USATAA M&M Award: Lucy Freedman

Volume 27, Number 4 Special Issue 2012

Editors’ Note

The San Antonio conference was a peak experience for those who attended, and agratifying conclusion to all the work, anxiety, and creativity that went into making ithappen. We had a chance to highlight the contributions of several of our members.Here we have given just a snippet of their contributions to our community. Since theconference, several of our dear friends and colleagues have passed away. Wecelebrate the lives of Denton Roberts and Anne Teachworth in this issue. NowUSATAA is looking ahead. We invite you to volunteer for one of the councilvacancies described on page 8.

The USATAA M & M Award ispresented annually to persons whogive outstanding leadership inTransactional Analysis throughUSATAA in the spirit of MurielJames and Mary Goulding whoreceived the inaugural award in1991. Since then, the award hasbeen presented to Felipe Garcia,1993; Chris Boyd and GaylonPalmer, 1997; Val Chang, 1999;Morris and Natalie Haimowitz,2002; Grainger Weston, 2004;Lyman Rigby, 2005; Jon Wagner,2007; Jeri Ayers-Scott, 2008;Fanita English, 2009; and DianneMaki in 2010.

Speaking from the heart, I saidthat this group is my family. Inmany ways that is true. My basicbelief that people are OK and that itis important to live in that way iswhat has motivated me to continueto support TA training, events, andour association. When peopleexperience OKness in ourcommunity, we are successful. Theimpact I hope to have is forUSATAA to operate in such a waythat people can easily participate,feel valued and work together tospread TA.

When Felipe and othersenvisioned USATAA, I believe

Lucy Freedman with Muriel James in San Antonio

At the USATAA San Antonio Conference AwardsLuncheon, Mary Westphal presented Lucy Freedman withthe 2011 M & M Award. Lucy has been active inUSATAA since its inception and has held nearly everyposition on the Council. Her years of leadership are felt inevery area of USATAA today as she continues to serve.She has shown outstanding leadership and it is difficult toimagine USATAA without her brilliant guidance.

Lucy’s responseWhen I received the award, I jokingly said that ever since Isaw people getting this award, I have been angling for itbecause it comes with chocolate. Sure enough, the M&M'shave been much appreciated. Even more special was the fact that one of the M's,Muriel, was there, as well as other USATAA foundersFanita, Felipe, and so many good friends and colleagues.

we were ahead of our time with the emphasis on consensus,a horizontal rather than hierarchical structure, and inclusion.This is more challenging to implement than it at firstappears. In addition to shared decisions, we need to learnhow to balance the work.

During USATAA's lifetime, new media have begun toreshape how we can interact with each other and the public.I believe that the future of USATAA will be a combinationof in-person and online communities. Our effectivenesswill depend on people stepping up to envision that futureand engage in OK-OK gatherings with training andexchanges among colleagues. Let's invite and encouragenew leadership to take us forward.

With gratitude for your friendship and enthusiasm for thefuture, I thank you for choosing me to receive this year'sM&M Award.

Emily Keller is the new SouthwestRegional Representative for USATAA.Though raised in the Southeast, EmilyKeller was born in Paramaribo,Suriname, and lived for a little while inIsrael. Additionally, she has traveled to

many countries and enjoys getting to know people from allwalks of life. She graduated with a counseling degree in 1999 andstarted out working with people with severe disabilities andtheir families. Eventually, she worked for a company thatdesigned technology to help severely disabled children andadults communicate with loved ones and go to school orwork. It turned out that she was good at helping theengineers, artists, and managers understand each other, andwas quickly recruited further into the tech world until sheran a small business supported by telemedicine contracts.

She also has a background in writing and editing, and hasworked for a newspaper, ghost-authored a memoir, andworked in public relations.

2 USATAA-NET SPECIAL ISSUE 2012

The United States of America Transactional AnalysisAssociation (USATAA) is the association for the practiceof Transactional Analysis in the United States.USATAA publishes the USATAA-NET four times ayear.

NET Newsletter Committee:Lucy Freedman, Co-EditorDianne Maki, Co-EditorMail: 7891 Westwood Drive, Suite 103,

Gilroy, CA 95020.Email: coordinator@usataa.org

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USATAA is for YOU!

