Workshops

James Longwell, PTSTA-O

TA & AI - Love it or loathe it?

An exploration of AI grounded in TA, theory and ethics

Milena Markovic, PTSTA-P

Am I Good Enough?

Re-Rooting Professional Confidence, Competence and Growth

Valeria Villa, PTSTA-P

Nadia Manganello, CTA

Within the Womb

Re-rooting TA in the community

An experiential TA workshop to reflect on our roots, before and through birth

Can we agree on the need to enhance and broaden accessible mental health support within non-statutory services and beyond private settings?

Echoes of our Script Protocol in our hand gestures.

Reach out, Recoil

Jane Kibblewhite, PTSTA-P

Antonio Armada Raya, PTSTA-P

Nikki MIllard, TSTA-P
Crena Watson, CTA-P

Steff Oates, TSTA-P
Diana Deaconu, CTA-P

Hypermodernity, TA and Technology

TA with AuDHD Clients:
A Neuroaffirming Approach

From roots that may clutch, to ceaseless exploration (T. S. Eliot)

Emerging Challenges in the Development of Romantic Relationships

Re-rooting TA through the lens of neurodivergence

How knowledge of history and context feeds a capacity for questioning

TA & AI - Love it or loathe it?:

An exploration of AI grounded in TA, theory and ethics

The media is full of hype around Artificial Intelligence - sensationalist stories around AI abound including its use as a therapeutic substitute. Less well known is that most AI's have been trained using a predominantly white, male and privileged data set. Accordingly participants will be introduced to some provocations around TA & AI particularly around Ego States - especially Cultural Parent, Strokes & OKness. This will lead to a consideration of the theory and ethics of connecting AI & TA - both for your clients and you as professionals and how TA can be helpful in keeping us grounded in reality. [No AI was used in the production of this summary!]

James Longwell, PTSTA-O

As an Organisational Development Consultant & Coach with experience across multiple industries, James helps leaders and their teams navigate complex changes and work more effectively together. What makes his approach unique is his specialism in Organisational Transactional Analysis. He brings a blend of real-world experience and a deep, practical understanding of the human element that makes organisations tick. In addition, James has a particular interest in the interface between TA & AI.

Am I Good Enough?

Re-Rooting Professional Confidence, Competence and Growth

The workshop explores the often-unspoken experience of self-doubt, inadequacy and stagnation in TA professional development and introduces a new conceptual model called the Tripod for Professional Confidence, developed by the presenter. The model frames confidence not as a fixed personal attribute, but as a dynamic structure supported by three foundational roots: Competence, Contact, and Reflexivity. In alignment with the conference theme of re-rooting, this model invites participants to reconnect with the deeper sources that sustain professional confidence - not only in what we know, but in how we relate, reflect, and grow. Just as trees draw strength from healthy roots, practitioners draw resilience and integrity from the systems that support them. The workshop will combine theoretical input with experiential and reflective exercises, encouraging participants to explore their own areas of strength and vulnerability within the tripod and to identify concrete strategies to support their continued growth. It is intended for TA professionals, trainees, trainers, and supervisors who are interested in cultivating a more grounded, sustainable, and relational approach to professional confidence.

Milena Marković, MA, PTSTA-P

Psychotherapist CTA-P and PTSTA-P. She holds two university degrees, in Psychology and Cultural Studies, as well as a Master’s degree in Psychology. Her professional focus lies in the personal and professional development of TA professionals and trainees, including topics such as building professional identity and self-confidence, supporting the emotional well-being and private life of TA practitioners, and strengthening the capacity for active engagement in one’s own professional growth

She is the founder of the Regional Online TA Community (Balkan countries, in Serbian language), as well as the international platform TA Connect (in English language), which brings together professionals, trainees, supervisors, and trainers of Transactional Analysis from various countries and different fields of TA - with the aim of shared learning, mutual support, and professional growth.

