Balancing Interactions

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

George Bernard Shaw

This workshop provides a deep understanding of our social nature with practical skills in managing our emotional exchanges for more constructive outcomes. The sessions are about balance. It is about maintaining our psychological and emotional balance when interacting with other people (or indeed, when interacting with ourselves as we ‘talk to ourselves’). The benefits that accrue are enhanced emotional stability and self-esteem.

The workshop is grounded in an understanding of human beings from the perspective of evolutionary psychology. As such, we are a fundamentally social species forever in dynamics involving esteem and the balancing of interests between people. The Parent-Adult-Child model of Transactional Analysis (TA) is used as a practical means to practise ways of managing these dynamics for more win-win interactions. Participants are given the opportunity to understand and practice a range of interaction styles and to realise that we always have ‘influence’ when we interact with others.

The TA model is integrated with an understanding of the human brain as containing three emotion regulation systems: the Drive, Threat and Compassion systems. The ‘Adult’ within us can recognise which of these systems needs to be in charge and can thereby help balance our emotions relative to the circumstance that confront us.

Balancing Interactions: Part 01

Module 1, Social Beings & Communication Dynamics, begins with the evolutionary origins of human sociality. It takes as it’s unit of analysis whole states of being and, interpersonally, states of ‘Interbeing’. The theory of Transactional Analysis (TA) is introduced as the framework we will use to develop interpersonal (and intrapersonal) skills.

Balancing Interactions: Part 02

Module 2, TA Dynamics & Exercises, provides opportunities for experiential learning by practising parallel and crossed transactions, and ways of understanding conflict, ‘ulterior’ transactions, ‘fights’ and most importantly how to balance transactions for more win-win outcomes.

Balancing Interactions: Part 03

Module 3, Integrating Compassion with TA, focuses on balancing our interactions by using our Compassion-based emotion system to quieten our Threat system and using our ‘Adult’ awareness to bring about this balance. A ‘defusion’ technique is also introduced and participants practice and reflect on the exercise. Finally, the group shares insights and key learnings from the modules.