This article examines the central assumptions and therapeutic techniques of paradoxical intervention. The author also offers an assessment of the paradoxical possibilities open to clinicians using transactional analysis. Particular attention is paid to the TA concepts of ego states and transactional patterns and the ways they can be used to formulate paradoxical intervention strategies. A case example is presented to illustrate the combination of paradoxical strategies with TA concepts.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerneE. (1961). Transactional analysis in psychotherapy. New York: Grove Press.
2.
BerneE. (1964). Games people play. New York: Random House.
3.
BerneE. (1972). What do you say after you say hello?New York: Bantam.
4.
GordonD.AndersonM. (1981). Phoenix: Therapeutic patterns of Milton H. Erickson. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications.
5.
FischR.WeaklandJ. A.SegalL. (1982). The tactics of change: Doing therapy briefly. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
6.
HaleyJ. (1976). Problem-solving therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
7.
HaleyJ. (1981). Reflections on therapy and other essays. Washington, D. C.: Family Therapy Institute.
8.
KarpmanS. (1968) Fairy tales and script drama analysis, Transactional Analysis Bulletin., 7,(26), 39–43.
9.
MadanesC. (1981). Strategic family therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
10.
MasseyR. F. (1983) Passivity, paradox and change in family systems, Transactional Analysis Journal., 13, 33–41.
11.
MeichenbaumD. (1977). Cognitive-behavior modification: An integrative approach. New York: Plenum Press.
12.
PalazzoliM.BoscoloL.CecchinG.PrataG. (1978). Paradox and counter paradox. New York: Jason Aronson.
13.
WatzlawickP.WeaklandJ.FischR. (1974). Change. New York: Norton.
14.
WeeksG. R.L'AbateL. (1982). Paradoxical psychotherapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
15.
WoollamsS.BrownM.HuigeK. (1976). Transactional analysis in brief. Ann Arbor, MI: Huron Valley Institute.