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TA core principles

Transactional Analysis (TA) is one way of understanding human personality. It was the brainchild of Eric Berne who trained as a psychoanalyst but became disillusioned with the methods he was expected to follow and wanted a more equal approach to the therapist/client relationship.

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There are three basic philosophical assumptions in Transactional Analysis:

1.

People are OK. 

This is the fundamental acceptance that regardless of what you do, no matter what you think, or despite your feelings you are a worthwhile, valuable person in your own right. You are special. Everyone is special. We are all as important as each other. In relation to the coach and client relationship: we are both equal and we share the responsibility.  

2.

We can all think.

If we have all got the capacity to think then we have all got the capacity to work out what we want and work out how to get there. The coach's job is to support and guide you in this task but you do not need anyone else to decide for you. You know what’s best for you.  For many, it may not feel this way when they start.  Some feel confused and unsure and are looking for the coach to tell them what to do.  I will keep guiding you back to your inner wisdom. It’s a bit like wiping condensation off a mirror so we can see ourselves once more.

3.

People decide their own destiny and have the power to change these decisions at any time.

If we got to where we are today because of the decisions that we made then it’s within our power to change these decisions. We can be who we want to be and achieve our goals if that’s what we choose to do.  I’m not suggesting that this is always easy.  Small changes may start the process and build up to larger changes.  It’s about getting around the barriers to change together.  Sometimes they need kicking down, sometimes we go round them and sometimes we realise that although they look like they are there, when we examine them up close, they are not there at all!

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