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Articles

Combining Traditional Ego State Theory and Relational Approaches to Transactional Analysis in Working with Trauma and Dissociation

Pages 186-196
Published online: 28 Dec 2017
 
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This article explores the treatment of dissociation that originates in childhood trauma. Specifically, the article examines how both structural (Steele & van der Hart, 2009) and relational theories (Schwartz, 2000) of trauma and dissociation can be applied in transactional analysis psychotherapy. Many of the concepts and constructs of structural theories blend well with traditional transactional analysis theory (Berne, 1961) while relational perspectives on childhood trauma resonate with the contemporary relational approaches in transactional analysis (Caizzi, 2012). The author provides an overview of both theories of trauma and dissociation and links them with transactional analysis. This leads into a clinical case presentation that emphasizes how the author integrates both theories into his work with traumatized and dissociated clients.

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Author information

Edward T. Novak

Author Biography
Edward T. Novak, MA, is a member of the editorial board of the Transactional Analysis Journal and has been interested and engaged in transactional analysis (psychotherapy) for 20 years. He is a graduate of the National Institute for the Psychotherapies’ National Training Program in Contemporary Psychoanalysis. He maintains a private practice in Akron, Ohio. He can be reached at 1653 Merriman Rd., Suite 212, Akron, OH 44313, USA; email: . The author wishes to thank the reviewers of an earlier version of this paper for their patience and constructive comments and TAJ coeditor Jo Stuthridge for her wonderful editorial work, which transformed the first version into this publishable paper.
 

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