Wicked, Elphaba, and healing your inner child*
*with internal family systems therapy
How the long-awaited movie adaptation of A beloved musical Teaches Us About Healing + therapy
The new movie adaptation of Wicked is taking the world - and the therapy space - by storm as people recognise themselves in Elphaba’s epic struggle.
As a therapist who really loves the bridge between pop culture and emotional healing, I’m consistently fascinated by the parallels between trends in modern day storytelling and therapy (you can read this popular blog I wrote on Inside Out 2 here and this blog on All Of Us Strangers here).
And when a global ultra-phenomenon such as Wicked takes hold, I find there are usually a whole heap of therapeutically-relevant lessons that its story touches upon, which explain its mass appeal.
Stories can communicate complex societal issues and psychological processes with ease, yet in ways that resonate deeply. Similarly watching movies can bring us insights we might otherwise take months to uncover in a book - or in therapy itself. Often I receive enquiries from clients who have been jolted into exploring an important inner issue by something they noticed or realised when watching a movie, TV show or reading a novel; a powerful story has worked with their brain to connect some dots and this in turn makes them decide to take action.
So, as a therapy nerd AND as an ex-theatre kid (not that we really have that term in the UK!), I’m keen to talk about the highly anticipated Wicked movie adaptation, starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. This long-awaited big screen imagining of the beloved Broadway show doesn’t just promise spellbinding visuals and songs that stir the soul — it’s also a treasure trove of therapeutic insight.
The Wicked story, in both its original book format, the beloved musical version and this new film iteration, provides a lens through which we can explore ideas central to healing: identity, self-acceptance, relational dynamics, and how our personal narratives shape our sense of Self.
It also shows the role of the things that are less in our own control: the things society does to individuals that can deeply affect, traumatise and harm them, with many analogies linking to the inequalities and challenges many face at the hands of racism, ableism, bullying and more.
Let’s delve into what Wicked can teach us about the deep work of therapy, with a special focus on Internal Family Systems (IFS) — a modality I use with clients to help them access their young parts, experience deep healing and discover the power of ‘Self-leadership’.
Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is wowing audiences with the rawness and vulnerability of her Golden Globe-nominated portrayal.
The Story of Elphaba: Healing Through Self-Energy
Elphaba’s hero’s journey in Wicked (Part 1) is a poignant metaphor for grappling with shame, self-doubt, othering, bullying and judgement from those around her. She begins as a misunderstood and marginalised figure, ridiculed for her differences and forced to navigate the heavy burdens of societal rejection.
She also begins her story with some hefty attachment wounds: fully rejected by her parents and with a beloved sister who she feels she has harmed and who is embarrassed by her otherness.
In the IFS framework, Elphaba’s deepest struggles mirror what we call exiles—the parts of us that carry pain, loneliness, rejection, deep sadness or shame. These pains are often hidden away, buried beneath staunchly protective parts. We see these protective layers as Elphaba first attempts to mould and hide who she is to fit in, and later as she isolates herself after the world brands her as the “Wicked Witch” (more to come on that in Wicked Part 2, which we will have to wait until November 2025 to enjoy).
But Elphaba’s evolution is also one of discovering her Self - her compassionate, courageous core. As she steps into her power, declaring in Defying Gravity that she’ll rise above others’ expectations and will move away from those who lie and deceive, we see her embracing her authentic identity. This moment of liberation is a perfect example of the healing that happens when we align with our Self energy in IFS therapy, releasing burdens and embracing who we truly are - even when it’s incredibly hard and scary.
Ariana Grande glistens as Glinda - and also reveals the disconnect between binary distinctions and the ways in which society defines and rewards “good” in some while declaring “evil” in others.
Glinda and Elphaba: The Power of Connection
At the heart of Wicked is the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba. Their friendship is complicated but transformative, filled both with deep conflict and genuine understanding; after a rocky start, they end up truly able see each other.
In therapy, relationships like this can offer us insight into our most vulnerable and complex parts. Glinda and Elphaba challenge each other to confront their biases, insecurities, and desires.
They can also be seen in the context of a system like IFS. For example, with parts representing what IFS calls the managers in our system (like Glinda, who works tirelessly to maintain appearances, achieve ambitions and please others) and the conflict that these have with the more raw, reactive parts (like Elphaba, whose anger and acute hatred of injustice, which in IFS we might term firefighters, often take the lead).
Through their connection, both characters begin to integrate their fragmented selves and become less at war with themselves and each other, a very IFS-style progression. Glinda starts to embrace authenticity over perfection, while Elphaba learns the importance of vulnerability and trust.
Similarly, in IFS therapy, healing often involves building internal relationships between ourselves and our hardest to love parts, fostering collaboration and understanding. This increase in internal harmony often also leads to an improvement in our relationships with others, as we learn to speak for (and ultimately heal) our hurting parts instead of responding from them in ways which do not work for us or others.
The Wizard is an intriguing character to explore in the therapy room, an example of both oppression and incompetence who feels very relevant in 2025.
