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Transactional Analysis (Udemy.com)

Learn Transactional Analysis psychodynamic psychotherapy and the parent-adult-child model

Created by: Dr Chris Worfolk

Last updated September 2026

Our take

Based on the ratings of 111 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in September 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.

Dr Chris Worfolk's course is a short introduction to Transactional Analysis, the therapy model Eric Berne built around Parent, Adult and Child ego states. It runs about 4.4 hours across 123 lectures in 17 sections, and most lectures last only a few minutes. The syllabus moves from foundations and psychodynamic background through life scripts, communication and techniques, with case studies on burnout, addiction and relationship problems near the end. It is pitched at counsellors and psychology students, though the description also welcomes anyone curious about their own patterns.

Reviewers mostly praise the clarity. One calls the sessions well structured, and another says Worfolk explains the psychology, diagnosis and treatment options more succinctly than other instructors they have taken. Reviewers also credit the pacing and the downloadable handbook, and one person found it easy to use on mobile. The complaints are about fit. A TA therapist says it suits people with some background and may overwhelm total newcomers. A more experienced student found it below their level, and another felt it was not that deep. One therapist wished the handbook covered everything said in the lectures.

It is a paid course, but a brief one, and it was last updated in September 2026. About 111 ratings average 4.6, with 70 of them five stars. Only 492 students are enrolled, so this is a niche pick rather than a crowd favorite. Treat it as a tidy first pass or a refresher on the model.

Best forCounsellors, psychology students or curious beginners who want a structured first pass at TA in an afternoon or two.
Skip it ifYou already practise TA and want depth, or you want something light rather than a dense overview of the theory.

Pros

  • Short, clearly explained lectures; reviewers call the teaching well structured and easy to grasp
  • Downloadable handbook and 12 quizzes; one therapist says the handbook makes TA easier to describe to clients
  • Covers life scripts, games, strokes and drama triangles, then applies them to burnout and addiction
  • Updated in September 2026 and reported to work smoothly on mobile

Cons

  • Experienced TA people found it too basic; one reviewer said it felt not that deep
  • One therapist warns the volume of information may overwhelm newcomers and people outside psychology
  • The handbook does not cover everything said in the lectures, and one reviewer wanted a printable transcript
Sessions are insightful and well-structured. Chris delivers the course with clarity and depth, making it easy to grasp.
Prashant Pai, a student

Labeled beginner and needs no TA background, but one reviewer says the amount of information may overwhelm people outside psychology.

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What you will learn

  • Transactional Analysis
  • Parent-adult-child ego-state model
  • Life-scripts, games, strokes, discounting and drama triangles
  • Improve self-understanding and communication with others
  • How Transactional Analysis applies to a range of mental health problems

Course content

17 sections · 123 lectures · 4.4 hours of video 12 quizzes, 12 articles

  1. 1Introduction 3 free previews6 lectures · 7 min
  2. 2Foundations of Transactional Analysis 1 free preview8 lectures · 1 quiz · 28 min
  3. 3Psychodynamic fundamentals8 lectures · 1 quiz · 25 min
  4. 4Understanding ourselves 2 free previews11 lectures · 1 quiz · 18 min
  5. 5Troubleshooting ego-states6 lectures · 1 quiz · 7 min
  6. 6How we behave12 lectures · 1 quiz · 38 min
  7. 7Troubleshooting behaviour5 lectures · 1 quiz · 13 min
  8. 8How we communicate 3 free previews7 lectures · 1 quiz · 13 min
  9. 9Why we communicate9 lectures · 1 quiz · 20 min
  10. 10Troubleshooting communication4 lectures · 1 quiz · 7 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Counsellors and mental health professionals looking to explore Transactional Analysis
  • Individuals looking to improve their own mental health
  • Psychology students who want to learn about Transactional Analysis techniques

What you need before you start

  • This course covers the fundamentals and requires no prior knowledge of Transactional Analysis
  • Basic counselling skills are helpful but not essential

How it compares

Against the other 503 rated Udemy courses in Teaching & Academics on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 58% of them
  • Reviews111#428 of 504 by number of reviews
  • Length4.4 hourslonger than 57% of them
  • Last updatedSeptember 2026more recently than 96% of them

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Course Description

Transactional Analysis (TA) is a form of psychotherapy that uses our interactions with others to better understand ourselves, our behaviour, and how to make changes in our lives. This course will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the theory, techniques and uses of Transactional Analysis.

Developed by Eric Berne in the mid-20th century, TA provides a framework for understanding how individuals think, feel, and interact with one another. At its core, TA examines the concept of "transactions" – the interactions and communications between people. It classifies these transactions into different "ego states" – Parent, Adult, and Child – each associated with distinct thought patterns and emotional responses.

By recognising these ego states and transactional patterns, TA offers valuable insights into improving communication, resolving conflicts, and achieving personal growth and transformation. This course will guide you through the fundamental principles and techniques of Transactional Analysis, providing you with a deeper understanding of human behaviour and effective tools for personal development and counselling.

