The International Transactional Analysis Association defines transactional analysis as "a theory of personality and a systematic psychotherapy for personal growth and change."

TA provides us with a theory of:

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• How people function psychologically.

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• How decisions that people make in childhood can continue to influence their thoughts, feelings and behaviour in later life, despite painful consequences.

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•  How people communicate with each other, and why communication breakdowns occur.

The basic philosophical assumptions that underline TA are as follows:

•  People are OK.

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•  Everyone has the capacity to think.

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•  People decide their own destiny, and these decisions can be changed.

Eric Berne

Transactional Analysis was developed by Dr. Eric Berne in the 1950's.  Originally trained in psychoanalysis, Berne wanted to create a theory of personality which could be understood and available to everyone