Adam Bekier PTSTA-P
Field of audience: P

Language: English
Level of audience: All

Berne described the concept of “secret garden” as a place of aspiration. He depicted it as “visual pictures of what they would do if they could do as they please” and juxtaposed this with “the profane invasion of the vulgar crowd” (Berne, 1972 p. 130)  that remains outside. Thus he raised the question of the inside-outside dynamic, the Self vs. the world, the dialogue between the intrapsychic with the relational, interpersonal. Although many distinguished authors have written about it (including Cornell, Novak, Nuttal, Clarkson and others), his concept  is not widely known. Attention has been given mainly to the concepts of physis and aspiration. The workshop will present the idea how Berne’s notion of “secret garden” can be expressed in relation to contemporary models and concepts of transactional analysis like the structural model proposed by Sills and Hargaden (2002). Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their understanding of “secret garden” as well as methods to work within it. Emphasis will be placed on building of an intimate therapeutic relationship and the therapist’s creative, individualized approach in relation to transference processes including what Novak (2016) calls “transgressing standard therapeutic frames” for the benefit of the client. Drawing on an integrative approach based on relational attunement, the participants will attempt to find the key to navigating the client’s secret garden while being aware of one’s own.