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ABOUT US

The International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA) is a nonprofit, member-led professional membership body founded in 1964 by psychiatrist Dr. Eric Berne who created the theory of transactional analysis.

Our global membership includes persons interested in TA, students of TA and professionals whose profession mostly fit into the following four fields: counseling, education, organizational development, and psychotherapy.

To the left, you can see our trademark diagram consisting of three circles stacked on top of each other – this diagram is Eric Berne’s originating TA theory on Ego States. Today, only the ITAA, other regional and national TA associations and Certified Transactional Analysts can use this trademark. This trademark is an indication of our communities global professional standards and certification.

As well as tending to our membership and professional certification, we are also focused on the advancement of the theory, methods, approaches, and principles of transactional analysis. Our organizational Mission, Vision, and Values are outlined below in more detail. 

OUR MISSION

To build and grow a diverse and global community of professional TA practitioners.

To lead the development, certification, and practice of transactional analysis globally, and work to expand TA as a recognized and respected psychological modality worldwide.

OUR VISION

A global network of TA practitioners, whose work is focused on transforming individuals, groups and organisations, through growing awareness, promoting systemic thinking and advocating for healthy communication & relationships so that all may thrive. Enabling a world where I’m ok, you’re ok and we’re ok is the status quo.

OUR ORGANISATIONAL VALUES

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Integrity

We are ethically unyielding, respectful, and we encourage authenticity by saying what we mean.

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Inclusivity

We value each individual human for who they are and what they bring to the table, fostering a trusting, open, and diverse community. We strive to make our organization fully accessible for all members.

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Community

We value the concept of homonomy – the idea that each of us is autonomous and at the same time inextricably connected as a global nation of people. As an organization, we demonstrate this by empowering our members to be loving and openminded as we all adapt to an ever-changing social, environmental, and political landscape.

Social Justice

We encourage and support our members to resist and interrupt systems of oppression that marginalize individuals and communities based on social identities. In addition, we recognize the importance of addressing the environmental and health issues of our time.

Growth

We encourage members to embrace and empower their physis – their life force. We do this by investing in ourselves and in one another not just to grow as an organization but as individuals. Through professional development and continuous improvement, we enrich our lives.

Compassion

We acknowledge and honor human sensitivity. We encourage our members to hold space for others’ pain and suffering.

OUR GLOBAL HASHTAG

#imokyoureok

We use this as our global social media tag because okness is at the heart of TA and is one of the main philosophical underpins.

What do we do for our members?

ITAA comprises of over 1500 members from 60 countries in every continent. Members include practitioners of Transactional Analysis, counselors, educators, organizational development specialists, and psychotherapists.

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

To ensure quality training for individuals wishing to apply transactional analysis in various fields and work settings, we have established standards for training and certification in cooperation with transactional analysis associations around the world. You can read more about these in our training and certification pages.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

Each year in a different part of the world, we host a professional conference, sometimes in collaboration with other regional transactional analysis associations. These conferences offer opportunities for training, networking, presenting our work, and, most importantly, learning. Click here for information on ITAA’s upcoming and past conferences.

AWARDS OF RECOGNITION

Each year we recognize the achievements of our members with the Eric Berne Memorial Award, the ITAA Service Award, the ITAA Research Award, the Muriel James Living Principles Award, the Hedges Capers Humanitarian Award, and the Robert and Mary Goulding Social Justice Award. Learn about ITAA awards here.

PUBLICATIONS

We publish a peer-reviewed journal, the Transactional Analysis Journal (TAJ) quarterly, as well as a monthly newsletter, The Script, which includes news from around the world as well as essays pertaining to our work as transactional analysts in many fields of practice. We also jointly sponsor with EATA the Transactional Analysis Podcast (TAP) 3 People In Your Head, which is open source.

ONLINE WEBINARS

ITAA and our partners host very popular and well-received educational webinars presented by esteemed speakers. Most of our webinars are free of charge and can be attended by all our members worldwide. Click here for upcoming webinars.

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

ITAA has created funds and programs to make training in transactional analysis affordable to more people around the world – Eric Berne Fund For The Future, the Scholarship Grant Fund, and the TAlent Program. Get more information on these funds and programs here.

OUR CONNECTIONS

 

EATA

ITAA works in cooperation and collaboration with the European Association for Transactional Analysis (EATA) on multiple projects including podcasts, webinars and conferences.

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ITAA & EATA Common Mission Statement

Transactional Analysis is a psychological approach to understanding individuals, groups and communities.

