Reparenting the Inner Child: 'You need to read this book' MEL ROBBINS

by Nicole LePera

If you're ready to stop repeating the past and finally start building the future you deserve, you need to read this book. Mel Robbins, internationally bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

From the internationally bestselling author of How to Do the Work and How to Be the Love You Seek comes a groundbreaking guide to healing our childhood wounds and rediscovering our full potential

As adults, we often fall into patterns that feel irrational or out of character-shutting down, lashing out, people-pleasing, or self-sabotaging. Beneath those reactions lies our inner child, a younger part of us still trying to get its needs met the only way it knows how.

We all carry the imprint of our earliest years. Childhood is brief, yet its impact is lifelong. Some parts of us were met with love while other parts were met with silence, criticism, or disapproval. To survive, we learned to adapt-learning to over perform, to hide, or stay small. Most of us made it through with a mix of love and lack. And many of us still protect the parts of ourselves that once felt unsafe.

While we can't change what happened, we can change how it lives within us and impacts our lives today. Reparenting the Inner Child offers a clear, compassionate path to self-integration, combining practical exercises, somatic tools, and guided reflections to help us create the safety, love, and boundaries we've always needed. Through her holistic framework that models individual development, Dr. LePera explains how we can cultivate the emotional maturity and regulation to respond calmly instead of reacting, to embrace desire instead of shame, and to question the stories we've long believed about who we have to be.

Enlightening, empowering, and clarifying, Reparenting the Inner Child is a book that will stand the test of time as a comprehensive guide for personal development and healing, and a resource that will forever change the way we understand ourselves.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Parenting, Audiobook, Health

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2026

About the author

Dr. Nicole LePera is a Holistic Psychologist who believes that mental wellness is for everyone. She evolved her more traditional training from Cornell University and The New School to one that acknowledges the connection between the mind and body.

Dr. LePera views mental and physical struggles from a whole person perspective and works to identify the underlying physical and emotional causes. She understands that balance is an integral part of wellness and empowers individuals to heal themselves, supporting them on their wellness journeys.

Dr. LePera founded the Mindful Healing Center in Center City Philadelphia. She recently expanded her work online creating a platform for teaching these often overlooked components of mental wellness to individuals and practitioners around the world.

Reviews

[Emily (emsalwaysreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #25 of 2026!

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced listening copy!

What to expect in this book:

-Self-help/psyhology
-Exercises and interventions
-Detailed and helpful
-Empowering and enlightening

Thoughts

After reading Nicole's book "How to Do the Work" and recommending it to countless clients within my therapy practice, I knew her newest book would be nothing short of informative and encouraging to readers seeking to better understand themselves and the path that their own unique childhoods have had on their current expressions of their own patterns of behavior. Reparenting is a concept that I discuss with client frequently. We do not often have the appropriate tools from our parents and other care givers to meet our needs at a young age and enter into adulthood with wounds that have gone unattended. Through the lens of attachment, internal-family systems, and somatic therapy, Nicole allows readers a glance (through empirical research and data, as well as her own practice as a therapist) into the process of healing those wounds and reconnecting with the inner child in ourselves.

This book was extremely informative and covered so much ground. I was very impressed by the writer's ability to convey psychological research and data over many different therapeutic approaches and backgrounds into an interconnected narrative of self-discovery and reparenting. I found myself immediately adding this book to cart even just halfway through. While there is a lot of information here and it will certainly not apply to every reader, I believe those who are self-aware, introspective, and have a desire to learn and become more integrated within themselves with wholly benefit from this book as they seek to be more compassionate and kind to themselves. I certainly learned a bit about myself and found myself screen recording parts of this book to come back to and to highlight when I get the physical book.

If you love non-fiction, psychology and self-help books, be sure to add this to your list! As a therapist and fellow human being, I highly recommend! This will be on shelves in late March.

[Tamara Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received the audiobook from NetGalley as an ALC. I was barely halfway when I KNEW I had to buy this book. So much information. So validating. She even explores the link between childhood trauma and MCAS and autoimmune diseases. Me! All meeee! Needless to say I found the book validating and I learned a lot. I’m going to do the exercises once I get the physical copy! 5 stars!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy! The narrator also did a great job.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Reparenting the Inner Child as an audiobook overall. Nicole LePera’s voice is warm and engaging, and her delivery makes the material feel accessible and compassionate — which is especially important given the emotional depth of the topic. The pacing is steady and thoughtful, allowing time to reflect on the concepts without feeling rushed. I also appreciated the clear pronunciation and consistent tone throughout, which made it easy to stay focused even during the longer sections.