Within the Womb:

An experiential TA workshop to reflect on our roots, before and through birth

The placenta is often called the tree of life. Its network of blood vessels connects with the baby through the umbilical cord, branching across the placenta disc like the limbs of a tree. Within it lie our very first roots—supporting our existence and growth in the womb until the moment we are ready to be cut free and re-root in our journey outside.

By using the placenta as a guiding metaphor, this workshop is an invitation to explore and reflect on our beginnings. Together, we will give space for sensations, words, and images from our life pre-birth (rooted in the placenta) and our birth story (our first rooting in the outside world) to emerge. Our intention is to establish contact with some of our earliest origins; to expand awareness on how we have grown around these roots; to reflect on how these roots manifest, consciously and unconsciously, in our present lives; and to open opportunities, questions and/or choices to re-root in our roots with expanded awareness.

Valeria Villa, CTA-P, PTSTA-P

Valeria Villa (CTA-P, PTSTA-P) is a psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor in Ferney-Voltaire (France). I am passionate about the connections between TA and perinatal and parental psychotherapy. I am committed to research and reflection on integrating perspectives from prenatal, perinatal, and birth psychology and parental psychotherapy to expand TA theories and models to support individuals, couples and families in their journey of parenthood/childlessness. The enriching work I have done in the last 5 years with Mihaela-Leocadia Hartescu (CTA-P, PTSTA-P) is a key part of my developing clinical and supervision practice within the perinatal field, aimed at supporting trainees and qualified professionals to explore the impact of their own identity and intersections of being a helping professional and on a parenthood or childless journey. I am part of OurEvolution, an international research group led by Dr Emma Haynes (CTA-P, TSTA-P), where we explore topics in perinatal and parental psychotherapy.

Re-rooting TA practice in the community

Can we agree on the need to enhance and broaden accessible mental health support within non-statutory services and beyond private settings?

Sharing the importance of practising psychotherapy (including Transactional Analysis) within wider communities is crucial. It allows us to reach demographics and populations that would otherwise not benefit from the effectiveness of TA and psychotherapy experiences in general.

For example, TA is not widely researched ( like CBT), as it is predominantly practised in private settings. This presents an opportunity to inform and share the effectiveness of this approach within the non-statutory services, addressing complex social and political dimensions, among others.

Promoting TA in the community is where it truly belongs, as there it speaks the language of the People.

Nadia Manganello, CTA-P

Experienced practitioner with both front-line and managerial clinical competency within non-statutory settings and a natural passion for social justice and inclusiveness, advocating for accessible mental health.

From roots that may clutch, to ceaseless exploration (T. S. Eliot):

How knowledge of history and context feeds a capacity for questioning

The workshop will involve participants in a short review of some aspects of the history of TA psychotherapy. The presenters will be emphasising the importance of context, of reflection and of self-examination with regard to where we base our current ideas and practice. Participants will be encouraged to engage with dialogue on the impact of culture, world events, social movements and epistemological shifts in the shaping of theory. We anticipate a group contemplation on the impact of individual and group histories and a commitment to continued thoughtfulness in the application of TA in all fields.

Steff Oates, TSTA-P

Steff Oates is a TSTA (P) living and working as a semi-retired psychotherapist and trainer. She is a past vice president of ITAA and an occasional guest editor of the TAJ, having written numerous articles. Steff has trained for many years in body-oriented psychotherapy and is interested in the crossover between TA, Body Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. More recently, Steff co-authored a book, "A Living History of Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy", with her co-presenter Diana Deaconu.

Diana Deaconu, CTA-P

Diana Deaconu is a Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA-P) who works in private practice in Bucharest, Romania. Alongside her professional development as a psychotherapist, she has also studied Anthropology and completed a Master's program in this field. For several years, Diana was a co-editor of the Transactional Analysis Journal (TAJ), a publication where she also authored and co-authored various papers.

TA with AuDHD Clients: A Neuroaffirming Approach

Re-rooting TA through the lens of neurodivergence

This workshop explores how TA can ground itself more deeply in inclusivity, compassion and community when working with autistic-ADHD clients. Drawing on lived experience, clinical practice and case studies, participants will be invited to reflect on how the core values of TA can meaningfully support neurodivergent individuals. Here, re-rooting refers to re-establishing connection with one's authentic self, community and environment in the here-and-now.