The Wizard and the Witch: Unmasking Trauma + loss
The Wizard’s manipulation of Elphaba and the oppressive system he represents are central to her pain. This dynamic can be likened to the burdens that parts of us carry due to systemic, relational, or developmental trauma.
The Wizard’s false promises and gaslighting echo the ways external forces can influence, distort or even silence our inner voices, leading us to internalise shame or blame.
In IFS, these experiences over decades and generations can manifest as legacy burdens - beliefs or patterns inherited and passed down from our ancestors, cultures, or societal structures that continue to impact us way into the future.
For Elphaba, healing begins when she recognises the Wizard’s deception and chooses to step away from his influence, reclaiming her narrative and authenticity. In therapy, this process is akin to unburdening - a powerful IFS technique where we release the weights imposed by external forces, allowing our true Self to emerge.
Defying Gravity: A Lesson in Empowerment
The lyrics from Defying Gravity really speak to those of us who have felt othered or struggled to be our authentic selves in the real world.
The anthem Defying Gravity is more than just a show-stopping number; it’s a declaration of self-empowerment and in IFS, we might call this stepping into our ‘Self energy’. Elphaba’s decision to “defy gravity” is symbolic of breaking free from the constraints imposed by others, whether those are societal norms, family expectations, or internalised fears.
In IFS therapy, this moment reflects what happens when we connect with Self energy and lead our parts toward healing and harmony. Elphaba’s declaration is a reminder that we all have the capacity to rewrite our stories at any point, embracing both our strengths and our scars as all being valid parts of who we are.
Holding space for the young version of Elphaba is an important feature of the movie and in the Defying Gravity scene we see this focus magnified.
the magical moment Elphaba’s inner child is integrated and healed
In Internal Family Systems therapy, we spend a lot of time befriending and healing our young parts - our inner children as founder Dick Schwartz says - and in the film Wicked, this part of the therapeutic process is beautifully and dramatically represented.
In the midst of singing the song ‘Defying Gravity’ (which is, at the time of writing, flying high in all the global streaming charts), Elphaba comes face-to-face with a fierce and determined younger version of herself.
Seeing this youngster in the very moment Elphaba needs to dig most deeply into her own resolve, serves to embolden her further in her empowerment quest. As Elphaba re-integrates, loves and accepts this important part of her being, she is simultaneously able to free herself from the pain of being a forgotten, abandoned and neglected daughter and an outcast amongst other children.
While Cynthia Erivo’s searing vocals are the true star of the show at this moment in the movie’s incredible finale, this depiction of bringing an young, formerly exiled part of you back into the fold - led by authenticity and bravery - is very moving indeed.
In the therapy room, one of the truly transformational elements of the Internal Family Systems healing approach is found when clients meet their inner children/younger parts. With love and healing, they are able to free them from the memories and places they are trapped in so that they can once again become a valued part in the system and thrive.
In Wicked, we see this part of the process in technicolour: Elphaba shows her younger self that she is finally in the driving (or flying seat) as she sings the words:
‘As someone told me lately,
"Everyone deserves the chance to fly"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me, take a message back from me
Tell them how I am defying gravity
I'm flying high, defying gravity.’
No one said the inner work of a healing journey is easy, but I think Elphaba would agree, as shown in her famous movie-ending battle cry, that this deep work is worth it.
The emotional rollercoaster and experience of Wicked is touching and resonating with viewers around the world.
Why Wicked Resonates So Deeply
At its core, Wicked is about transformation - not just of its characters but also of how we see the world and our own experience and responses. It’s a story that invites us to question the narratives we’ve been told, perhaps to challenge the labels we’ve been given by others (or even by ourselves), and to step into our power with compassion and courage.
Whether you’re a West End enthusiast, an IFS therapy client, or someone exploring their own path to healing, the themes of Wicked offer profound inspiration (and maybe explain why, after almost 6 hours in the cinema over two trips and a Spotify playlist that is very… erm, green, I can’t wait to watch it again!).
Wicked (Part 1) reminds us that while we may all have parts of us that feel misunderstood, “wicked,” or unworthy, these are often the parts that hold the keys to our greatest strengths and discoveries.
So, who is excited for part two in November 2025?
Ready to Explore Your Own Story?
If Elphaba’s journey resonates with you, it might be time to explore your own internal system and unlock your own empowerment.
Through IFS therapy, you can uncover and heal the parts of yourself that carry pain, learn to lead with compassion, and rewrite your narrative in a way that feels authentic and empowering.
I’d love to support you on your own healing journey. Whether you’re starting therapy for the first time or are a seasoned explorer of your inner world and want to experience an intensive to take your healing to the next level, IFS offers a unique and transformative approach to healing.
Reach out to me here, and let’s begin the process of unlocking your own hero’s healing story.
Warm wishes,
Lucy Orton
IFS Therapist, Brainspotting Therapist, Counsellor, Coach