Ego Development and a General Model for Counseling and Psychotherapy

Abstract

Swensen describes a general model within which various techniques of counseling and psychotherapy may be integrated. This model is based on Lewin's formula, B = ƒ (P,E), that is, behavior is a function of the person and the environment. Therapists should assess both the personality of the client and the environment. Client assessment is based on the concept of ego development. The behavior of clients who are at simpler levels of ego development is determined largely by reward and punishment in the environment. As a consequence, professionals should direct therapy with these clients toward changing the reinforcement contingencies in the environment. On the other hand, behavior of clients at more complex levels of ego development is more self-controlled. Therefore, therapy with these clients should concentrate on self-directed and self-controlled change.

Counseling Students' Level of Ego Development and Perceptions of Clients

“…This study also provided some descriptive data about counseling students in terms of their ego development. Most of the counseling students in this study were functioning at or above the Conscientious (1-4) level of ego development, which Swenson (1980b) suggested as the model stage for graduate students. Most of the students had completed the major theoretical shift from Self-Aware (I-3/4) to Conscientious (I-4), a transition that seems especially pertinent for counseling students.…”

“…Note. Sources were adapted from Loevinger, 1979;Loevinger & Wessler, 1970;Swenson, 1977Swenson, , 1980b validity for the theory of ego development, including sequences and descriptions of behaviors and attitudes characterizing each stage (Hauser, 1976;Loevinger, 1979;Loevinger & Wessler, 1970). Loevinger's (Loevinger & Wessler, 1970) detailed descriptions of the cognitive and interpersonal styles of persons at various stages of ego development imply that counselors at different ego levels would have varying capacities to, among other things, express empathy, respect a client's differentness, deal with identity issues, and understand the interactive dynamics of the counselor-client relationship.…”

“…Interpersonal relations are based on the deeper feelings and needs of others. This may be the modal stage for most graduate students (Swenson, 1980b).…”

The Legacy of Lawrence Kohlberg: Implications for Counseling and Human Development

“…In approaching their work from this perspective, counselors should attempt to provide an environment that will facilitate the client's development by acknowledging the client's reality and by supporting the client's efforts to restore some balance to the world as the client knows it. Extrapolating from Kohlberg's notion of ego development as "the awareness of new meanings in life" (Snarey, Kohlberg, & Noam, 1983, p. 303), Swensen (1980) and Young-Eisendrath (1985) suggested that as clients move to higher stages of moral and ego development, different therapies may be necessary.…”

Intergenerational Family Characteristics of Counselor Trainees

“…The psychological development level of counselors is a critical issue in counselor education (Boyd, 1978;Egan, 1986). A counselor's ability to effectively address his or her own personal and interpersonal issues is believed to have a significant bearing on the counselor's effectiveness with clients (mercy & Wetchler, 1987; Swensen, 1980). In particular, many supervisors hold that a counselor's mental health, as defined by relationships with his or her family of origin, has distinct importance in counselor training (Framo, 1981;Keller & Protinsky, 1985/1986McDaniel, Weber, & McKeever, 1983).…”