The workshop will provide an accessible environment that values curiosity over certainty, and participants will be encouraged to deepen understanding by questioning assumptions, reducing fear and shame, and adopting a neuroaffirming stance. Drawing on our professional and personal experiences, we will explore both the challenges and rewards of working with autistic-ADHD clients. Space will be held for neurodivergent practitioners within the TA community to share their voices and perspectives, creating a place to explore our differences. This interactive workshop will integrate discussion, storytelling and reflective practice, creating an engaging and respectful learning environment in which all are invited to contribute.

Nikki Millard, TSTA-P

Nikki is a UKCP-registered psychotherapist based in London, where she balances her private practice with her role as Head of Programme for the Diploma/MSc in TA Psychotherapy at the Metanoia Institute. As far as she knows, she's neurotypical - though her occasional ADHD-style enthusiasm for new ideas and autistic-level love of structure might suggest otherwise. She works with many clients, supervisees and trainees who are neurodivergent.

Crena Watson, CTTA-P

Crena is a UKCP-registered psychotherapist with a full-time private practice dedicated to working with autistic-ADHD clients, including individuals, couples and families. Her personal experiences of ADHD and dyslexia inform a deep commitment to neuroaffirming and integrative TA practice. Crena still can't spell psychotherapist and often identifies as a physiotherapist instead - the joys of dyslexia!

Hypermodernity, Transactional Analysis and Technology

Emerging Challenges in the Development of Romantic Relationships

This workshop invites participants to reflect on how the values of contemporary hypermodern society—such as liquid relationships, hyperconsumption, hyper-individualism, and the society of seduction—along with new technologies, are shaping new ways of relating and building romantic relationships. It will also examine the implications of these dynamics for therapeutic work with couples. Furthermore, the workshop will explore how the principles of Relational Transactional Analysis can help counteract aspects of hypermodernity that hinder the development of authentic, stable, committed, ethical, and empathetic bonds, both in romantic and other interpersonal relationships.

Antonio Armada Raya, PsyD, PTSTA-P

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Doctor of Psychology (University of Barcelona). PTSTA-P certified by EATA. Instructor of Advanced Training in Transactional Analysis at IATPI (Institute of Transactional Analysis and Integrative Psychotherapy) in Valladolid (Spain). Co-director and Teacher of the Diploma of Expert in TA in Psychotherapy at the University of Girona (Spain).Facilitator of supervision groups for psychotherapists. Maintains a private practice in psychotherapy, teaching, and supervision. Supervisor of candidates for official certification in Transactional Analysis. Collaborates with several Spanish universities.

Reach out, Recoil

Echoes of our Script Protocol in our hand gestures

This interactive, experiential workshop delves into the profound relationship between hand movements and the sense of Self and others within the therapeutic context. Participants will explore the origins of Script as communicated through the hands, investigating whether there is a connection between the sense of Self and hand movements. Drawing on a wide range of theories, including Transactional Analysis, child development, neuroscience, Winnicott, and occupational therapy, as well as clinical experience, the session will use “hands-on” exercises to facilitate discussion about the significance of free, natural and interrupted hand movements in therapy.

During the prenatal stage and early childhood, our relational world of Self and other is primarily explored autonomously through sensory experience and movement through our hands. Over time, these gestures become Scripted. By understanding original movement patterns and applying developmental and TA theories, we can better distinguish between scripted and unscripted gestures and deepen our Relational practice.

Jane Kibblewhite, PTSTA-P, UKCP, Dip COT, HCPC

I have over 20 years’ experience working in the private practice and the NHS. I have worked within specialist teams working with somatic expressions of distress, including Specialist residential pain courses, Palliative Care, Oncology, Adolescent and Child Mental Health and a family therapy clinic. I have personal and professional experience working with neurodiversity. My interest in hands stems from the joy of getting my hands in clay and soil.