Transactional Analysis

"Method of therapy that analyses transactions by understanding what state of mind they are in when communicating - and how those states of mind came to be."

Developed by Eric Berne in the 1950s.

TA is a theory of personality and a systematic psychotherapy for personal growth and change. It provides a theory of communication, how people communicate and why communications break down. It offers a theory of child development - how decisions made in childhood may continue to influence behavior later in life despite painful consequences. Who you were at 7 years old still controls you. Micro/Macro wounds at that stage still influences us.

The Goal of TA is Autonomy - or Freedom from the life script. This involves...

Awareness

  • Ability to stay in here and now
  • External Awareness: Sensory inputs without judging
  • Internal Awareness: Thoughts, feelings, sensations

Spontaneity

The ability to freely choose between any of the 3 ego states as appropriate to the situation

Intimacy

The ability to authentically communicate feels with mutual OK-ness

Source: Empowering Self - Transactional Analysis 101

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