Getting Started

As I mentioned in Part One,

it all began with a public meeting held in Carmichael House on December 4, 1994.

At that meeting we arranged to meet again in January 1995. (Was it significant that our first formal meeting took place in the year of the 25th Anniversary of Eric Berne's death?)

We put small notices in various free newspapers, and kept our fingers crossed. We had no idea who might turn up, but we felt sure of one, the person who had promised to do something on the topic Strokes.

Actually, meetings are no different now, two years on. We still never know who will turn up, if anyone. But there is always a speaker arranged from among ourselves.

The TOPICS we have covered so far are as follows:

1994

December 1994 - Basics of TA

1995

January 1995 - Strokes

February 1995 - Games

March 1995 - TA in Europe

April 1995 - Ego States

May 1995 - Racket

June 1995 - First AGM

July/August 1995 - Summer Recess

September 1995 Discounts

October 1995 - Life of Eric Berne

November 1995 - Basics of TA (North/South in Larne)

December 1995 Basics of TA (North South in Dublin)

1996

January 1996 - EACP Conference Report

February 1996 - Child Within

March 1996 - Autonomy

April 1996 0 Review Day

May 1996 0 Larne TA101

June 1996 - Second AGM

July August 1996 - Summer Recess

September 1996 - Affirmations

October 1996 - Four Ways of Parenting

November 1996 - Emotional Literacy

December 1996 - Christmas Dinner

1997

January 1997 - Groups

February 1997 - Stroke Economy

March 1997 - Self-Reparenting

April 1997 - Highlights from Keele

May 1997 - General TA Theory

June 1997 - AGM & Celebration Day in Carlingford

The first thing we wanted to do was to run a TA101 Introductory Course. Most of those who were coming to meetings had no idea of what TA was about, they just knew they liked the sound of it, from how they heard it described. So in with great trepidation, we booked Mary Cox, and in March she came and 18 people did the course.

We were delighted. It was a good event for cohesing the group. However, not all the 18 continued in membership.

Still, we knew that history had been made, and the word about the availability of TA at its most basic would be bound to spread.

At that time, we had a definite idea that unless some people took training at professional level, TAI would have failed.

Our thinking has changed since then.

We have come to the realisation that for the moment, those who attend the meetings are there for personal development - they want to use TA as a tool for their own lives, and nothing more for the moment.

A second TA101 was held in May 1996, and a third in August of the same year, both given by Joanna Beazley Richards This brings the number of those who have done the TA1101 to over thirty.

A small amount of Advanced training has taken place in Larne in late 1996 when Joanna Beazley Richards came and did some workshops.

Larne has also had some personal and group therapy available, given by Stephen Richards.(Dates in current NewsNotes)

But in Larne, the interest also seems to be Personal Development.

There is a Self-Esteem a Family Affair Course currently running the on alternate Saturdays and nearly 30 people have shown an interest.

As for myself, personal development would be my own main interest - but I would also have the intention of doing training in the Educational field, in order to be qualified in passing on TA to others.

With that in mind, I have been attending conferences and workshops, and have found it to be a great way to see the world. Each time I return, I pass on a little of what I have learned.

I have also met many people who expressed an interest in meeting the TAI groups when they were visiting Ireland for personal reasons. This has been very worthwhile for those of us who have gone to meet them.

It reminds me of the image I have of life in general - it moves past us steadily, as if on a conveyor belt, and we get what we grab. Those who sit back, waiting for the ideal moment to take something, often end up empty-handed.

THE FUTURE:

Who knows? This time two years ago, it had just begun, and we are just as much in the dark now as we were then. We will continue to meet monthly so long as there is an interest.

If we get sufficient members we will affiliate to EATA, the European TA Association.(we need fifty members for full affilliation, so if you would like to support us, please click here)

Meantime, we are in constant contact with ITAA , the international association. Those of us who have the interest, and can afford it, will continue to attend conferences - we are planning to be in Keele this year, and in Switzerland in 1998.

Look out for us - we would love if you told us you saw us on the World Wide WEB.