Tatjana Gjurković TSTA P
Sari van Poelje TSTA O
Patrick Brook TSTA P
Keith Tudor TSTA P
Kristina Stojanović čehajić CTA P
Field of audience: All

Language: English
Level of audience: All

Present-day transactional analysis (TA) is a theoretically rich field, offering practitioners a wide choice of methods from different schools, traditions, approaches, and sensibilities – from classical TA to Eco-TA. While all approaches within TA stem from Berne and what became known as ‘Classical TA’, many have diverged, and hold different positions in terms of theory, philosophy, and practice.

However, as teachers of TA, we must ask:

• What are the basic skills we need to teach future TA practitioners?
• How do we ensure that our students graduate with the key competencies recognized and required by our certifying institutions, the ITAA and EATA (EATA Handbook, 2024; ITAA Handbook, 2022)?

In classical TA literature (e.g., Berne, 1968, 1975a, 1975b), there is little discussion about the specific skills required from TA practitioners. More recent TA authors, e.g., James (1977), Stewart (1996, 2007), and McQuaid (2014) provide more concrete procedures and techniques but do not address the fundamental question of what skills and competencies are necessary for TA practitioners.

This workshop will take the form of an initial roundtable discussion. We will then invite participants to explore and discuss the question of skills and competencies in TA, with a goal to learn from each other. Practitioners from all fields of application, as well as schools, traditions, approaches, and sensibilities, are welcome to join.