ABSTRACT

The self capacities and ego resources, like the other aspects of the self, contribute to the unique experience of trauma and to its resolution. In Chapter 2, we refer to the self as the seat of the individual’s identity and inner life. In essence, the ego resources and self capacities serve to regulate one’s interpersonal interactions and to regulate self-esteem and affect. We refer the reader again to Table 2.1 (p. 14) to see how the self capacities and ego resources fit into constructivist self development theory. Table 2.2 (p. 17) also provides a list of the self capacities and the ego resources. In this chapter, we focus on assessing strengths and deficits and addressing the deficits in these areas.