Phenomenological and Evidence Based Research in Ego State Therapy: Recognized and Unrecognized Successes and Future Directions

Abstract

The status of research in ego state therapy is examined against the backdrop of 20th and 21st century developments in the philosophy of science and the emerging recognition of the subjective as a vital element in all science. Attention is paid to the phenomenological method because until recently phenomenological studies have been the basis for the standards of care and training in ego state therapy as well as in many aspects of hypnotically facilitated psychotherapy. The importance of bringing an end to the “science wars” through the integration of the subjective and the objective, of phenomenological studies and evidence-based studies in ego state therapy and hypnosis research, is proposed.

Keywords:

• ego states
• ego state therapy
• evidence-based practice
• hypnosis
• phenomenology
• philosophy of science

Notes

1.“The Standard of Care is one of the most important constructs in medicine and mental health. Most broadly, the standard of care has been defined as the usual and customary professional standard practice in the community. It has been described as the qualities and conditions which prevail, or should prevail, in a particular mental health service, and that a reasonable and prudent practitioner follows. The standard is based on community and professional standards and, as such, professionals are held to the same standard as others of the same profession or discipline with comparable qualification in similar localities (Caudill, 2004; Doverspike, 1999; Woody, 1998; Zur, 2007)” (Zur, 2010, para. 1).

2.“The Cochrane Collaboration is an independent, not-for-profit group that is … respected for its dedication to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available world wise. It is frequently referenced and is held in great respect” (The Cochrane Collaboration, n.d., as cited by Tanjong-Ghogomu, Tugwell, & Welch, 2009). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2010) is considered the gold standard for the assessment of the effectiveness of preventive clinical services in which the scientific evidence is given a grade based upon the reliability of the evidence.

3.The Common Fund is used to allow NIH to respond quickly to new ideas, challenges, gaps, advances in biomedicine, and the application of new technologies.