Transactional Analysis {TA} was developed by Eric Berne with three basic philosophical assumptions (1) People are OK. Everyone has worth, value and dignity. (2) Everyone has the capacity to think. and (3) People decide their own destiny and these decisions can be changed
From these assumptions there follow two guiding principles of TA practice: [1] TA is a contractual method [2] using open communication. Berne defines TA as a system of psychotherapy, a theory of personality and a theory of social action. You can learn about your own communication patterns & gain insight into personalities of self and others.
A family is a system with dynamic interaction between members based on expectations, rules and communication. TA theory states that by the time a child reaches six years of age s/he has developed a life script based on experiences with siblings, parents and other authority figures. Life scripts contain the basics of how an individual will live her/his life and how others will treat her/him. Information about family history and unfinished business with family members is carefully explored by therapist and client to determine original decisions. The therapist contracts with the client for useful, personal changes s/he wants to make to resolve conflicts based on personality adaptations, life script, emotions, beliefs, & other related factors.
Peter is a Regular Member of the United States of America Transactional Analysis Association (USATAA) and is certified as an Advanced TA Practitioner . For more information about the key ideas of Transactional Analysis follow this link to USATAA .