Open to all those who have done TA 101 and understand the concept of psychological games

Berne, in his description of Games, stated that Games can be constructive or destructive, depending on whether our Script is constructive or destructive. However, after stating this, he spent almost his entire book describing, and naming, Games that support and reinforce negative Script beliefs, whilst only briefly mentioning that ‘Good Games’ are dependent on playing out a negative payoff Game first.

So why do we believe that all Games must have a negative payoff?

Summers and Tudor (2000) suggested that Games may be played out with healthy (positive) outcomes and linked this to a co-creative Script that is based on narratives that we tell ourselves about ourselves, others, and the world, and which is dynamic and constantly changing. As we become more autonomous, our narratives change and, therefore, our Script changes as well: we have less negative Script beliefs and we replace them with healthy (positive) beliefs. As we play Games to reinforce our Script, as we get increasingly autonomous, we must play more positive Games to reinforce the positive aspects of our Script and less Games with negative payoffs.

So why, as TA practitioners don’t we account for them? If we can change and account for our positive, healthy self, we can invite positive Games to support others to be their legitimate selves and avoid conflicts arising from playing Games which support the destructive parts of their Script.

In this workshop we will explore, together, the concept of Positive Games and be curious about how we can invite them more often, with positive intent, to support accessing intimacy and healthy symbiosis with others.

Paul Robinson, TSTA has been supporting people to learn and develop for 30 years as a manager, mentor, coach, and trainer. He supports people to develop and change through TA-based personal development programs. He is based in Ipswich (UK) and delivers programs internationally. Paul uses co-creativity extensively as a base for his work and believes that everyone should have the opportunity and support to achieve their potential, and is passionate about supporting people to achieve this through a process of co-creative transformational learning and change. He is a TSTA-E, a licensed TIFF (Temple index of functional fluency) provider and co-author of the Fluent Leader: Functional Fluency and Effective Leadership Inspired by Transactional Analysis. He can be reached on bawdseypaul@gmail.com

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