M.A. / This body of work examines the effects of child abuse, and then discusses the use of ego state therapy as a model for the treatment of child abuse. It is found that the predominant characteristic of children who experience abuse is a tendency to dissociate, creating impermeable and dangerous boundaries between different aspects of their personalities. An effective therapeutic process must address both cause and effect, and must therefore access these ego states, not only to determine the reason for their presence but also in order to change the relationships between the different states. This must be achieved for the survivor to become a healthy and well-adjusted adult. A detailed discussion of ego state theory is included, and ego-state therapy is then discussed within the therapeutic setting. This is done using an actual case study involving a thirteen-year-old survivor of physical child abuse and discusses the use of ego state therapy in an attempt to restore homeostasis. The clinical experiences of the therapist and client are described, and they lend support for the use of ego-state therapy in the treatment of child abuse. The complex array of emotional, behavioural and psychological problems presenting as a result of abuse, together with the lack of formal intervention strategies in treating these cases, highlighted the need and also provided the impetus for this project. / Dr. H. Rudnick