Transactional Analysis (TA)
What is transactional analysis therapy?
Transactional analysis is quite different than most other therapeutic approaches as it tends to be more contractual and decisional. Typically, a contract is developed by the client with clearly stated goals and a direction, which will then guide the therapeutic process.
How does transactional analysis therapy work?
This therapy style focuses on decisions as well as on the capacity to make new decisions by emphasizing thinking, feeling, and behaving in more appropriate and effective ways so that you can make new decisions. This ultimately leads to you being able to impact and alter the course of your life. It is your responsibility to determine what you want to change.
Typically, transactional analysis explores three concepts within the ego (the parent, the adult, and the child). Therapy tends to look at these three perspectives and how they impact our interactions with others.
Some of the focus on therapy also explores discovering the disadvantageous conditions of your past which led you to make poor early decisions, help you to adopt new life plans, alter your false beliefs, rewrite scripts, and analyze which ego states you are communicating and dealing with to both analyze and rewrite your life script.
Within therapeutic work, therapists tend to use techniques such as structural analysis, role-playing, family modeling, and analysis of family systems.
When is transactional analysis therapy used?
The concepts of transactional analysis can also be adapted to not only individual but group, marital, and family therapy and can be used to treat:
- Self esteem issues
- Family issues
- Depression
- Personality disorders
- Parenting issues and support
- Anxiety
- Divorce or separation
This type of therapy may be used to treat other conditions and concerns in addition to those listed above. It may also be used in conjunction with other treatment methods. Your therapist will work with you to determine the best treatment method for your individual circumstances.
You should be aware that there is no treatment method that is successful for every person. What works for you, may not work for someone else.
What to expect from therapy
Put simply, you will get out of therapy what you put into it. It’s not a magic solution that will solve all your problems. It may involve you doing some real work and being completely honest with yourself and your therapist. Sometimes facing our truth is the hardest thing of all – but from that discomfort can come healing and growth.
Insight’s therapists are available for in-person, online, or telephone counselling at several locations in Alberta. Contact us to learn more.