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What is Transactional Analysis Therapy?

Transactional Analysis (TA) is a style of talking therapy that uses tools and techniques to help you gain a greater understanding of your communication behaviours and how these have impact on your relationships, both personal and professional. TA looks at our past life events as a way of understanding present difficulties.

History of TA Therapy:

Transactional Analysis Therapy was created in the 1950s by Canadian psychiatrist Eric Berne. 

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This method of psychotherapy recognises that communication with others comes from three distinct parts of self, or states of mind, of which are referred to as 'ego states'. 

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The three ego states are:

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  • Parent - Behaviours, thoughts and feelings copied from parents or parent figures.

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  • Adult - Behaviours, thoughts and feelings which are direct responses to the here and now.

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  • Child - Behaviours, thoughts and feelings replayed from childhood.

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The goal of TA Therapy is to help the individual strengthen their Adult Ego State and enhance their communications and relationships with other people. 

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Key Concepts & Principles of Transactional Analysis:

  • Transference and Counter-transference:

How memories from past relationships can impact your current relationships

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  • Phenomenology:

How our individual perceptions can impact how we conduct our relationships 

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  • Ego States - Structural & Functional Models:

Structural - The basic idea of Ego States. Functional - How the theory of Ego States is applied. 

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  • Life Scripts:

How messages we receive as children help us build a view of ourselves and others - which through therapy can be changed. 

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  • Games: 

How a series of interactions between two or more people follow predictable patterns and outcomes. 

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  • Racket Feelings: 

Feelings that the child learns are acceptable and/or desired, which are used to replace real feelings which a parent may find unacceptable.

 

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Is TA Therapy right for me?

Transactional Analysis therapy may be right for you if you identify with the following:

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  • Your relationships tend to cause you anxiety and/or low mood

  • You are interested in how and why you interact in certain ways with others

  • You find the way others describe you, doesn't match with the way you view yourself

  • You have low self esteem or see yourself as flawed in comparison to others 

  • You see yourself or have been called 'overemotional' or 'overreactive' 

  • Your life feels as if it repeats the same patterns continuously and you can't seem to change it 

  • You want to be better at communicating and dealing with conflict 

  • You constantly have issues with your family

  • You have Borderline Personality Disorder, ADHD &/or Bipolar Disorder

What you can overcome with TA Therapy:

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  • Anxiety

  • Communication Issues

  • Depression and Low Moods

  • Low Self Esteem

  • Traumatic Experiences

  • Grief

  • Relationship Issues

  • Family Issues

  • Fear of Intimacy 

  • Parenting Problems

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Panic Disorders

  • Compulsive Disorders

  • Workplace Issues

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