S6E8: Educational TA: Educational Wounds, Script & the Work of Tending with Cat Cornthwaite
Transactional Analysis PodcastSummary
Eran Nam and Sarah host a conversation with Kat Conthway, an educational transactional analyst, who shares her journey into transactional analysis (TA) and its transformative impact on education. Conthway recounts her initial exposure to TA during a training course that focused on behavior and relationships, which resonated deeply with her experiences as a secondary school English teacher. She highlights how the TA models, particularly the cycle of development, helped her improve relationships with students and colleagues, fostering a more supportive classroom environment.
Conthway emphasizes the importance of understanding educational wounds—systemic issues that can hinder effective learning—and how educators can reflect on their own experiences to create healthier educational encounters. She discusses the concept of "prepping the soil" to facilitate transformative learning experiences, stressing that educators must acknowledge their own scripts and beliefs to avoid perpetuating negative patterns. The conversation also touches on the existential nature of education, encouraging educators to explore deeper questions about their roles and the purpose of education itself.
The discussion concludes with Conthway advocating for the necessity of this reflective work across various fields, underscoring that all individuals are both learners and educators in different capacities. By engaging in this process, educators can break free from outdated systems and foster environments that truly support growth and development.
Show Notes
In this episode of the Transactional Analysis Podcast, hosts Jr-Earn Lam and Sarah Lowes speak with Cat Cornthwaite (PTSTA-E), an Educational Transactional Analyst working with schools and training institutes to support their relational practice. Cat taught English in mainstream schools for around thirteen years before moving into training and consultancy full time. Her focus is the educational encounter, and in particular what has to be in place before an encounter can be transformative at a...
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