This course is suitable for both mental health professionals and individuals looking to further develop their self-understanding. Whether you are a psychotherapist, counsellor, helping professional, psychology student, or looking to work on your own mental health, this course will help us gain greater insight into ourselves and those around us.

What you will learn:

  • Master Transactional Analysis principles, from its origins with Eric Berne to its contemporary applications in therapy.

  • Understand ego-states and life-scripts, unveiling how early experiences shape behaviour.

  • Analyse communication dynamics, discerning ulterior motives and resolving common communication challenges.

  • Examine practical Transactional Analysis techniques, including observation, decontamination, confrontation, and ego-state recognition.

  • Explore Transactional Analysis history and its distinctions from other therapeutic approaches.

  • Delve into psychodynamic fundamentals, including childhood experiences, the unconscious mind, and ego function.

  • Learn about identifying and troubleshooting ego-state issues such as contamination and exclusion.

  • Investigate life-scripts, understand their origins, and work on rewriting self-defeating narratives.

  • Grasp the concepts of life positions and drivers' role in shaping perspectives and behaviours.

As well as looking at the theory, techniques and practicalities, we will explore how Transactional Analysis can be applied to a range of problems. Case studies include depression, burnout, perfectionism, addiction, and relationship issues.

The course is thoughtfully designed, featuring video lectures, downloadable resources, quizzes, practical exercises, and a comprehensive course handbook. No prior knowledge of Transactional Analysis is required as all concepts are explained from the ground up. This course is accredited by the International Association of Therapists. On completion, you'll receive the standard Udemy certificate of completion. If you wish to become a registered member of the BACP, you will require further training.

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Instructor Details

Dr Chris Worfolk

Chris Worfolk is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society and a software consultant. He is the author of nine books and has taught over 125,000 students online. He specialises in software, career coaching, mental health and resilience.

Chris is the founder of the mental health charity Anxiety Leeds and co-founder of the Leeds Anxiety Clinic. He is the author of Do More, Worry Less: Small Steps To Reduce Your Anxiety. He has a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology from Trinity College Dublin.

Previously, he has spent over ten years working in the IT industry helping companies including Sky, Asda, Capita and the NHS improve their digital products. He is the author of How to Exit VIM and the IT Contracting Master Class. He holds a BSc in Computing from the University of Leeds.

In his spare time, he is an Ironman triathlete, ultramarathon runner, and a competitive public speaker. He lives in Leeds with his wife and daughter.

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Reviews

4.6

111 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Dr. Sindhu Vasanth B on 7/6/2026

An informative and engaging course that effectively combined theory with practical application. The content was relevant, the sessions were interactive, and the learning environment encouraged meaningful reflection. Overall, it was a valuable experience.

By Dr. József Székely on 5/5/2026

Wow, Chris Worfolk is the first professional that explains the psychology, the diagnosis and treatment (coaching) options to the most clear and succinct format. I Tell this because I have so far taken many many instructors' work. Great Job Chris Worfolk! Thank you.

By Prashant Pai on 7/25/2025

Sessions are insightful and well-structured. Chris delivers the course with clarity and depth, making it easy to grasp. A great starting point for anyone interested in learning Transactional Analysis. Thank you Chris!

By Nathan on 5/15/2025

I thought this really served as a great introduction to transactional analysis covered many topics. I wasn’t familiar with. I would highly recommend this course for anyone looking to learn about transaction analysis or even refresh their understanding.

By Kathy Reimherr on 6/6/2024

So far with the work book and adding a couple of notes it’s easy to understand and I believe describe to clients. Still learning (or deeply refreshing) theory I learned years ago but still use in my practice depending on client needs. I am not exclusive by any means to TA but this course reminds me how much many clients really like the ah-ha moments. One thing I wish I could do is print off the transcript of everything the presenter is saying on the left side when I press transcript. The handbook is nice and useful but some of the material covered in his lecture is not elaborated on in the handbook.

By Niki Friderichs on 4/25/2024

Chris course was highly informative, structured and easy to follow. It covered the theory of TA but also the practical application thereof. It's a fantastic grounding for anyone who doesn't have any knowledge on the subject - highly recommend!

By George Chaplin on 6/8/2023

I was a bit daunted by this initially, but yet again Chris's simple explanations are making it easy to understand

By Robert Wesseling on 3/24/2023

Concise but with always an example, no fluff, good audio, structure, and research. I enrolled in a lot of courses created by Chris. Compared to other of his courses, I found this course quite theoretical.

By Arnold Shkaidy on 2/17/2023

My existing knowledge and understanding of TA is beyond the level of the course. It may be appropriate for someone who has no knowledge of Transactional Analysis.

By Bre'Onka Gunn on 10/24/2022

It is informative and learning is easy to access on the mobile app for someone who may be on the go just as I am.

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Quality Score

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Overall Score : 92 / 100