Give two disagreeing states a chair each

Let each of two conflicting states speak from its own seat, so they can hear each other.

Warum es wirkt

Emmerson presents the empty chair as one of the easiest non-hypnotic ways to reach ego states, and notes that Gestalt therapists use a two-chair version so that two states can communicate. He also notes that non-hypnotic access reaches only the surface states, the ones you can already feel. That limit is what this practice keeps: the chair mechanics are the same as in two-chair-dialogue, and this page adds only the ego-state framing and the rule about which states to use it with.

So gehst du vor

1. Choose an everyday conflict between two states you can already feel (wanting to speak up and wanting to keep the peace).
2. Set up two chairs and use the method in two-chair-dialogue: speak as the first state, then move and answer as the second.
3. If the state that comes forward feels much younger or distressed, or you feel flooded, stop there and work with a trained therapist.
4. Stand up, step away from both chairs, and write down what each state needs from the other.

Evidenz

The empty chair is one of the non-hypnotic access methods in Emmerson's handbook, which says such methods reach only surface states. The chair mechanism is studied in another therapy: a small pilot of emotion-focused two-chair dialogue with self-critical clients found reduced self-criticism that held at follow-up. (anecdotal)

The two-chair pilot tests emotion-focused therapy, not ego state therapy, so it supports the mechanism by analogy only. For the full method see two-chair-dialogue. Keep this to conflicts you can already feel; if a state that surfaces feels much younger and distressed, or you feel flooded, stop and work with a trained therapist.

Quellen

• Emmerson, G. (2007). Ego State Therapy (first published 2003). Crown House Publishing.
• Shahar, B., Carlin, E. R., Engle, D. E., Hegde, J., Szepsenwol, O., & Arkowitz, H. (2012). A pilot investigation of emotion-focused two-chair dialogue intervention for self-criticism. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 19(6), 496-507.

Häufiger Fehler

Staying in one chair and arguing the other state down. The aim in this method is communication between states, so each needs a full turn.