How does the process of transaction analysis work?

Transactional analysis is a psychological therapy wherein social transactions are analysed to determine the ego state of the patient as a basis for understanding behaviour. It seeks to change your mind-set and social reactions so that you feel pleased with your life. This idea and approach were brought forward by the Canadian psychiatrist Eric Berne in the 1950s. He strongly believed that both positive and negative decisions, judgments and reactions can affect the quality of one’s life.

The transactional analysis training program

The transactional analysis training session can be carried out with counselling of a single person, or with families, couples or groups. Although it is a simple, brief and straightforward approach, yet the analysis can be used as an effective long-term, in-depth therapy. Such counselling can be attempted in any particular field where there is a need to figure out the reason behind an individual’s statement, behaviour, and relationships.

The therapy is incredibly useful where there are areas of conflict and various ranges of issues, including:

• Relationship issues
• Family matters
• Fear of intimacy
• Feeling of loneliness
• Parenting problems
• Workplace cases
• Depression and anxiety
• Inferiority complex
• Panic disorders
• Borderline personality disorder
• Lack of mutual understanding

Tools of Transactional Analysis Training

Transactional Analysis therapists believe that an individual can be placed in any one of the three ego-states.

1. Adult Ego

This is a matured level wherein the adult behaviour reflects the ability to analyse the situation and takes sound decisions. This state is based on wisdom, facts, experience, rationality, and knowledge. He works practically, communicates efficiently and isn’t influenced by emotions.

2. Parent Ego

It is a typical level wherein the thoughts and ideas of a person are based on external factors. His mind is influenced by his upbringing as a young child and his parents’ behaviour remains embedded in his consciousness. This state reflects pampering, dependency, security, displeasure, reference to rules and poor performance. They come in the category of

• Nurturing and positive parent ego
• Critical and negative parent ego

3. Child Ego

This is a natural level where feeling and emotions are spontaneous. It reflects things a person learned and experienced as a child generally up to the age of five years. This state showcases immediate actions, content, joy, curiosity, frustration, and innocence. Such behaviour can be categorized as

• Natural child
• Adaptive child
• Rebellious child
• Conforming Child

Analysis and counselling

The transaction is the basic communication between two( or more) people with different or similar ego states. Conflicts generally arise when the ego state of one person provokes the ego state of the other person. It gives rise to the following transactions:

1. Complementary Transactions

This situation occurs when one Ego State individual invites another Ego State to join in an interaction in a pleasant way.

2. Crossed Transactions

This communication occurs when the inviting Ego State person receives an odd response from an uninvited Ego State.

3. Ulterior Transactions

This is a smart communication between two people wherein they speak socially but convey a different message.

According to the analysing therapy, the behaviour of a person is influenced by his ego state of mind, life-positioning and various transactions that yield positive and negative consequences. The transactional analysis training session involves studying the way a person treats and interacts with other people. Virtually, it’s a unique, interesting and practical system that helps you understand your thoughts, feelings, and actions.