Posted by gardenergirl on March 24, 2004, at 6:34:35
In reply to Re: Ego states, posted by Shalala on March 24, 2004, at 1:51:49
There is actually a therapy orientation out there called Internal Systems Therapy. This was started by a group who were working with clients with bulimia. They found common themes in these inner voices which roughly correspond to a thinker, feeler, and doer. Systems theory looks at how different roles played out in a family system affect behaviors. Internal Systems theory places the roles and actors within one Self. The therapy gets the "leader" or the Self to dialog with the other roles or voices and for them to dialog with each other. The goal is for the "team" to all be on the same page. For example, someone who SI's might be thought of as having the "actor" part of them working overtime to control the expression of the feeling part by SI'ing before a painful feeling can surface. The actor part gets so used to this role, that it acts without the others' approval, and has essentially taken over the leadership role of the Self.
Does this make sense? I just found this theory to be interesting and a way to provide some structure to the different "parts" of clients' inner worlds which can play a role in therapy. I use the two-chair a lot to work with the different dialogs. It's a very experiential approach that I have had some good luck with.
Does this resonate at all with different ego states that many of you have been describing? Or am I coming out of left field?
Interesting thread!
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:327180
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040321/msgs/327636.html