About Transactional Analysis [TA] Psychotherapy

There are many different approaches to Counselling and Psychotherapy; many different techniques and 'interventions' That is why I use an 'integrative' approach which it gives me the flexibility to tailor an approach for each client which matches their unique needs.

For example, does the client need Brief Therapy, or temporary support during a life crisis, or long term therapy to overcome childhood trauma or parenting deficiency? My approach will be different in each case.

The main reasons for adding a Masters Degree [MSc] in Transactional Analysis [TA] to my qualifications were:-

• Flexibility - Transactional Analysis is 'integrative'. Apart from its own unique body of theory it draws on other approaches which complement the TA approach and can be understood in TA terms. e.g. Hypnotherapy, NLP [Neuro Linguistic Programming] and CBT [Cognitive Behavioural Therapy]. This gives me flexibility of approach to respond to each individual client's unique needs.
• Relationship - At the heart of Transactional Analysis [TA] is the development of a therapeutic alliance' based on mutuality of purpose, empathy, and a positive non judgmental regard for the client.
• Brief Therapy Options - TA techniques include interventions designed to bring about early relief of some kinds of symptoms e.g. phobia, anxiety in specific situations, post traumatic stress, unhelpful thinking and childhood decisions.
• Long Term Benefits - During the process of TA therapy clients learn to understand themselves and others in new ways. This enables them to understand themselves better and also to improve communication skills, key to good relationships. Improved understanding of self and others is a benefit which can continue long after the therapy has finished.
• Work Is Based On Diagnosis - Some approaches to therapy concentrate on symptom relief and do not attempt to identify the underlying causes of problems before deciding how to treat them. Work with clients in TA normally involves diagnosis – identifying the underlying causes of the problems so the therapy can be precisely focused.
• Contracting For Results - Working with clients is results focused using outcome contracting i.e. agreeing with the client what they want to achieve from their therapy. I ask clients 'When your therapy is successfully completed how will you be different'. Their answer becomes the basis for our work, our outcome contract, and decides which approach I use.
• Treatment Planning - Working with clients in TA involves joint treatment planning based on the diagnosis and outcome contract. In other words I share my diagnosis with my client and suggest the approach I think will be best. Whether I use that approach is then a matter for agreement between the client and myself.

To read more about Transactional Analysis click here