Transactional Analysis is first and foremost a system that helps us describe human interactions and communications.
Its founder, Eric Berne, initially trained in classical Freudian Analysis and then found a way to translate and further develop Freudian concepts and theories into a language that is immediately understandable.
Berne has published books such as 'Games People Play' (1964) and 'What Do You Say After You Say Hello?' (1973) which give us the tools to describe how we get stuck in repetitive and often painful patterns as well as showing us ways of deal with them.
The power of TA lies in the fact that it is rooted in social thinking and it sees every person as a construct of their environment. The new born baby that has no thought but only physical experiences they cannot yet grasp, develops an understanding of the world that is entirely geared towards fitting in with the group they have been born into. The baby turns into a child who adapts to the 'games' that are played around them. These behaviour patterns ('Life Scripts') are more often than not neurotic and get in our way when trying to form adult relationships.
A therapist that uses TA with you, will work together with you to help you make sense of yourself in the world and in your day to day life. Together, you will then explore ways in which you can move forward with greater awareness and understanding.
Literature: TA Today: A New Introduction to Transactional Analysis (Ian Steward, Vann Joines)
