TA and Psychoanalysis. Friends or Foes

Abstract

Despite his “official departure” from psychoanalysis, Berne's earlier writings continued to reflect substantial influence by the more traditional psychoanalytic model. Subsequent developments in his own work led him to begin to apply transactional analysis to areas which he had previously seen as the province of psychoanalysis. Steiner's development of the script matrix, the Gouldings' work in redecision and the utilization of Gestalt approaches all furthered the application of transactional analysis in the group to problems which Berne initially treated with individual psychoanalytic techniques. More recently the work of the Schiffs in reparenting and regression has further extended the application of TA to work with psychotic and other seriously disturbed individuals.