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Abstract

This exploratory study investigates the applicability and impact of Eco-Transactional Analysis (Eco-TA) (Marshall & Barrow, 2020) in a structured self-development group for women in Southern Serbia during the post-COVID-19 period. The intervention was grounded in key Eco-TA principles—relational expansivity, fluidity between inner and outer experience, and embodied movement in natural settings. Fourteen women aged 21–42 engaged in a six-month program consisting of twelve outdoor sessions from April to September 2022. Changes in self-perception and identity were assessed using the Ego-Perception Test (TEP), a qualitative projective tool, administered pre- and post-intervention.

Results indicated significant shifts across five domains: (1) A change in productivity, with most participants showing more concise and focused responses post-intervention; (2) Increased Adult ego-state activation and improved ego-state integration; (3) Heightened self-acceptance and reduced self-apologetic tendencies; (4) Greater tolerance for psychological discomfort and reduced Driver-related language; (5) A shift in identity conceptualization from fixed traits to fluid, process-oriented self-descriptions, consistent with Eco-TA’s ecological identity model.

The findings suggest that Eco-TA group work fosters psychological integration and identity transformation through ecological engagement and embodied experience. The study highlights the potential of Eco-TA as a de-pathologizing and relationally expansive approach to personal development. Implications for future research and clinical application are discussed.

Keywords: Eco-TA, identity, self-development, post-COVID, women, ego states, ecological psychology


Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global norms, prompting a renewed inquiry into mental health, relational meaning, and human-nature connection. Eco-Transactional Analysis (Eco-TA) has emerged as a transformative framework for psychotherapeutic and developmental work that integrates ecological awareness with Transactional Analysis (Marshall & Barrow, 2020). This study investigates how Eco-TA might facilitate identity transformation in women through structured group engagement.

Research Objectives

1. To assess the applicability of Eco-TA within a self-development group structure.
2. To examine qualitative shifts in participants’ self-assessment post-intervention.
3. To identify emerging themes relevant for further research and the development of Eco-TA practice.

Methodology

A public call invited women to participate in a free, research-based self-development group. Of 20 applicants, 14 completed the full program. One was excluded after initial screening due to insufficient Adult ego-state capacity, as assessed by co-facilitators. Four withdrew after the first session, and one after the fourth.

Setting and Program Structure:

Sessions were held in the rural, ecologically rich setting of Gornji Matejevac (South Serbia). The group met bimonthly from April to September 2022, comprising twelve sessions, structured as follows:
– Orientation (Session 1): Introduction, group agreement, baseline TEP.
– Preparation (Sessions 2–4): Intentions, niche exploration, awareness practices.
– Liminal Phase (Sessions 5–8): Identity inquiry, ecological metaphor, group contact.
– Integration (Sessions 9–11): Meaning-making, narrative reformation, closure preparation.
– Closure (Session 12): Post-TEP, symbolic rituals, shared reflection.
Each session involved check-in, experiential activity, group process, individual journaling, and check-out.

Instrument and Assessment:

The Ego-Perception Test (TEP), a qualitative projective instrument, was used pre- and post-intervention. Participants responded in writing to two open-ended prompts:
Who am I?
How do I wish to be?

We chose TEP since it is part of the test battery used for psychodiagnostic in clinical settings in Serbia. It’s available, easy, there are no restrictions (e.g. age, IQ), and projective (therefore suitable for qualitative analysis).
Three independent assessors (two facilitators and one external TA professional) evaluated responses based on the form (productivity, clarity, verbal quality) and the content (self-perception, ego-state representation, contextual insight) of given answers.

Preliminary calculations suggest an inter-rater reliability was high: 64% full agreement, 36% partial, 88% total concordance; 91% for life position coding.

