The second edition of Transactional Analysis: 100 Key Points and Techniques synthesizes developments in Transactional Analysis (TA) and psychotherapy research, making complex ideas accessible and offering therapists practical guidance on refining TA psychotherapy skills.
Divided into seven parts, the 100 key points cover:
- The philosophy, theory, methods and critique of the main approaches to TA
- New developments and approaches in TA
- TA perspectives on the therapeutic relationship
- Client assessment, diagnosis and case formulation
- Contracting and treatment planning using TA
- A troubleshooting guide to avoiding common pitfalls
- Refining therapeutic skills
Specific updates incorporate emergent approaches in TA, recent developments in the understanding of neurodiversity and current best practice thinking.
This book is essential reading for trainee and beginner TA therapists, as well as experienced practitioners looking to update their field knowledge for a skilful and mindful application of this cohesive system of psychotherapy.
Preface to the second edition
Introduction
Part 1: Approaches in Transactional Analysis Practice
1. Schools and Approaches in TA
2. The Classical School: Foundations
3. The Classical School: Methods
4. The Redecision School: Foundations
5. The Redecision School: Methods
6. The Cathexis School: Foundations
7. The Cathexis School: Methods
8. Radical Psychiatry
9. Eco-TA
10. Integrative TA: Foundations
11. Integrative TA: Methods
12. Psychodynamic TA 1
13. Psychodyanamic TA 2: Intensive Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy
14. Psychodynamic TA 3: Interpretive Dynamic Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy
15. Relational TA: Foundations
16. Relational TA: Methods
17. Co-Creative TA
Part 2: The Therapeutic Relationship
18. The Initial Sessions
19. Therapeutic Enquiry
20. The Centrality of Empathy
21. Accounting for the Impact of Diversity in the Therapeutic Relationship
22. Conceptualizing the Therapeutic Relationship
23. Strengthening the Working Alliance by Attention to Tasks, Goals and Bonds
24. Considering Adapted Child Responses as Indicators of Alliance Rupture
25. The Therapeutic Alliance: Rupture and Repair
26. Understanding Transference and Countertransference
27. The Drama Triangle as a Tool to Explore Countertransference
28. Transference and Countertransference: An Aide-Mémoir of TA Models
29. Ending TA therapy
Part 3: Assessment, Diagnosis and Case Formulation in TA
30. The Importance of Observation
31. Conducting a Structured Intake Assessment
32. Assessing Suitability for TA Therapy
33. Using Berne’s Four Methods of Diagnosis
34. Developing a Conversational Interviewing Technique
35. Using Pro-forma’s for Rapid Script Diagnosis
36. Using Functional and Structural Analysis of Ego States
37. Accounting for Internal Ego State Dialogue
38. Accounting for Cultural and Religious Parent
39. Accounting for Intersectionality and Oppression
40. Accounting for Neurodiversity
41. Building up the Script System
42. Exploring Drivers
43. Analysing Games
44. Escape Hatches as a Framework for Understanding Client Safety
45. Suicidal Ideation: A Brief Introduction
46. Diagnosis Checklist
Part 4: Contracting
47. Contracting for the Tasks and Goals of Therapy
48. Doing Goal-oriented and Process-oriented TA Therapy
49. Using a Standard Written Business Contract
50. Contracting with the Unsure Client
51. Using Homework and Behavioural Contracts
52. Dealing with Resistance or Non-compliance with Homework and Behavioural Contracts
53. The ‘Good Enough’ Contract
54. Contracting: Preparing for Conflict and Negative Transference
Part 5: Treatment Planning
55. Comparative Treatment Sequences
56. Formulating Individualized Treatment Plans
57. Monitoring and Revising Treatment Planning
58. Accounting for the Impact of Trauma
59. Treatment Planning for Experiential Disconfirmation
60. Tackling ‘the Splinter’ and ‘the Bent Penny’
61. Awareness, Spontaneity, Intimacy, Autonomy and Homonomy
Part 6: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
62. Being Realistic about Treatment Length
63. Directionality and Avoiding Therapy Drift
64. Reducing the Risk of Iatrogenic Shaming
65. Avoiding ‘Racket OKness’
66. Avoiding Marshmallowing
Part 7: Refining Therapeutic Skills
67. Balancing Challenge and Support
68. Developing Emotional Awareness and Granulation