Overall, the production quality is solid, and this audiobook made a complex topic feel approachable. I’m giving it four stars because while the narration is strong and comforting, a bit more vocal dynamism could have made the listening experience even better.

[.ೃ࿔⋆ weeps ⋆.ೃ࿔]

I wrote a lengthy review, but have since deleted it. Someone reached out and enlightened me about the controversy surrounding this author. After further research of my own, I see that she has reframed others' discoveries and claims that it's *new science.

The book’s subtitle refers to “the new science of our oldest wounds.” After looking further into the ideas presented, many of the concepts stem from research that has circulated for decades. It would have been received better if it hadn't been packaged this way. While many practitioners use methods and ideologies that came before them, it's important to acknowledge them.

I do believe in the benefits of doing internal work. The material in this book isn't inherently damaging (acknowledging stress patterns, epigenetics, post-trauma growth, attachment styles, etc).

Additionally, I appreciated the workbook in practice, but I do not agree with self-care advocates who oversimplify complex traumas and systemic oppression.

I would like to highlight some of the original researchers before this publication

Mary Main ~ the study of classifying disorganized attachments and the Adult Attachment Interview

John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth ~ on the study of attunement and secure attachment for survival

Bessel van der Kolk
~ on the study of traumatic memory and stress disorder

Judith Lewis Herman ~ development of the diagnosis Complex PTSD; linking survivors of domestic and political violence. "Arguing that recovery requires safety, remembrance, and reconnection."

for more social critiques see this article by VICE

[Christine B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful nonfiction read! There was so much to unpack from this book. Reparenting your inner child is about healing yourself from past trauma you may or may not be aware of. I really enjoyed listening to all the ways we could have been affected throughout our lives and how it can impact us to this day with mental heath issues. The author gives much hope for healing with plenty of groundwork exercises one can do to heal. I found the entire book to have helpful advice and great knowledge. I will definitely be recommending and talking about this book! I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

[Arianna (ariannasreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author and I’ve become a big fan of her work. This is an excellent book that resonated strongly with me. So much so, that by the time I reached 60%, I had already pre-ordered a physical copy. I can’t wait for it to arrive as it’s the kind of book that begs for sticky notes, highlighters, and journaling alongside each chapter. The exercises are thoughtfully designed and will certainly evoke some big emotions if you’re willing to take the time to work through them.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful guide for anyone on an inner healing journey. I found the sections on attachment styles especially illuminating — they helped me understand long-standing patterns in myself and offered language for personal growth. The exercises and prompts invited deep self-reflection and felt both grounding and empowering. I would highly recommend this to introverts, journalers, and anyone seeking deeper self-awareness and emotional understanding.

[Andi_loves_2_read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Nicole LePera is a psychologist who uses a holistic approach to help the mind and body heal from traumas. I have read and benefited from her previous books and very much looked forward to this one! Reparenting the Inner Child focuses on identifying wounds that have carried over from childhood, providing practical exercises at the end of chapters that will help you understand and heal.
I learned so much from this book - life changing things that will help me heal parts of myself and better my relationships with others. I especially liked that not only does this book help me understand myself better, it helps me understand my parents and other loved ones better too - which helps to heal wounds that have been festering.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Marylovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of *Reparenting the Inner Child: The New Science of Our Oldest Wounds and How to Heal Them*
by Nicole LePera
Narrated by Courtney Patterson & Nicole LePera
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5⭐️)

This book is packed with valuable information, delivered in a way that kept me engaged, interested, and motivated throughout. While many of the concepts themselves aren’t entirely new, they are organized and presented in a way that makes consistent practice feel accessible and achievable.

Nicole LePera breaks down complex emotional and psychological patterns into practical, understandable steps, making this a powerful resource for anyone interested in personal growth and healing.

