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Article

Metacommunicative Transactions

Pages 58-71
Published online: 28 Dec 2017
 
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This article presents metacommunicative transactions as a collaborative relational therapeutic method for exploring the unfolding of the therapeutic relationship in the here and now. The theoretical basis of metacommunicative transactions and their similarity to and difference from empathic transactions (Clark, 1991; Hargaden & Sills, 2002) is discussed. Metacommunicative transactions are firmly located within a framework of transactional analysis psychotherapy, and the article describes how they relate to Woollams and Brown's (1979) four rules of therapy. The use of metacommunicative transactions to promote insight into ego states, transactions, games, scripts, and impasses is illustrated along with ways they can be used to invite both client and therapist into autonomous relating. The article concludes with practical guidance for therapists in design and use of metacommunicative transactions in therapeutic practice.

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Author information

Mark Widdowson

Mark Widdowson, M.Sc. (TA psychotherapy), Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), is a United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and a European Association for Psychotherapy registered psychotherapist. In his private practice in Glasgow, he offers psychotherapy to individuals and couples and individual and group supervision. He is director of training at the Counselling and Psychotherapy Training Institute in Edinburgh and an academic tutor and supervisor at The Berne Institute, Kegworth, U.K., and at the Athens Synthesis Centre in Greece. He can be reached at 3 Crossview Place, Glasgow, G69 6JN, United Kingdom, or by e-mail at .
 

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