69. Soothing the Child Ego State with Emotion Regulation Techniques
70. Deepening Affect
71. Promoting Healthy Expression of Emotion
72. Tracking where the Client is Open, and where they are Defended on a Moment-by-Moment Basis
73. Encouraging Journaling to Promote Self-awareness and Self-reflection
74. Differences between Decontamination and Deconfusion
75. Disconfirming Script Beliefs
76. Using Alliance Rupture and Repair for Deconfusion
77. Using Metacommunicative Transactions
78. Therapy of Games
79. Therapy of Injunctions
80. Interventions and Approaches to Therapy of Injunctions and Injunctive Messages
81. Escape-hatch Closure Revisited
82. Client Protection
83. Potency and Permission
84. Impasse Theory Revisited
85. Using Chair Work in TA: Some Guidelines
86. Using Visualization and Mental Imagery in TA
87. Working with the Child Ego State to Resolve Trauma
88. Revisiting Discounting: Incorporating Cognitive Biases into TA Theory
89. Confrontation
90. Evaluating your Clinical Effectiveness
91. Using Deliberate Practice to Enhance Therapeutic Skills
92. Writing Clinical Notes in TA Therapy
93. Strengthening the Adult by Cultivating Mindfulness
94. Script Development: an Ongoing Process
95. Helping Clients Identify and Build on their Strengths
96. Exploring the Therapist’s Motivations
97. Using Self-disclosure and Authenticity
98. The Adult Ego State Revisited
99. TA as an Existential Psychotherapy
100. Analysing Transactions
Biography
Mark Widdowson is a UKCP registered psychotherapist, based in Manchester. He is a senior lecturer in counselling and psychotherapy at the University of Salford, Associate Director of The Berne Institute and Director of Manchester Psychotherapy Foundation.
‘TA 100 Key Points is a must-read for all transactional analysis practitioners, both beginning and advanced. The book provides a refreshing and holistic account of transactional analysis and its connections with cutting-edge science and the theory of psychotherapy and related fields. Mark Widdowson masterfully integrates the wisdom of early transactional analysts with current developments in TA psychotherapy theory and practice. The book is full of practical wisdom and clinical insights and will serve as a guide into the complexities of the psychotherapy journey from the initial session to the end of psychotherapy. I highly recommend it.’
Gregor Žvelc, PhD, TSTA, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Ljubljana
‘In Transactional Analysis: 100 Key Points and Techniques, Mark Widdowson offers a powerful and richly described account of how a master therapist pursues their craft. While providing a comprehensive overview of Transactional Analysis theory and practice, this book is also highly relevant to both experienced practitioners, and new trainees, in any approach to counselling and psychotherapy. The focus on key choice-points in therapy makes it possible for the reader to learn new options and strategies in relation to supporting clients through the therapy journey. Important aspects of this book include an engaging account of how TA has evolved since the pioneering work of Eric Berne, Claude Steiner and their colleagues, alongside an appreciation of the significance of responding in a respectful and empowering way to socio-cultural difference, marginalisation and oppression. Thoughtful links are consistently made to ideas and techniques from other therapy traditions, and current research evidence. The first edition of Transactional Analysis: 100 Key Points and Techniques was a best-seller, whose value was recognised by counsellors and psychotherapists from a wide range of theoretical orientations and areas of practice. This new edition is even better, and is warmly recommended as essential reading for anyone interested in deepening and broadening their capacity to work resourcefully with clients.’
John McLeod, Emeritus Professor of Counselling, Abertay University
‘Dr. Mark Widdowson provides an excellent book on transactional analysis. Of particular note is how contemporary it is. Full of very up to date information and ideas on TA and the relationship to many other approaches and ideas. An excellent and highly recommended read for students, TA trainers and people of a wide range of expertise and knowledge.’
Nataliia Isaieva, PTSTA -P-EATA/ITAA, Ukraine, Honorary Member of the Ukrainian Society of Transactional Analysis USTA