If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2012,please do so at www.usataa.org or by sending your dues($35 per year) to

USATAAc/o Janel Quintos7891 Westwood Drive, Suite 103, Gilroy, CA 95020.

2012 USATAA Regions & Coordinators

Northeast RegionTom Nissley, northeast-rep@usataa.orgMaine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, RhodeIsland, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey,Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, CanadaSoutheast RegionKim McClelland, southeast-rep@usataa.orgVirginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas. Louisiana, foreigncountries other than CanadaMidwest RegionKen Taber, midwest-rep@usataa.orgOhio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Illinois,Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota,Nebraska, KansasSouthwest RegionEmily Keller, southwest-rep@usataa.orgOklahoma, TexasRocky Mountain RegionJanet Lee O’Connor, rocky-mountain-rep@usataa.orgMontana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah,New Mexico, ArizonaPacific RegionCatherine O’Brien, pacific-rep@usataa.orgWashington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Alaska, Hawaii

WELCOME Emily Keller to the USATAA Council

Emily writes, “I first learned about TA from friends andProfessor Sharon Shallow in my graduate program inGreenville, NC. Years later, when I quit my job to stayhome with my first son, I decided to focus on learning TA.I drove once a month from South Carolina to Greenville, fora monthly training group with Sharon.

“Later, my husband's career moved our family to ChapelHill, NC. While there, I participated in the post-graduatetraining program at the Southeast Institute. When it cametime to move to San Antonio, I was delighted to learn that Icould continue my training, this time with Felipe Garcia.

“Today, I incorporate TA into my work with clients in aprivate practice as well as my work with children andadolescents at a local psychiatric hospital. Additionally, Ihave presented at conferences held by the TexasAssociation of Counselor Educators and Supervisors andthe Texas Counseling Association. And received the 2010research award for my TACES presentation about TA.”

Emily can be reached at southwest-rep@usataa.org .

USATAA-NET 3SPECIAL ISSUE 2012

Denton Roberts Remembered

[Denton Roberts, who passed away on December 12,2011, was a founding member of USATAA. He wasUSATAA’s third general coordinator – true to form, hejoked that he was the “Coordinator General.” — Eds.]

by Sheryn ScottDenton served as my pastor, mytherapist, my supervisor, my mentorand eventually a colleague. I can’tquite say he taught me everything Iknow but he definitely laid the

groundwork for the teacher, trainer, therapist and mentor Iam today. I still use his words, his examples and his ideasas I train therapists and work with clients. My only regretis that I had not been in contact with him the last fewyears. I wish I could have told him how much he meant tome at so many levels. He was TA in the Los Angeles areafor many years. He applied it to social issues as well asindividual and interpersonal problems. He was a patientand insightful supervisor and therapist. He also taught mea lot about parenting as he described his relationship withCort and Dane. I treasure my memories of the fishbowltraining at All Peoples as well as training near the KernRiver where he had a pack station for a period of time. Ifeel privileged to have learned so much from him. He willbe missed by me and many, many others.

Anne Teachworth RemembereD

[Anne Teachworth was the SoutheastRegional Representative for USATAA in2009. She died on February 3, 2012. Thefollowing notes are adapted from herstatement in USATAA News, Spring 2009,news reports, and a Wikipedia entry onPsychogenetics — Eds.]

Anne Teachworth was the Director of theGestalt Institute of New Orleans/New York,which she founded in 1976. She was aCertified Gestalt Therapist and a Fellow ofthe American Psychotherapy Association.

Anne was introduced to TransactionalAnalysis when she joined a group in 1972.

Why We Pick the Mates We Do. CalledPsychogenetics, her approach is close toRedecision Therapy – she made theconnection when she presented her work atthe ITAA Conference in Oaxaca, Mexico. Psychogentics is grounded in whatpeople observe about their parents’interactions. “Everyone is programmed tofill one of those parental roles and findsomeone to fill the other,” she said. “As acouples counselor, I see this happening allthe time. I’ve dealt with couples whopicked the same partners, over and over.”Couples counseling sessions focus onreprogramming the inner parent

Anne Teachworth during theRedecision / TA Conference inNew Orleans, November 2009

Fascinated, she went to several of Bob and Mary Goulding'sworkshops, and then into Gestalt Training for the next fewyears. In 1977, she began NLP Training.