I cannot recommend this book enough — I believe it will stand alongside some of the top titles in the psychological self-help genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

[Elena Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reparenting the Inner Child arrives with the quiet authority of a book that knows exactly what it is here to do. Dr. Nicole LePera, a Cornell trained holistic psychologist and creator of the global SelfHealers movement, has built her entire body of work around the connection between mind, body, and soul, How To Academy and this book represents the fullest and most practical expression of that vision yet. Where awareness alone has left so many readers stuck, this book goes further, offering somatic tools, guided reflections, and a clear compassionate framework that actually moves people from understanding their patterns to changing them.What sets this book apart from the crowded field of inner child and self help literature is the depth of its empathy and the precision of its tools. Rather than shaming the behaviors that hold us back, Dr. LePera reframes them as adaptations, survival strategies developed by a younger version of ourselves that simply never got updated. Through the practice of reparenting, she shows readers how to give themselves the nurturance, boundaries, and care they may not have received growing up, building safety from within rather than waiting for the world to provide it. The Sunday Paper That shift in framing is both clinically grounded and deeply liberating.What lingers most after finishing this book is how it manages to be simultaneously rigorous and accessible, challenging and kind. The four pillars of loving discipline, self care, joy, and emotional regulation give the reader a structure to return to again and again, and the somatic exercises make the work feel embodied rather than purely intellectual. This is not a book that asks you to think your way to healing. It asks you to feel your way there, gently and with consistency, and it gives you everything you need to begin. Mel Robbins called it essential, and it is hard to argue with that.

[Amanda Mencik · Rating 1 out of 5]

The 'Dr.' on this cover is doing more work than her current credentials can support

I want to start by saying that inner child work is real and reparenting is a legitimate psychological concept. The topic of this book matters and there are a lot of people who genuinely need it. That's actually why I'm writing this review.

Nicole LePera's Pennsylvania psychology license expired in 2021 and she hasn't practiced clinically since. She now runs a multi-million dollar wellness brand with millions of followers, and this is her third book published under the title "Dr." That title is doing a lot of work on this cover, and I think readers deserve to know what it's actually backed by at this point.

There's a documented history of her presenting things that sound like science but aren't, and more importantly, actively discouraging people from relying on formal mental health treatment.

The people most likely to pick up a book like this are people who are already hurting and already skeptical that traditional therapy can help them. Telling those people they can mostly do this alone, dressed up in clinical language from someone using a doctorate as a marketing tool, is a real problem.

If you're in active treatment and your provider doesn't know you're reading this, that's worth a conversation with them before you go further.

The actual subject matter here: attachment wounds, inner child work, nervous system regulation, is covered better elsewhere. Lindsay Gibson's Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, anything by Kristin Neff, Pete Walker's work on complex trauma. All of those are better options than this.

The subject matter is worth your time. This book isn't.

[Alicia Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A follower of Dr. Nicole LePera for years, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to dive into this book! Talk about relatable!? I felt seen and completely understood over and over again as I listened. I found myself constantly taking notes on behaviors that were so familiar to me, as understanding the “why” always feels so powerful. Listening to this audiobook, I immediately knew I'd need a physical copy too, just so I can highlight important sections and have notes to easily refer back to - I bookmarked so many helpful resources throughout it.

I absolutely love the practices at the end of each chapter. They are realistic, step-by-step instructions on practices you can truly implement in your life the moment you read the book. Knowing I can walk away with something I can do TODAY was so incredibly helpful. I found myself bookmarking spot after spot, as I found so many helpful practices I want to come back to later.

This book will help you learn how your body and nervous system learned to adapt, and it will delve into study results, many of which I found to be super interesting insights. Things like understanding why stillness feels unsafe or not earned were so validating; this book truly explained SO much of my behavior as a child, and I love the feeling that comes with understanding why.

I am confident that I will be referring back to and working from this book for months, if not years to come. An understandable, relatable, holistic, practical book that made me feel seen, heard, and understood in ways that I have possibly never been before (& I’ve spent MANY years in therapy). I can not recommend this book enough!!

[peppkorn_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, without a doubt, a book I will be returning to.
Of course, it’s impossible to heal just by reading a book once as it’s a gradual process that takes a lot of work if you’re willing to put in the effort. But in my opinion, the benefits outweigh the challenges.
All of us carry childhood wounds that affect our lives as adults. I’m fascinated by how the human brain and psychology can adapt and build new pathways and this book provides the tools to help us do that.
This book covers all the basics, along with additional information I hadn’t known before, plus practical exercises, examples, and highly relatable stories.
I found it useful not only for working through childhood trauma but also for parenting (if that’s part of your life).
I loved how the author explains feelings you might have as a result of childhood trauma, especially since they can be hard to identify if you haven’t been given the tools before.

I was fortunate to receive an advance reading and listening copy. The audiobook was narrated by Courtney Patterson, while the author, Dr. Nicole LePera, narrated the foreword and acknowledgments. The narrators were great, I really have no complaints. I do think that having a hard copy to work through the exercises and practices would be beneficial, while the audiobook is especially useful for meditation practices.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to address their childhood trauma, is seeking change, and is looking for a happier life. We’ve got this 😌

Very thankful to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Flatiron Books for the advance copies!

