My theoretical approach is based on the integration
of
transactional analysis with
psychodynamic
psychotherapy.
Transactional
Analysis
Transactional analysis (TA) is primarily a talking therapy
based around specific theories of personality, how people
relate to each other, and how their childhood affects them.
TA combines aspects of different schools of psychotherapy
while having its own distinctive style. It offers some simple,
but very effective ideas and tools that clients can take away
and apply to their lives.
TA can best be introduced by a quote from one of its most
popular books,
'TA Today'
'“Transactional analysis is a theory of personality
and a systematic psychotherapy for personal growth and personal
change'. That's the definition of TA suggested by the International
Transactional Analysis Association.' In fact, TA today is
all this and much more. Among psychological approaches, transactional
analysis is outstanding in the depth of its theory and the
wide variety of its applications. As a theory of personality,
TA gives us a picture of how people are structured psychologically.
To do so it uses a three-part model known as the ego-state
model. The same model helps us understand how people function
- how they express their personality in terms of behavior.
TA also provides a theory of communication. This can be extended
to give a method of analyzing systems and organizations....”
Outside the therapeutic field, TA is used in educational settings.
It helps teachers and learners to stay in clear communication
and avoid setting up unproductive confrontations. It is particularly
suitable for use in counselling.
TA is also a powerful tool in management and communications
training and in organisational analysis. Among the many other
applications of TA are its uses by social workers, police
and probation authorities, and ministers of religion. TA can
be used in any field where there is a need for understanding
of individuals, relationships and communication.
Transactional Analysis is both a theory of personality and
a system for the improvement of personal and social functioning,
within the humanistic tradition. Eric Berne, its founder,
re-examined the basic assumptions of psychiatry, and from
his radical pioneering work developed a system of analysis
which can be applied to the structure of the personality,
interpersonal transactions, life plans or scripts, and the
"games people play".
The philosophy of TA accentuates that respect and empathic
acceptance are essential. Its practice is based on a contract
between client and practitioner in which they take equal responsibility
towards common goals. The methods and concepts used are made
open to the client in the understanding that power is shared.
Structural Analysis identifies three ego states: the Parent,
Adult and Child. It enables us to clarify our life experiences,
thoughts and feelings, examining how we learned our beliefs
and values from our parents and other parent figures, and
how being in different ego states can influence our behaviour
and relationships.
Analysis of Transactions examines both social and psychological
forms of human communication using the ego state model to
diagram the types of transactions. Transactions may be open
and clear, or combined with ulterior messages. Their analysis
provides a way to understand our 'stroking' patterns: how
we exchange the level of contact and recognition that all
humans need in order to thrive.
Script Analysis offers an approach to the question:
"How
do we get to be the people we are?" The origins
are embedded in the history of our childhoods, families, culture
and life experiences. A 'life script' develops without our
being aware of it, for purposes of survival, approval and
security rather than for self-realisation. By analysing our
scripts, we can reconsider the decisions we made when we were
too little to realise what options existed.
Analysis of Games - It was Eric Berne's writings on 'games'
that first drew the public's attention to TA. People learn
to play games in childhood as often the best possible response
to family and life circumstances. The motivation in continuing
to do so as adults is the need for stimulus, structure and
as a substitute for security. Games are predictable patterns
of indirect communications using ulterior transactions. They
are played out of our awareness. Games analysis identifies
these patterns and their consequences.
