Ego State

Ego State Therapy is a psychotherapy approach that works with different “parts” of a person’s personality—called ego states—to heal trauma, resolve inner conflict, and improve emotional functioning.

It is based on the idea that the personality is made up of distinct internal states, each with its own feelings, memories, and roles.

Paul Federn, an Austrian psychoanalyst, developed the concept of ego states, and John G. Watkins and Helen H. Watkins developed and expanded his work.

An ego state is a consistent pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Examples might include:

• A wounded child part
• A critical inner voice
• A strong protector
• A rebellious teenager
• A competent adult self

Everyone has ego states. They become problematic when:

• They hold unresolved trauma
• They are stuck in extreme roles
• They conflict with other states

I have completed a training with Robin Shapiro, who is one of the leading experts in the field of EMDR, Ego State, and attachment therapy, to name a few.