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reparenting the Inner Child by Dr. Nicole LePera (The Holistic Psychologist) is a life-altering guide for anyone ready to break free from cycles of self-sabotage and emotional reactivity. While her previous work introduces the foundations of self-healing, this book dives deep into the "how" of healing our most vulnerable, younger selves.

Here is why this book is a must-read:
Actionable Roadmap: Unlike many theory-heavy psychology books, Dr. LePera provides practical tools, including somatic exercises, journal prompts, and guided reflections to move you from awareness to actual transformation.

The Four Pillars of Reparenting: She masterfully breaks down the healing process into four essential areas: Loving Discipline, Self-Care, Joy, and Emotional Regulation.

Holistic Approach: The book emphasizes that healing isn't just in the mind; it honors the body's innate wisdom and focuses on regulating the nervous system to create a genuine sense of safety.

Empowerment Over Blame: While it acknowledges childhood wounds, the core message is one of radical self-accountability. It empowers you to become the "wise, loving parent" you always needed, allowing you to rewrite your future instead of being stuck in the past.

This book is a quiet companion and a "masterclass" on why you are the way you are. It doesn't just explain your pain; it gives you the permission and the plan to finally heal at the root.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book helped me better understand how childhood experiences can shape the way we react to stress, relationships, and emotions as adults. The idea of “reparenting” really resonated with meit’s about learning to give yourself the care, patience, and emotional support you may not have received growing up. The book is insightful without being overly academic, and it helped me recognize patterns like avoiding difficult conversations or pushing through stress instead of processing it.

What I appreciated most is that the book encourages practical self-awareness, not just theory. For me, pairing these ideas with tools like the Attached App has been helpful, since it offers guided exercises and reflections that make the process of understanding attachment and emotional patterns easier to apply in everyday life. If you’re starting therapy or working on personal growth, this book is a great starting point—and using supportive tools alongside it can make the healing process feel much more manageable.

[Tanya Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great resource by Dr. Nicole LePera. I knew I wanted to read it as soon as I saw she was publishing another book. I appreciate how she always explains things in a way that is easy to understand and digest. But the star of the show are all of the exercises provided in the book, to help you get to know your inner child and how to reparent them. I admittedly haven’t done all of the exercises yet, but there is a good reason for it. LePera points out in the book that it is important to do them in your own time, when ample time and attention can be given. That is where change and growth happen. As someone who has done a considerable amount of inner child work in the past, I appreciate that I still find plenty of value and learning in this book. Beyond the exercises, I appreciated the real world examples through LePera’s own experiences as well as those of her clients.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[LizNReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & Dr. Nicole LePera for this ALC.

This book is narrated by the author, Dr. Nicole LePera and Courtney Patterson.

How I wish I had gotten a physical ARC, or even an eARC, of this book instead of the ALC. Either way, I found it to be super easy to follow directions and recreate the homework given throughout the book, which can sometimes be hard to do when you’re listening to a book rather than reading it. I did take my time with this book because I really needed to work on my Inner Child — something I tried to do 14 years ago but failed miserably. This book is everything I needed and more.

If you had a complicated childhood, please, do yourself a favor, BUY this book and Take Your Time with it. You will save countless money and commute time by buying this book/ebook/audiobook instead of going to a therapist.

And let’s face it, if we need to work on reparenting our inner child, we more than likely also know other people who can benefit from this book. This weekend I’ll be seeing some people whom I know can benefit immensely from this book, so I will be asking them for their info so I can gift them this book in their preferred method.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Dr. LePera helps readers understand more about the science beyond specific healing practices, including reparenting our inner child(ren). Using parts language, she discusses the ways in which many of us become wounded as children, the core beliefs that formed due to the wounding, and why we react so strongly sometimes.

Various exercises are provided to help readers gently interact with their inner child(ren) and heal. The exercises are different in each chapter.

This is a book that should be read slowly and re-read as needed. As one does deeper healing work, the exercises will likely work on different levels than before. I don't see these as one-and-done. They are practices to use along the healing journey.

[Cassidy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anytime Dr. Nicole LePera writes a book. I am going to read it. When I saw the title of this one was Reparenting the Inner Child, I felt so seen. This is exactly the book I've been waiting for. Nicole gives such careful, knowledgeable and well researched advice because she has lived it, studied it and practices it in her own life, and that makes it even more meaningful. Even if you don't believe that your inner child is wounded I would highly recommend reading this book carefully and slowly because chances are you absolutely do have something within you that could be healed from the exercises and insights given in this book. She is a life changer and a healer.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book and exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Nicole LePera is a psychologist who takes a whole body, holistic approach to overcoming childhood trauma. Broken up into easy to understand sections, Dr. LePera focuses on what causes childhood trauma, how it can manifest itself and even the roots of ancestral trauma within your DNA. I found the book to be paced well and organized in an easy to follow format.