The TA philosophy of equal relationship, mutual respect and engagement is expressed in the ethical values and principles of our organizations. This is relevant to our relationship with each individual and each organization as well as to the environment and to the world as a whole.

Our TA organisations embrace sustainability and social justice as part of our personal, professional, and ethical choices. We are committed to a perspective that embodies, celebrates and accounts for interconnectedness, social responsibility and care for our planet.

 

OUR HISTORY

 

This timeline presents a selective history of ITAA, it highlights events of significance and interest.

1957

1957

Eric Berne started hosting Tuesday night San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars. (Pictured: Eric Berne and 5 others at the Washington Street Seminar, San Francisco, 1958. Viola Litt is directly to Eric's left. Source: calisphere.org)
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1962

San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars became a registered charitable organisation in order to receive donations and they were certified by the Bureau of Internal Revenue as a “tax-deductible” educational organisation.
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1962

TA Bulletin was first published with Eric Berne as editor.
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1964

ITAA was founded by Eric Berne and his seminar colleagues, after considerable debate, at the Annual Business Meeting of the San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars on October 20, 1964. The initiative came from Affiliate Members of the SFSPS who hold seminars outside the San Francisco Bay Area.
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1964

ITAA first began certification of practitioners.
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1966

ITAA began publishing “The Script” Newsletter to members.
1971

1971

The Eric Berne Memorial Award in Transactional Analysis was introduced in ITAA. (Pictured: Eric Berne, right, with Claude Steiner, left, recipient of the 1971 Eric Berne Memorial Award. Source: calisphere.org)
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1971

ITAA first published the Transactional Analysis Journal.
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1973

ITAA moved offices, to an address in San Francisco.
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1974

ITAA celebrates its 10th Anniversary.
1983

1983

The Eric Berne Fund for the Future was created by the ITAA Board of Trustees “to establish into perpetuity funds for the sponsoring of research, the promotion and use of transactional analysis, building worldwide unity and supporting professional standards.”
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1984

ITAA celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
1994

1994

ITAA closed its physical offices in San Francisco and moved first to Oakland and then later to Pleasanton, CA.
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1994

ITAA celebrates its 30th Anniversary.
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1994

The Muriel James Living Principles Award was introduced by ITAA. (Pictured: Muriel James receiving the first Muriel James Living Principles Award in 1994. Source: The Script, Feb. 2018)
2004

2004

The Robert and Mary Goulding Social Justice Award was introduced by ITAA. The first award presented in 2018.
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2004

ITAA celebrates its 40th Anniversary.
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2006

The TAlent Program was created to make ITAA membership and training fees economically accessible to everyone.
2010

2010

ITAA Eric Berne Centenary Conference in Montreal, Canada. Transactional Analysis in Action: Celebrating 100 Years of Eric Berne’s Influence in Psychotherapy, Counseling, Organizations, and Education. (Picture: Flyer in front of hotel lobby. Source: ericberne.com)
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2011

Transactional Analysis World Conference, Bilbao, Spain: “The Challenge of Growth.” (Pictured: Leaders of international TA associations at the Bilbao Presidents’ Meeting. Source The Script, Aug. 2011)
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2011

ITAA closed its physical offices and moved to have all staff working remotely.
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2014

ITAA celebrates its 50th Anniversary
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2016

The ITAA Service Award was introduced by ITAA.
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2017

ITAA sponsors the World TA conference in Berlin with EATA & FTAA: “To Develop… To Define Identity.” (Pictured Scientific Program Chair Thorsten Geck receives thanks from conference organizer Sabine Klingenberg at the 2017 World TA conference in Berlin. Source: The Script, Sep. 2017)
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2017

The ITAA Research Award was created.
2020

2020

The Fanita English Lifetime Achievement Award was introduced by ITAA.
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2022

ITAA Began sponsoring the TA podcast, 3 People In Your Head, with EATA.
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2022

ITAA Rebranded.
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2022

ITAA engages Huntington Association Management services to support the organisation with its administration.
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2023

ITAA agrees and publishes a joint Mission Statement with EATA.
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2023

ITAA allows non-members free access to the “The Script” Newsletter.
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2023

ITAA legally restructures the organisation to become a Professional Membership body and also created the International Transactional Analysis Foundation (ITAF) which is to be the charitable and educational arm of the organisation going forward.
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2023

ITAA launched a new website.
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TBC

The Scholarship Grant Fund was designed to financially support training in transactional analysis for ITAA members with limited financial means and with a commitment to becoming certified.