asked.

"Take them off?" he replied, uncertainty lacing his words.

"How do you want to do that?"

"I'll need some power tools." He smiled

The client began energetically using various power tools, methodically sawing through or picking the locks, one by one. He was working in the field without even realising it, determined to unlock his heart with all his will power.

At first, it was slow, arduous work. But soon he started to realise he didn't need to exert this much effort.

"I can dissolve the padlocks myself," he said, his voice tinged with wonder. "Through my own awareness and intention. The power is in my heart."

---

The humor we had woven into the process seemed to create a space for this deep realization to emerge without overwhelming him. There was an element of playful involvement, but also a sense of holding - a recognition that this was serious, important work.

Over the following sessions, Fred began to understand that he had locked up his own heart, out of a fear of rejection and hurt. This insight helped him see why he'd struggled to find the meaningful connections he craved. Slowly, the padlocks started to disappear, and he became more willing to open his heart to explore his emotions, his passions and take brave steps forward in his healing.