Transactional analysis, commonly known as TA, was founded by Eric Berne, who sought to demystify psychotherapy. With this aim in mind, Berne developed concepts, language and methods that were understandable to all. Transactional analysis is an integrative approach drawing upon psychoanalytic, humanist and cognitive approaches. 

The best-known TA concept is the ego-state model. An ego-state is a set of related behaviours, thoughts and feelings. If, for example, we behave rationally in response to a situation, we are said to be in the adult ego-state. If, instead we behave in a way that reminds of us our parents' behaviour, we are said to be in our parent ego-state. At times we might think, feel or behave as we were as children. This indicates that we might be in our child ego-state.

The adult, parent and child parts converse with one another in what is called 'transactions' and, within each social interaction, one part predominates. By first recognising these roles, you will have a better chance of choosing how you respond to different situations.

Berne believed that certain 'transactions' would repeatedly and reliably come up in daily life, he called these 'games'. You can read more about this in his bestselling 1964 book Games People Play.

A second key component of transactional analysis is the 'life script'. Everyone has one, a way of understanding their beliefs about themselves and the world around them. TA therapists want to identify these script beliefs with their client and, if necessary, work with the client to modify them.

Eric Berne (1910-1970) was a Canadian psychiatrist, and the founder of transactional analysis.

While heavily influenced by Freudian and Jungian ideas, Berne believed that the best way to understand people was through observation and examination of their social interactions.

Berne said "any social intercourse (…) has a biological advantage over no intercourse at all" (1). By this he meant that, all social interactions serve a purpose and we are driven to seek them out regardless of whether or not we come out 'on top' of the interaction. All participants in an interaction 'win' in the sense that the unconscious beliefs outlined by our life script are satisfied by our interactions.

By getting to know our life script, we can therefore make better choices in our interactions and try and create different outcomes for ourselves.