Berne’s 8 Therapeutic Operations.

Interventions Description Function When to use When not to use Example

1. Interrogation Mainly used to identify material
that might be of clinical
importance and helpful in
future work.
2. Specification A declaration that categorises
information.
Signals the direction When confident the
of the work to the client is in Adult.
client.
Fixes it in the mind of If client might deny the
client and therapist information or in
preparation for
explanation.
If suspect the client is in Did you actually shout at your
Parent or Child. son?
If it will “frighten the So you felt angry and
patient’s Child” Berne. ashamed when you shouted
Might not be ready to at your son.
acknowledge the
information.

3. Confrontation A transaction based on
information that has been
gathered previously that
disconcerts the Parent, Child or
contaminated Adult by pointing
out inconsistency.
4. Explanation Uses TA theory to make sense
of information.
Confrontation may If client is playing a Game
redistribute cathexis. (eg Stupid) or is not able,
at the moment to
account the inconsistency
for themselves.
Facilitates client in When the client is
strengthening or prepared and their Adult
decontaminating is listening.
Adult.
If it “makes you feel I think you are saying you feel
smarter than the like a bad parent.
patient” or if you are
about to respond with
a Parental But…
If the client is still So when your Child was
playing a Game eg Yes embarrassed and scared by
But…. Etc. your son’s behavior the
energy shifted to your Parent
and that’s when you shouted
at your son.

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Berne’s 8 Therapeutic Operations.
Interposition – an attempt by the therapist to interpose something between the client’s Adult and other ego states.
Interpositions Description
5. Illustration Telling an anecdote, a simile or
giving a comparison.
6. Confirmation Repeats and reinforces an
earlier confrontation on the
same issues.
7. Interpretation Deals with the pathology of the
Child, material is presented in
coded form. Therapist decodes
and detoxifies Child’s past
experiences with client’s Adult
as an ally.
8. Crystallization States the client’s position. And
Adult to Adult transaction that
confirms the therapeutic aim
has been reached.
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Function When to use
To support a successful When the client is listening
confrontation and easing and three egos states are
any undesirable effects. aligned so that Adult and
Child are listening and
Parent will not take over.
To help reinforce ego When the client’s Adult is
state boundaries further. strong enough to prevent
he Parent using it against
the Child.
Identifies areas of When the patient’s Adult is
confusion of Child. A way on your side, when you are
for therapist to check not directly opposing the
they have understood the Parent and when you are
situation correctly. not asking too much from
the Child. Berne.
Invites client to exercise When sure that not only is
options to act on his own Adult, but also Child and
behalf. Parent are “properly
prepared”
When not to use
To rectify an unsuccessful
confrontation or to show
how clever you are. If
Parent is self-righteous or
Child is looking to justify a
racket.
If the previous
confrontation was
unsuccessful, “or if it makes
you feel smug” Berne.
When Adult is not in the
executive or on your side.
Renewed symptoms.
Example
I used to get angry
and shout
sometimes, and I
nearly always felt
dreadful afterwards.
I notice that you are
still getting angry
when you feel
powerless to do
something.
Are you willing to
take action in
support of yourself.
You can take action
to change things for
yourself.