Transactional analysis in one of the most recognised therapy in modern psychology and is widely being accessed by professionals in this field. TA is meant to promote personal growth and positive change. It is a fundamental therapy with the aim of help individuals reach their full potential to have a fulfilled life. It was found in the late 1950s by Aeric Berne.

The foundation of TA therapy is that every person has three ego states – parent, adults, and child. These ego states are used as the basic and standard elements of analysis to figure out how the individual communicates and to know what changes are needed to make the interaction better.

How to find a Transactional Analysis Therapist

If you are looking to find the perfect Transactional Analysis Therapist it is crucial to make sure that they have the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience. At Expat Therapy 4U we only accept therapists who have full professional proficiency in English and are highly experienced in working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds. The clinicians we approve share our values and commitment to provide high quality therapy to the expatriate community in the private sector across Europe and online worldwide. We strongly believe that therapy changes lives, and being accredited ensures all our therapists are qualified to a high standard. You can find a Transactional Analysis Therapist who is insured to practice and accredited with a recognised membership body online here.

How does Transactional Analysis work?

It is a modern type of talking therapy where the client’s personality is explored and thus it is known that how the events and experiences in his/her life starting from childhood, have affected their life and challenges. Skillful questioning and the use of various techniques, tools, and models make the exploration and the process possible.

The sessions in the TA therapy can go about one-to-one with the client, or they can include families, groups, or couples depending on the situation. This therapy is often considered to be brief and specific therapy but it can be used as in-depth therapy for long-lasting issues.

When it comes to the therapist, the therapist is flexible to use various techniques and areas from different therapies such as humanistic, psychoanalytical, psychodynamic, and integrative. However, it is important for the therapist to provide the environment which is non-judgemental, respectful, and relaxing for the client so that he/she can share everything freely. It is important that there is a positive relationship between the client and the therapist which will be responsible for the better outcomes of the therapy.

The therapist works collaboratively with the client to identify what and where it went wrong with the client by knowing the life experiences and exploring childhood memories. It helps in identifying the repeated patterns that are responsible for the negative challenges in life.

What are the basic concepts of Transactional Analysis?

The core of the TA therapy lies in the basics it holds. According to Eric Berne, here are some basic concepts and elements that are accountable for our mental health, and these need to be addressed as soon as possible. These concepts are very much easy for anyone to understand, that’s why it is one of the most feasible therapy.

• Ego States

According to TA therapy, ego states refer to the three major parts of every individual’s personality. These three elements are accountable for the whole set of beliefs and behaviours one possess.

These three ego states are as follows:

Parent: It is the state of our mind or personality that is rooted in the past. It refers to the feelings, behaviours, thoughts, and beliefs that we learn from our parents and other people from the past. This can turn out to be supportive or critical as per the experiences.

Adult: It is the personality state that is rooted in the present. It is defined as the direct ‘here and now’ response of the individual that has nothing to do with past events. This is the most rational and logical part of our personality.

Child: It is rooted in the past. It is defined as the set of feelings and thoughts that are limited to and are originated from our childhood. This can be free or adapted to parental influence depending upon the childhood experience.

Our ego states are the basic elements determining how are our behaviours, thoughts, and feelings are shaped. That’s why in TA, it is necessary to look upon these states.

• Intimacy

Another concept used in TA therapy is intimacy. If during childhood, intimacy has been dysfunctional, it can lead to challenges in later life. People learn in their childhood that what type of intimacy is best for them and that shapes their interactions throughout life.

• Strokes

Strokes refer to acceptance, recognition, compliments, that play a good role in people’s lives. This therapy focuses on the fact that the motivation and reinforcement we get in childhood greatly affect how our lives will be. And, if these strokes are dysfunctional, it can cause real problems and challenges in adult life.

• Unconscious Scripts

TA therapy believes that we all have the potential to live the life we want rather than a programmed one. But, most of the time the repetitive patterns or the ‘unconscious scripts’ from the past hinders our potential to be at our best.

TA therapist uses the script theory to identify these unconscious scripts. The ego states model is also used to analyse these patterns so that the clients are given insight into what thoughts are hindering their potential.

• Re-decision

TA therapy focuses on the person’s capacity to re-decide and make changes to the decisions that were made in the past. It is based on the idaea that each individual has the capacity to make the necessary changes in life whenever he/she wants regardless of what the patterns say.

Who can benefit from Transactional Analysis therapy?

Transactional therapy offers the opportunity to better self-growth to the people facing challenges in all the areas of life. It can solve many problems from general to specific ones. It has already been applied to various settings that include organisation training, consultancy, education, coaching, and parenting. This therapy can be used in any field where there is a need to understand people, communication, and relationships. Studies have proven the effectiveness of this therapy in various fields which makes it one of the most demanding therapy of modern psychology.

Find a Transactional Analysis Therapist through the Expat Therapy 4U platform

The therapist in TA therapy, works directly on problem-solving behaviours of the client, helping the client dealing with day-to-day tools for finding better and constructive solutions. The ultimate goal of this therapy is to help the client gain full control over their lives again. According to Eric Berne, the autonomy and independence of the client depend on three basic human capacities – awareness, intimacy, and spontaneity.

Further Readings on Transactional Analysis

https://theinternationalpsychologyclinic.com/services/transactional-analysis-in-london/