'Interpretations and ego readiness: a psychodynamic approach'

After reviewing some of the basic definitions of and guidelines for interpretation in the literature, a clinical tool for use in facilitating determining client readiness for accepting interpretations is presented with brief example. It is suggested that 'ego readiness' can be usefully understood as the degree of client readiness to seek out reinforcement for adaptive and reality-oriented interpretations. The client thus becomes a self-reinforcing agent which both helps minimize resistance as well as extend the limitations of the therapeutic hour.