Ego States: Theory and Therapy

Ego states are the parts of our personality that cause us to act different ways in different situations. Ego state theory, derived from the ego psychology of Paul Federn and recent developments in the area of dissociation, links normal personality functioning with its extremes, such as found in dissociative identity disorder. Integrating psychoanalytic practice and hypnoanalytic techniques, it encourages discovery and exploration of covert ego states, thereby effecting behavior change. This psychodynamic therapy fulfills the need for an efficient approach that achieves the goals of psychoanalysis, including the lifting of repressions, the working through of resistances, the securing of insight, and the development of maturity and long-lasting stability in personality structure. Although ego state therapy has a solid psychoanalytic rationale, it achieves significant, permanent results in a comparatively short time. With clear language and illustrative case extracts, the recognized originators of ego state therapy explain this fascinating theory and how to put it into practice. They also present objective follow-up research studies comparing effectiveness of this approach with others and address the current controversy over false memories and the implications for forensic practice. Here is an innovative perspective on personality theory and therapy that psychoanalysts, hypnotherapists, researchers, and MPD/DID therapists will find intriguing.