Narrated by the author, and Courtney Patterson, one of the hardest things to get right in a self help is the homework sections and I felt like the audiobook nailed it. The directions and questions were well laid out so with a paper and pencil anyone can recreate the fill in the blank sections of the physical book. Overall it is a well crafted audiobook.

Thank you to Flatiron and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Dr. LePera writes a masterclass of how to actually heal the inner child. The inner child can be an abstract thing that sounds "woo-woo" but with LePera's guidance you understand the science and neurobiology of what the inner child is. Not only will you understand it, she has personalized this book so that no matter what you've experienced you have a clear path forward.

I felt like she really "got" me and that I could see myself in those pages. I took so many notes, and honestly I got more help in the first two chapters form this book than I did in years of therapy.

Dr. LePera is one of the greats. She writes this books carefully and she is helping us all heal together. I bought a copy for my brother and my mom. You'll want to get extras for people you love.

[Kirstyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

So Dr. LePera’s books have been some of my favorites the past few years. Her relatable upbringing, style, and how she shares information from a scientific lens just clicks with me. The themes and subjects of this book spoke to me at a time I definitely needed it (thank you, universe). I’m not one that tends to journal consistently, but the prompts provided throughout this book gave plenty of opportunity to just sit and think and reflect. Easily one of my favorite and most useful self-help books I’ve read in a while.

[Dr. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, the author explores how childhood experiences continue to shape our behaviours, emotional reactions, and relationship patterns well into adulthood. The core idea, learning to “reparent” the parts of ourselves that didn’t receive the safety, validation, or care they needed growing up, is presented in a compassionate and approachable way.

LePera encourages readers to reflect on patterns such as people-pleasing, emotional shutdown, or self-sabotage, and offers practices aimed at building self-awareness and emotional regulation. The tone is supportive and validating, which will likely resonate with readers beginning to explore their own healing journey.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually pre-ordered this book because my daughter highly suggested it. I was intimidated when it came in because it seemed like a long read, but I BREEZED through this book. Every page was like a personal experience like someone finally understood me. Like I wasn’t alone.

A few years ago I would have laughed at the idea of an inner child but I realized I’ve been stuck in life. It’s almost like I know I want to do better but can’t get out of it. This book was like a wake up with a hug. I’m going to re-read it and I’m also getting the audio version so I can listen as I go.

This book needs to be in everyone’s hands

[SubconsciousShelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and Grounding

I really enjoyed this audiobook and found it genuinely helpful. Nicole LePera explains inner‑child work in a clear, compassionate way that feels both validating and practical. The audio format made the reflections and exercises easy to absorb, and I appreciated how gentle yet empowering her guidance felt. A thoughtful, accessible resource for anyone wanting to understand themselves more deeply. Five stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dark Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a good self-help audiobook (I received an advance copy). The audio was easy to listen to and covered the concept of reparenting in a way that felt approachable to the average listener. I think it would be a helpful read to anyone who has gone through trauma and is looking to heal their inner children.

[Kit Shan167 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe this woman released a book after ABUSING her partner. Like, Netflix special level abuse. Zero transparency. Just another HUGE influencer that does not embody or practice what they preach. AB-solutely vile. I'm just imagining all the people who will be ironically traumatized by this. Ick. Gross. I'd rather put my head in the toilet than keep this book in my house.

[Kasia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where's the new science??? DNF 73%

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves to be taken seriously as a reflection tool, not just another self help read. Reparenting the Inner Child is structured, thoughtful, and intentionally uncomfortable in the way real growth often is. I especially appreciated the exercises in every chapter, which gently but firmly guide you through your own history and patterns rather than letting you stay in theory. Working through them forced me to slow down and sit with parts of my past I usually rush past, and while that was not easy, it was absolutely worthwhile. I even uploaded my reflection notes into ChatGPT afterward to gain additional analysis and perspective, which deepened the experience even more. This is the kind of book you engage with, not skim. Highly recommend for anyone willing to do the work.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC!

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful resource that goes deeper than what I’ve been getting from weekly therapy. I enjoyed the personal experiences mixed with information and helpful steps to implement.