Transactional Analysis and Contracts: TA Therapy Planning for ChangeASSESSMENTSDuring the assessment phase much good TA therapy can be done. However it is not directly seen as change work until you have agreed a contract for change and the client has closed their escape hatches. Outcomes to be aimed for (Treatment Contract) Type of therapeutic interventions (group/individual) The script / Racket System, Game analysis and other diagnostic assessments. TA THERAPY CONTRACTBoth the TA practitioner and the client agree stating the areas in which the client wishes to make changes and the outcomes expected. Contracting questions are:
(Credit to M. James "Born to Win" 1976) ESCAPE HATCHES are used to escape a person's own responsibility, therefore when appropriate clients are invited to close their escape hatches:-Closing the ESCAPE HATCHES is an important part of T. A. therapy. 1 ) Taking one's own life, or harming oneself. Closed by an Adult decision “to live and take care of myself" . 2) To act in a crazy way. Closed by an Adult decision to “stay sane and to keep Adult available”. 3) To set up to become physically sick. Closed with an Adult decision to “take care of myself and to live a healthy life”. 4) To harm or kill someone else. Closed with an Adult decision to “let others live and take care of themselves”. Usually the closure is put “No matter how I feel, or what others do or say, I will ......” There has been much debate on how to use these concepts over the last few years within the TA community, however we decide to use them I believe they are an important approach which we must understand. For further details on psychotherapy see the articles pages... treatment planning, and also the FAQ's on Psychotherapy. ---------------------------- THE END Notes by Dave Spenceley Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst Yorkshire Training Centre www.ta-psychotherapy.co.uk // dave@ta-psychotherapy.co.uk Dave Spenceley: web design: www.vincentswebdesign.co.uk |