Still OK Through the Years: A Visit with TA Elders
SAD NEWS: As we post this we have learned of the passing of Jack Dusay. It was fortunate that he was able to join us for a portion of the elders gathering just a month ago.
A ZOOM GATHERING OF ELDERS
On March 22, 2025, more than thirty of us who have been involved with TA since the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s spent two hours sharing our journeys and reconnecting with each other. The original plan was to break out into smaller discussion groups, but it turned out that people’s stories were so interesting, we decided to stay in a large group for the whole time. While it’s too much to include everything here, the recording is available for those who would like to hear everyone.
People’s introductions to TA were widely varied; many were working in mental health or educational settings and it was usually a colleague who suggested they check out this new approach from Eric Berne, MD, in California. Some in the group, Carol Solomon, Jack Dusay, Pamela Levin, and Marian Weisberg, knew Eric Berne and were part of the San Francisco Social Psychiatry Seminars. They have all helped develop the theory. Marian talked about bringing TA to New York City and founding a group practice there. Jack thanked Carol Solomon for her leadership in creating the Eric Berne Archives at the UCSF Library.
A good number had been introduced to TA through Bob and Mary Goulding. John McNeel mentioned his initial encounter with Bob, considering him the smartest man he had ever heard, and said Bob’s belief in the effectiveness of psychotherapy in ending war resonated with him. John, Waldemar Gies, Felipe Garcia, Inger Acking, Reiko True, and Vann Joines were all students of the Gouldings.
Lucy Freedman came into TA initially via Jacqui Schiff and Harry Rose of the Reparenting or Cathexis School of TA, studied at Southeast Institute, and continues to be active in NATAA and the newly-established ITAA Foundation. Lucy, Felipe, and Gaylon Palmer, who is actively practicing in Sacramento, CA, all came into TA while working in public education.
Val Chang, a longtime practitioner and professor of Social Work, was invited to attend a conference by colleagues and then took her kids along and put them into a TA I’m OK, you’re OK Nursery school for three weeks while studying with Hedges Capers, whom she had met at the conference. Val was instrumental in developing the modules program in Jamaica that has evolved into the TA Practitioner curriculum.
Carla Haimowitz discussed her 50-year journey, including her influence from Claude Steiner, her involvement in the Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society, and her work with various groups. She also mentioned her parents’ study on the effects of Rogerian therapy on ethnic prejudice.
Many other TA trainers who have passed were mentioned as being influential, including David Kupfer, Muriel James, Aaron Schiff, Josephine Lewis, and Hedges Capers.
Abe Wagner was invited to his first 101 by Jonathan Weiss and has spoken in every US state and many countries, well known for his books The Transactional Manager and Say It Straight or You’ll Show it Crooked. Abe remembers both Emily Ruppert and Denton Roberts as major TA contributors during that time.
Laurie Weiss first came along as “the wife” before deciding that she would enter training as well. Both Jonathan Weiss and Wayne Hart described the life-changing interventions they experienced and many others spoke of how TA has enriched their lives. Phil and Bobbie Barry talked about working with different TA therapists along the way, while Thomas Griggs described going through the Master’s Program at Southeast Institute in the beginning of his career and now focuses on Leadership. Ed Gurowitz is writing and teaching about leadership as well, with a new book out this year, Transformation: From Potential to Practice.
People’s contributions to TA continue to grow, both in theory and in sustaining what is now the North America TA Association, formerly USATAA. Janice Dowson from Canada and Gloria Noriega from Mexico have long been active in both ITAA and USATAA, and both helped us change our identity to include the entire continent. Brenda Schaeffer’s book. Is it Love or Is it Addiction, was a bestseller, and now she is leading the association as General Coordinator. Waldemar Gies has become a central part of the NATAA Council. Cedric Wood has innovated on the concept of ego states. Vann Joines not only leads Southeast Institute and is one of the best-known authors in TA, he is also conducting courses online for large groups in other countries.
John McNeel continues to develop his work on Injunctive Messages, which he has presented several times in NATAA Educational Workshops. Felipe Garcia continues to serve on the Council which he initiated in the 1980’s. Jonathan and Laurie Weiss now teach Logosynthesis, which they learned about through Nancy Porter-Steele and Curtis Steele.
Robin Fryer started out practicing and studying TA while in graduate school, then helped organize conferences, and eventually became editor of the ITAA Script and TA Journal, both of which she still manages with care.
As we concluded, Jack Dusay, an early ITAA President and source of the widely-used concept of egograms, thanked Christopher Zimmerman, who helped him get on the call, and reminded us of the importance of simplicity as a principle of TA.
Much more was shared as folks greeted old friends and some even met new people. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. A future meeting where we remember and honor those who are no longer with us was proposed, to occur in about six months. Much appreciation to Felipe Garcia, Abe Wagner, and Val Chang for organizing and leading this meaningful event, and to Vann Joines and Lucy Freedman for helping make it happen.