Anne specialized in couples counseling, using atransgenerational approach, described in her 1996 book,

relationship, inherited from each partner’s parents and, inmany cases, even earlier family generations.

Shortly before her death, she completed the manuscript fora book, History Repeats Itself, with her latest theories aboutfamily transgenerational patterns.

Denton Roberts in Jamaica forthe USATAA Gathering 2005

From Denton’s book, FindPurpose, Find Power:

“As a child, I was identified asa ‘tall tale teller.’ I was giventhe impression that this was anextremely negative trait. …Throughout life, I have, withsome discomfort, risked tellingstories to make my point.Sometimes I even embellishedstories to make my pointeffectively. Over the yearspeople have told me that theyloved my stories. … On theother hand, I was surroundedby people who

appreciated my accepting and non-intrusive nature. … Thisstyle of relating has become something I have honed andused to my advantage in building warm, supportiverelationships. … Ultimately, we must discover and defineour purpose alone, but, the more support and encouragementwe have along the way, the better we do.”To love someone is to learn the song in their heart and tosing it to them when they have forgotten it. – Denton Roberts

helped me on that journey. Hedges Capers and Russ Osnes,my mentors, walked the talk and showed me how. JeanneWiger and Elaine Childs-Gowell consistently supported andtaught me. Carole Gesme and many other educators helpedme design OK-OK ways of teaching. Co-researchers andauthors David Bredehoft and Connie Dawson have walkedwith me. Many others, like Jon and Laurie Weiss, havebeen a phone call away as they encouraged my writingprojects. Truly, it takes a village to raise a grownup, and Iam highly appreciative of my worldwide TA village.

4 USATAA-NET SPECIAL ISSUE 2012

Jonathan Weiss in San Antonio

JOHN GLADFELTER LIFE VALUES AWARD:JEAN ILLSLEY CLARKE

Felipe Garcia History AWARD: Jonathan Weiss

in recognition of her receiving the JohnGladfelter Life Values Award. During these years I haveconsistently witnessed her living the principles ofTransactional Analysis. I have watched her model andpromote an OK-OK atmosphere in both her professional andpersonal work. She lives, breathes and models TA theory.She is an expert at helping people turn TA theory intoapplicable practice that they can use on a daily basis. Inopening her home for a multitude of trainings and workshopsJean ensures that TA is passed on to the next generation.

Through her use of TA in the parentingfield and her many books, she has givenparents a new way of approaching theirchild’s development. These are just a fewof the things that make her so deserving ofthis award.

Jean’s responseI am deeply honored by my TA colleaguesgiving me this award. Walking the talk ofI’m OK You’re OK has always been themost challenging part of TA for me. I’mgrateful for the many colleagues who have

[The USATAA John Gladfelter Life ValuesAward is given once or twice a year topersons who live and teach the values ofTransactional Analysis in ways thatpositively impact their communities.Dianne Maki presented the award to JeanIllsey Clarke in San Antonio.]

by Carol GesmeHaving known JeanIllsley Clarke for over30 years it is a pleasurefor me to be writing this Jean Illsley Clarke in San Antonio

Jonathan’s response

I was surprised and delighted to receive the Felipe GarciaHistory Award in San Antonio. USATAA and the TAcommunity have been at the center of my professional lifesince I was in graduate school, and I'm honored to beacknowledged as an important part of the community. I'mgoing to hold the award as an Unconditional PositiveStroke.

by Lucy Freedman

When Jonathan and Laurie were selectedthis year, we had no difficulty inspeaking about their longtime presence,their activity as presenters, theirintegration of new learnings into theirpractice and into our community, and

their willingness to share forays into print and onlinepublishing so that brave souls could follow. As Abe Wagner,who presented the award to Jonathan, knows, they have

been a stalwart TA presence in the RockyMountain region. In recent times, Lauriehas written catchy subject lines and copy,and has given us direction on conferenceblogs and emails.

We had the opportunity to spend moretime with each other at the JamaicaGathering, where Jonathan and Laurieskillfully led us through the basics ofLogosynthesis. TA is a big part of theirlives, and they are a big part of ours. Werecognize their contribution to USATAAwith great affection.

