Transactional Analysis may enable a more structured way of working and it can be very useful for understanding your behavioural and relationship patterns, alongside your historic ways of coping and responding to them.
Sometimes, these ways become outdated; in essence they become less effective, leaving you feeling frustrated and disempowered.
I have a particular interest in identity and what shapes and defines us. I believe many of us may lose our sense of self at one or more stages in our life. This is often simply due to everyday life events, such as having children, marriage and separation or the death of a loved one. Or sometimes, we naturally reach a stage of life where we feel unfulfilled, and we don’t know why.
These challenging and disorientating changes can erode your confidence and leave you feeling out of touch with who you thought you were.
Once we begin to lose that 'core' self, we may begin to rely more heavily on historic, ‘go-to’ coping strategies such as over-adapting (pleasing) or avoidance and withdrawal. Conversely, we may use argument and conflict as an ineffective ‘tool’. These responses are often rooted in our childhood, and we may not be aware of the extent to which we use them and why that might be.
These ways of coping can feel ineffective and/or misaligned with who you are now, and how you want to feel about yourself. They may have previously worked but no longer do as you search for a deeper connection with your self.
Sometimes, we employ damaging and unsustainable strategies as we become less able to cope. Examples of these strategies may be excessive working or using substances and alcohol to ‘self-medicate’.
Talk therapy is proven to help you explore new ways of coping and relating - both to yourself and others. It is a way to help you to begin and maintain a more authentic and congruent relationship with yourself – often for the first time, bringing a sense of peace, relief and resourcefulness.
I feel fortunate to view my role as a therapist as my purpose, not as my job and I believe this translates into how you will experience our therapeutic relationship.
