Ego Development as Experiential Framework in Psychotherapy

While there has been a great deal written on Loevinger’s (1976) theory of ego development, very little of it focuses on the relation of ego identity and psychotherapy. The research that has been done, is not systemic and covers a wide range of areas. This paper reviews the available literature, explores the possibility that a client’s level of ego development is integral to their experience in therapy and their ability to benefit from therapy. Then, using case examples based on Swensen’s ego development framework for psychotherapy, we offer guidelines for the appropriate use of the construct in clinical settings.