Ego states and other ways of seeing the Multiplicity of the self
How many are we?
No,
The question is not how many people are there in our group or our Family. That’s an easy question. The Question is HOW MANY ARE WE within one person.
If this question were to be presented to the average person on the street, he/she would consider it simple- there is only one entity to one body!
But, therapists know otherwise
Who among us has not come across a patient who is acting illogically, inefficiently, inconsistently and (many times) dangerously without control or meaning? And, when he talks about it, he does not know why he acted as he did. Patient’s knowledge of himself in those moments is many times misty and foggy.
Sometimes the patient will tell us – it really was not me. It is different from everything I believe about myself and of the things I know I want to do.
And sometimes, other people will testify that he was different. As if someone else was there.
In extreme cases, we will talk about DID or as we used to call it “Multiple Personality” (a frightening concept). However, before we go to these rare and challenging the cases, let us ask ourselves:
Are they sick? Is it a pathology?
Isn’t this patient the same as we are sometimes?
Do we ourselves know all our parts? Do we know why we did just what we did? Are we accounted for everything that took place about us?
The answer is probably no!
Watkin, in their classic book “Ego states” says it very clear:
Personality is Multiplicity – within every person, there is more than one “Being”.
Moreover, this is OK; this is how it should be!
In this workshop, we will learn about the multiplicity concept from various points of view and practice how we can utilize this essential and creative understanding of human personality for the benefit of our clients and their internal and external family system.
Ego-States Parts-work Workshop EMDR and Non-EMDR Therapists
Three-day workshop
Day 1 Basic understanding of ego situations – for both EMDR and Non-EMDR therapists
Days 2 + 3 Ego states for EMDR therapists Individual, couples and group intervention
Many times we hear a patient says: “I don’t know how it happened; I suddenly found myself in ….“. Or, for example, “It feels like a part of me has taken over me and done me at will” and even “I have some voices, and if I don’t They are confusing me…”
This phenomenon is evident with many patients, trauma victims and those diagnosed with a post-traumatic response as well as among addicts. It is mostly present in those with developmental trauma.
Throughout the history of psychology and psychology, there have been several reactions to the phenomenon. Responses ranged from suspicion of lying and deception to false and accurate diagnose of dissociative personality disorder on its various names.
However, in recent years, new findings, insights and concepts had broadened our range of understanding. Our ability to work with the various parts of the mind has become more developed and efficient. What used to be frightening, confusing, and even repulsive can be a useful and meaningful tool to help our client to live a full life.
Leading theories include Watkin’s Ego-States, Schwartz’s internal family system, as well as the Structural dissociation of Van der Hart and Solomon. Various theories and approaches opened the door to effective treatment and intervention methods that will be learned in this workshop
Clinical examples and videos accompany the workshop. Personal and group practice
Days in detail:
Day 1 – Theories and Practice
09:00-10:30 What is the Ego States. Different Theories Theory and Demos
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:30Identifying and mapping ego states – Trauma of the part and trauma of
The Whole Person
12:30-13:15 Lunch Break
13:15-14:45 Relationships between Different Ego Parts – Clinical Uses Theory and
Practice
14:45-15:15 Break
15:15-17:00 Working with ego states and self-parts- Practicum
17:00-17:30 Conclusion
Day 2 – EMDR work with different ego states
09:00-10:30 Relationship between AIP and EGO Clinical Demonstration Theories
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 Identifying, Joining, and Working with an Inner Part via EMDR – The
Difference between Working with the whole person’s Trauma and the Trauma
Part/ego-state. Theory and Practice
12:30-13:15 Lunch Break
13:15-14:45 Relationships Between Different Ego Parts – Clinical Uses Theory and
Work. Practice on Internal family/group via EMDR
14:45-15:15 Break
15:15-17:00 Work with the internal parts and group through EMDR
17:00-17:30 Summary
Day 3 EMDR and Ego state Cont.
09:00-10:30 The different languages of the part: SIBAM, narrative and situations.
Identifying parts using the various channels Work inside and outside the channel using EMDR to create different channels of work.
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 Ghosts in the AIP Nursery- When the parts of one collide with the other
12:30-13:15 Lunch Break
13:15-14:45 ego states in family and group work theory and practice
14:45-15:15 Break
15:15-17:00 Imagination Work- between imagination and reality
17: 00-17: 30 Summary