[The USATAA Felipe Garcia HistoryAward is given once or twice a year forsignificant contributions to the founding orcollaborative care of USATAA. At the SanAntonio Awards Luncheon Abe Wagnerpresented the award to Jonathan Weiss forhis years of faithful availability toUSATAA. And then Lucy Freedmanpresented the award to Laurie Weiss forher many years of collaborativecommunication creativity to the USATAACoordinating Council.]

Chuck Holland in San Antonio

Laurie Weiss in San Antonio

USATAA-NET 5SPECIAL ISSUE 2012

Felipe Garcia History AWARD: Laurie Weiss

USATAA Council Appreciation Award: Chuck Holland

writing advertising copy I haven't talked much about it. Ithas been a great pleasure to use those skills to reawakenpeople to the delights of attending our conferences.

So many of you have been such an important part of mylife for so many years that I can only say thank you. Thankyou for the award and thank you for the work that you'vedone to keep this organization a living presence in all of ourlives

Laurie’s response

I was both stunned and delighted toreceive a Felipe Garcia history award at theSan Antonio conference. So much washappening, that I didn't listen very wellimmediately after the announcement anddidn’t take in what the award was for.

Over the years I've become fascinated byinfluencing people through the writtenword. It's really an extension of helpingpeople do what they truly want to do as atherapist. But because it's been in the"unprofessional" field of marketing and

Through her writings, Laurie Weiss hasbeen sharing her experiences and insightswith the TA community for decades. Hervivid personal accounts have brought TAconferences back to life for attendees andhave prompted others to wish they werethere. She has written not only about thehighlights or the content of a conference,but also about the energy and excitementsurrounding the people at the conference.

Laurie and Jonathan have continued tolearn and experiment with ways ofhelping people, bringing their learningsback to the TA community throughpresentations at conferences and gatherings.

The Felipe Garcia History Award was first given to Felipein 2009 in New Orleans at the Mary Goulding MemorialRedecision/TA Conference. Then in 2010 it was presentedto Maryln Crossen and Lucy Freedman for theircontributions to the founding of USATAA.

Chuck’s response

As Master of Ceremonies at the Awards Luncheon in SanAntonio, and as Chairman of the Awards Committee, I wasdelightfully surprised to be presented the CouncilAppreciation Award. Being on an awards committee prettymuch disqualifies the members for awards so I have seldomreceived an award himself. I loved how sneaky the Councilhad been to surprise me.

proven principles and techniques of Transactional Analysis.Chuck has been active as an organizer and presenter in TAPprograms in his region and in Jamaica. He hosted theinaugural one in Dallas in 2008, where eleven peoplereceived the first TAP certificates, followed closely by aTAP program in Fort Worth.

In Jamaica, Chuck has worked with Mico College inKingston to create a summer TA course for teachers.

The USATAA awards program wasexpanded in 2008, with Chuck taking thelead in forming an Awards Committeeand establishing the Felipe GarciaHistory Award and the John GladfelterLife Values Award.

We thank Chuck for his tireless effortson the Council, for his service to thecommunity, and his overall enthusiasmfor TA.

[See also page 6. Chuck has carried onthe tradition of having a Men’s Groupsat TA conferences. – Eds.]

[At the end of the Awards Luncheon inSan Antonio, the USATAA Councilsurprised Chuck Holland with a specialCouncil Appreciation Award for hiscontributions to USATAA.]

Chuck was recognized for promoting TA,especially through the TransactionalAnalysis Practitioner (TAP) program andthe USATAA Recognition and AwardsCommittee, which he continues to lead.

The USATAA TA PractitionerTraining Program is designed to ensurethat a new generation is exposed to the

6 USATAA-NET SPECIAL ISSUE 2012

Comments on San Antonio

by Carol Solomon

What made the USATAA Conference inSan Antonio I ponder so enjoyable?How great it was to see so many familiarfaces, to reconnect with old friends andto meet new people coming to join us.

The program provided new learningand included a wide variety of sessions. Among them werepresentations on in-depth psychotherapy (Cornell), childtherapy (McClelland) and timely information on treatingpeople with PTSD (Masse, Holland). A wonderfulexperiential workshop on healing factors in the therapeuticrelationship was presented (Sills and Joyce). In a refreshingtwist, Janice Dowson showed us that both Eric Berne andSigmund Freud understood that “great literary writers had avital capacity to explain humanity and present newperspectives on human challenges.” The setting was outstanding – the haunted (?) and elegantMenger Hotel was completely enjoyable … both graciousand grand. The proximity to the San Antonio River Walkmade the whole experience festive and fun. What I lovedthe most was the superb work of the conference committee.This was a beautifully organized conference. The timing ofthe events maintained a brisk but relaxed feel andworkshops were scheduled conveniently and lasted just longenough. Work-time and play-time were gently balanced.

