Ego states
Working with Parts of the Self
When we experience trauma, different parts of us often take on roles to help us survive and cope. Some parts hold painful memories, while others try to keep us safe by managing or even blocking out feelings. In therapy, we can gently get to know these different “ego states” and help them work together in a more balanced way.
My approach draws strongly from Ego State Therapy, which focuses on understanding these states and building cooperation between them. This type of work often helps clients feel more grounded, integrated, and compassionate toward themselves. While some people are familiar with Internal Family Systems (IFS), which uses a similar “parts” framework, I tend to work more in the Ego State Therapy tradition because it aligns closely with trauma-focused approaches like EMDR and Brainspotting.
| Feature | Ego State Therapy (EST) | Internal Family Systems (IFS) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Developed from psychodynamic theory and trauma work | Created by Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, influenced by family systems |
| Core Concept | The personality has different “ego states” formed to handle situations, especially trauma | Everyone has an “internal family” of parts and a core Self that is calm and compassionate |
| View of Parts | Parts can be adaptive or stuck in trauma time; some are split-off states | All parts are inherently good but carry burdens from trauma |
| Role of Self | Healing often involves the adult ego state integrating or harmonizing parts | The Self is the healing agent; therapy focuses on Self-to-part relationships |
| Techniques | Imagery, dialogue with parts, integrating or harmonizing ego states; often used with EMDR | Guided dialogue with parts, cultivating Self-energy, “unburdening” extreme roles |
| Common Uses | Complex PTSD, dissociation, EMDR preparation, trauma integration | Complex PTSD, childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, relational healing |
| Evidence Base | Decades of clinical use, strong integration with EMDR; fewer RCTs | Multiple RCTs for PTSD, depression, chronic pain; growing research base |
| Client Experience | Feels like meeting and integrating different states of yourself | Feels like discovering an “inner family” and connecting to a calm core Self |
If you’d like to explore more about Ego State Therapy and Internal Family Systems, here are some key references and resources from the original authors:
Ego State Therapy
- Watkins, J. G., & Watkins, H. H. (1997). Ego States: Theory and Therapy . W.W. Norton & Company.
- Watkins, J. G. (1993). “Ego-state therapy in the treatment of dissociative disorders” . American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 35(4), 232–240.
- Phillips, M., & Frederick, C. (1995). Healing the Divided Self: Clinical and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy for Post-Traumatic and Dissociative Conditions . W.W. Norton & Company.
- Paulsen, S. (2009). Looking Through the Eyes: EMDR and Ego State Therapy in Complex Trauma and Dissociation . Bainbridge Institute for Integrative Psychology.
Internal Family Systems
- Schwartz, R. C. (1995). Internal Family Systems Therapy . Guilford Press.
- Schwartz, R. C., & Sweezy, M. (2020). Internal Family Systems Therapy (2nd Edition) . Guilford Press.
- Schwartz, R. C. (2001). Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model . Trailheads Publications.
- Schwartz, R. C., & Falconer, M. (2017). Many Minds, One Self: Evidence for a Radical Shift in Paradigm . Trailheads Publications.
- Mennin, D. S., Fresco, D. M., O’Toole, M. S., & Schwartz, R. C. (2021). Internal Family Systems therapy for PTSD: A pilot randomized controlled trial . Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 30(5), 626–646.