Focusing on ego strengths

For many years, treatment often has focused on the client's ego weaknesses. This article examines the need to address ego strengths in therapy. The psychotherapeutic goal is to build ego strength and ensure the client's stable identity. Therapists can use this approach by identifying important ego strengths, assessing these strengths, and using the assessment data to develop therapeutic goals. Therapists must work with whatever ego strengths the client possesses. The presence of the client's elements of ego strength are a foundation on which to build.