Transactional Analysis in Contemporary Psychotherapy

After fifty years of development and refinement in Transactional Analysis (TA), the theory of methods and the actual methods have changed considerably from what was originally published by Eric Berne. Many concepts and methods have emerged and been subject to clinical experimentation, some have been refined and expanded and some are no longer used. This book includes contributions from several authors, each of whom presents his or her unique focus on how TA is used in their psychotherapy practice. This book will address the therapeutic effectiveness of various methods in TA and will cover a variety of topics such as unconscious experience, transference-countertransference, unconscious experience, the therapist's transparency, transgenerational scripts, trauma and regression, psychological games, the self-destructive client, an integrative approach to the psychotherapy of obsession, gender psychopolitics, and psychotherapy from a social-cognitive perspective. It is written for both psychotherapists and counsellors who want to learn and refine their knowledge of contemporary TA methods that are most effective with today's clients.

About the Author :
Richard G. Erskine, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and licensed psychoanalyst. He is the Training Director of the Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy in New York City and conducts seminars, workshops and training programs in the United States and internationally. He is also a certified clinical transactional analyst and a licensed psychoanalyst who has specialized in psychoanalytic self-psychology and object-relations theory. Richard has developed Integrative Psychotherapy, a theory and set of methods that emphasizes affective, cognitive, behavioral and physiological integration. His books include 'Beyond Empathy: A Therapy of Contact-in-Relationship' (with Jan Moursund and Rebecca Trautmann), 'Integrative Psychotherapy: The Art and Science of Relationship' (with Jan Moursund), and 'Integrative Psychotherapy in Action'.

Review :
'A significant addition to the Transactional Analysis (TA) literature and a fascinating updating and extending of previous materials of the range of well-known TA authors. Frequent case studies bring the concept to life whilst also demonstrating the individualist nature of psychotherapy and the richness of the different approaches.'- Professor Julie Hay, Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (Organisational, Psychotherapy and Educational); editor International Journal of Transactional Analysis Research'This book offers many excellent examples of how TA is being applied in contemporarypsychotherapy, and its usefulness as a model for understanding relational dynamics. I highly recommend it to you.'- Vann S. Joines, PhD, co-author of TA Today and Personality Adaptations: A New Guide to Human Understanding in Psychotherapy and Counselling'From the first pages I was captured and fascinated by this great book. It combines both new ideas with solid and profound views of classical TA theory. In each chapter (from James R. Allen's Foreword through all of the chapters on clinical practice, redecision therapy, scripts, and games) the various methods are presented with their historical roots and in their lively actuality, complete with real case examples. This book spoke to both the TA historian in me and my passionate wish to be up-to-date as a practitioner.'- Marco Mazzetti, MD, Psychiatrist, TSTA; Past-President, European Association of Transactional Analysis'Richard Erskine has brought together contributions from many of the most respected thinkers and writers among modern Transactional Analysts. The chapters written for this book give many thoughtful perspectives on the place of TA in the work of the writers, accompanied by vignettes, which give insights into their practice. Transactional Analysts, trainers, and trainees are likely to fi nd that this book changes the way they work.'- Gordon Hewitt, PhD, TSTA, Past-President of the International Transactional Analysis Association