Ego State Therapy

“States” are simply states of consciousness that everyone experiences on a daily basis. Ego states occur when a state becomes developed enough to have a sense of identity associated with it (e.g., “that’s my teenage part”). Ego-State Therapy is used in the treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder. This therapy helps with understanding and gaining access to different “ego states” or aspects of one’s self and promotes communication and integration of these states. Fraser’s Dissociative Table Technique* is an imagery technique that facilitates ego state therapy by providing a method of accessing ego states. Although typically used with dissociation, ego state therapy may also be used in other contexts, such as aiding in the understanding of various aspects of the self in individuals without dissociation. Transactional analysis (parent-adult-child), Gestalt therapy, Jungian therapy, and “inner child” therapy are other forms of ego-state therapy.

*Fraser, G. A. (2003). Fraser’s “Dissociative Table Technique” Revisited, Revised: A Strategy for Working with Ego States in Dissociative Disorders and Ego-State Therapy. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 4(4), 5-28.
For Abstract see www.haworthpressinc.com/web/JTD/