Ego States: Theory and Therapy [Paperback]

Helen H. Watkins (Author), John G. Watkins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0393702596 | ISBN-13: 978-0393702590 | Publication Date: September 17, 1997 | Edition: 1

Ego states are the parts of our personality that cause us to act different ways in different situations.

Ego state theory links normal personality functioning with its extremes, such as found in dissociative identity disorder. The therapy integrates psychoanalytic practice and hypnoanalytic techniques to discover and explore covert ego states, thereby effecting behavior change. With clear language and case extracts, the recognized originators of ego state therapy explain this fascinating theory and how to put it into practice.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The authors live in Missoula, Montana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (September 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393702596
• ISBN-13: 978-0393702590
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Dissociative Disorders

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ego state therapy, January 16, 2009

By 

J S Reader "J S Reader" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ego States: Theory and Therapy (Paperback)

Mmmmm, I liked this one but do not,will not use it as much in my work. It was like remedial reading for something I skimmed over when in school. The book was recommended for background with dissociative disorder work and I'm glad I took the time with it. I disagree with some of the interventions used because others seem to cause less distress with clients and I'm not so much into the hypnosis stuff. I kind of took it with a grain of salt for being a good piece from the time frame the authors were doing the research and the work. For current ego state work I highly recommend April Steel.

17 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Ego States by Watkins & Watkins, July 9, 2001

By 

James L Burdick (St Charles, Mo United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ego States: Theory and Therapy (Paperback)

I am taking a graduate course on Advanced Thereupitics Techniques. Though this book was recommended I consider to be a MUST READ book. Much basic understanding came from chapter two. It helped me understand Freud's cathexis and how it connects the conscious and unconscious mind. Cathexis is an energy that binds thoughts together.

My metaphorical understanding is as follows: Tom (Conscious) and Dick (unconscious) are in a locked room looking at each other. The lights (cathexis) are turned off and Dick moves without sound to another location in the room. In Tom's mind's eye, he pictures Dick exactly where he was before the lights went out. However, the darkness (broken cathexis) has broken the visual bond so they are no longer visually in touch with each other even though they are still in the same room.

This is just one example of the insight that I gained from reading this book. This book is helping me understand and use NLP and hipnotherapy techniques with greater effectiveness.