Language: English
Level of audience: All

Berne, in his description of Games, stated that Games can be constructive or destructive, depending on whether our Script is constructive or destructive.
However, after stating this, he spent almost his entire book describing, and naming, Games that support and reinforce negative Script beliefs, whilst only briefly mentioning that “Good Games” are dependent on playing out a negative payoff Game first.

So why do we believe that all Games must have a negative payoff?

Summers and Tudor (2000) suggested that Games may be played out with healthy (positive) outcomes and linked this to a co-creative Script that is based on narratives
that we tell ourselves about ourselves, others, and the world, and which is dynamic and constantly changing. As we become more autonomous, our narratives change
and, therefore, our Script changes as well: we have less negative Script beliefs and we replace them with healthy (positive) beliefs.

So, we must play positive Games to support the constructive parts of our Script: that is, the healthy, positive beliefs. As we get increasingly autonomous, we must play
more of them. So why, as TA practitioners don’t we account for them? If we can change and account for our positive, healthy self, we can play positive Games to support, and acknowledge, our true identity. We can then become more legitimate and more able to support our clients to be their legitimate selves and, hence, be better able to pass their legacy onto their next generation.

In this workshop we will explore, together, the concept of Positive Games and be curious about how we can play them more often, with positive intent, to support accessing intimacy and healthy symbiosis with others.