Transactional analysis in conflict coaching

Excellent article on transaction-analytical counselling work.
Berne's eight forms of intervention are presented in detail and illustrated with examples. Other TA concepts are also summarised. Effective examples of questions (interventions) for practical counselling work are also provided.

The illustration of the ego state models suggests a certain interpretation of how the two models interact, which would greatly simplify the models. This illustration could be interpreted in such a way that the contents of the respective structural ego states (e.g. thinking and feeling in the EL ego state) would be expressed in behaviours of the „same“ functional ego states (behaviour EL ego state, critical or caring).

The author has chosen a model for the functional ego states that presents them in a partially one-sided way. I find it more effective for counselling work to expand the functional ego states to include a „positive = constructive, helpful“ and „negative = restrictive, obstructive“ part (Kahler). This differentiation is excellently illustrated in the new model „Functional Fluency“ (Temple).

With regard to the concept of passivity, it should also be mentioned that the author uses the term „passive thinking“ here. This is synonymous with the concept of „discount“ (ship / German translation „devaluation“).

The article as a whole offers both a theoretical and meta-perspective view of the TA – concepts, as well as a wealth of very concrete and practical examples for use in application. Highly recommended!