From the opening surprise of the spirited drummingexperience, a perfect way to engage the Child, to themoving moments of the closing we were provided withstimulation, warmth, contact and learning.

This was a conference that truly lived up to its name. Iwill look forward to the next USATAA conference.

If you have not yet read Remember BenClayton by Stephen Harrigan and you area truth seeking, serious minded man orwoman, you will enjoy this book. Ofcourse many San Antonio events andplaces like the Alamo and the Menger

Hotel are mentioned. For Transactional Analysts comingtogether to learn about “Healing Relationships Everywhere”knowing about the human wounds that need healing isessential. This fictional novel has just enough real eventsand places to assist us in seeing clearly how trauma begetstrauma and that healing relationships is the way to healourselves and our societies and ourselves.

The Menger is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited men inthe bar. Just a few feet away from that bar TA men met ontwo mornings to process their feelings and realities duringthe conference. This is a long-term historical tradition atTA conferences and some rarely miss this opportunity.Appropriately at the Menger they met in the Cavalier Room.Those in attendance this time were Bob Avary, FelipeGarcia, Chuck Holland, Vern Masse, Rich Midkiff, TomNissley, Ray Quiett, Ken Taber and Jonathan Weiss. Eachopened emotionally and quickly to each other and helpedprovide a powerful protective and trusting environment.This safe space gave permission to heal personal masculinetraumas that have wounded relationships. Maybe we werethe Davy Crockett’s, Santa Anna’s and Sam Houston’s ofthis decade. There is mystery in healing society’s wounds.Sometimes a bond between men helps the healing inamazing ways.

If you are interested in the mystery of why Santa Annaand Sam Houston did not kill each other ask me sometime.

Real Men in San Antonio

by Chuck Holland

Spirited Conference Opening

Drumming with Nina in San Antonio

The San Antonio conference began with a surprise: a Drum Call led by NinaRodriguez of Drumming with Nina. As the audience filed into the conferenceroom, they found a drum at every chair. Nina and her team of rhythmspecialists engaged everyone in an interactive drumming bonding experience.

Nina travels, facilitating team building sessions with companies; workingwith youth, promoting anti bullying; drumming in hospitals with children andparents; consulting with school leaders and district officials; … As thestudents at Highland High School in Salt Lake City comment in a YouTubevideo, their inspiring drumming experience “brought the whole schooltogether.”

The Drum Call was a dramatic start to the San Antonio conference.

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USATAA-NET 7SPECIAL ISSUE 2012

e evolution of aTA therapistFrom the orange groves inFlorida, to calming race riotsin ChicagoFrom recycling garbage inHawaii to studying at theUniversity of Chicagoin the 50's with Carl Rogers,the 60's with Eric Berne, the70's with Fritz Perls and theGouldingsSpeaking up about theeconomic, educational andmedical systems thatoppress us

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8 USATAA-NET SPECIAL ISSUE 2012

Association Highlights

USATAA Coordinating Council Vacancies.The USATAA Coordinating Council announces current and upcoming vacancies for the following positions:General Member, Southwest Regional Representative (Texas and Oklahoma), and Northeast Representative(Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, NewJersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Canada). All members of the Coordinating Council meet monthly by phone conference, and once annually in personin order to guide, facilitate and execute the work of USATAA. Members agree to participate equally and accepttasks and special assignments designed to promote USATAA and TA throughout the United States.Additionally, they promote TA through regional, national, and international conferences and events.Specifically, Regional Representatives are members of the Advisory Board, which assists the CoordinatingCouncil. They commit to a term of three years and participate as members of that council. During their tenurethey stimulate, coordinate, and participate in a variety of activities to promote TA throughout their region. Asmembers, representatives also would greet, communicate with, and report the views of members in their region,and perform other tasks as agreed upon with council members. If you are interested in serving in one of these roles, please contact Lucy Freedman at lucy1@syntx.com formore information.

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