Findings

Difference in TEP pre- and post-intervention was noted in all 14 participants (inter-rater agreement is full for 9, and partial (2 raters agree) for 5 participants). Five principal domains of change were identified:

1. Productivity: 11 participants demonstrated changes. Nine showed reduced word count, indicating increased focus or emotional containment; two showed increases, reflecting greater openness.
2. Ego-State Expression: 12 participants evidenced stronger Adult ego-state activation; five demonstrated improved integration across ego states.
3. Self-Perception: Ten participants expressed increased self-acceptance, confidence, and grounded descriptions.
4. Psychological Difficulty: Eight reported improved tolerance for distress and reduction in Driver behavior. One participant shifted from defensive idealization to emotionally honest depressive disclosure.
5. Personality Conceptualization: Six participants transitioned from fixed trait definitions to fluid, process-based identities aligned with Eco-TA principles.

Discussion

Nature as a Catalyst for Adult Ego-State Activation: Eco-TA emphasizes embodied presence and relational contact with nature. Our findings suggest that engagement with natural, sometimes unpredictable, and always stimulating environments invited participants into the here-and-now, promoting activation of the Adult ego-state. This orientation, over the period of 6 months, supported clearer thinking, heightened awareness, and increased tolerance for complexity and discomfort. We could register the change in the cathexis of the adult in different ways. Some participants had shown a pragmatic attitude regarding their situation or goals, some clarity of thought, some integration of different functional ego states. Also, we believe that, in embracing nature’s non-judgmental stance, participants appeared more open to accepting their own ambivalence and socially disowned emotions—especially anger, often discouraged in women of our culture.

It is our opinion, the increase in self-acceptance and confidence, and frustration tolerance, as well as decrease in Driver behaviour that participants have described came from this change in Adult ego state activation.

This is a very encouraging finding especially for planning and organising self-development programmes using the method of Eco-TA.

Ecological Identity: From Fixed Traits to Co-Emergence: Post-intervention responses were notably metaphorical, poetic, and embodied—“I am like water,” “I am change,” “I am all of my emotions.” These descriptions reflect an identity that is fluid, co-emergent with the surrounding environment, and attuned to dynamic context. This is not to be confused with fluidity arising from poorly differentiated ego states or lax ego state boundaries. These responses showed clarity and coherence, signaling a healthy shift toward ecological identity as a process, rather than pathology. This aligns with Eco-TA’s non-linear model of the self.

Productivity Regulation as De-Centering of Verbal Dominance: The shift in productivity—from verbose or over-structured responses to more concise, metaphor-rich language—suggests a recalibration of expression. Eco-TA invites embodied, affective, and non-verbal knowing, which may lead to communication that prioritizes internal resonance over social conformity. This may also reflect a distancing from patriarchal norms that privilege cognitive over somatic or intuitive ways of knowing. A shift from indoor mind to ecological mind.

Eco-TA as a Container for Psychological Struggle: One participant’s shift from an idealized, dissociated identity to an emotionally grounded, relational narrative illustrates the capacity of Eco-TA to hold and transform trauma-based defenses. Her movement from heroic, abstract self-definition to naming emptiness, sadness, uncertainty, and relational roles (“daughter”, “friend”, “psychologist”) indicates meaningful integration. This validates the potential of nature-based, relational spaces to support emotional honesty and the reprocessing of early relational trauma.

Limitations

– The absence of a control group limits the ability to attribute causality to the intervention.
– Participants with pre-existing idealization of nature (noted in pre-TEP responses) reported fewer gains, possibly due to eco-dissociative tendencies that bypassed deeper engagement (Marshall, 2023).
– Future studies should adopt a mixed-methods approach, integrating validated psychological scales with in-depth qualitative analysis, to account for assessor bias.

Conclusion

This pilot study suggests that Eco-TA, implemented in an ecologically immersive, structured group format, facilitates profound shifts in self-perception, ego-state integration, and identity formation. The intervention promoted embodied awareness, relational sensitivity, and a de-pathologized understanding of the self. These outcomes underscore Eco-TA’s potential as a transformative framework for psychological growth and call for expanded, interdisciplinary research into ecological identity development.

References
Barrow, G., & Marshall, H. (2023). Revisiting Ecological Transactional Analysis: Emerging Perspectives, TAJ 2023, Vol. 53(1), 7-20
Marshall, H. (2023). A Place for the Ecological Third: Eco-TA in Therapeutic Practice. TAJ 2023, Vol. 53(1), 93-108

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In the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemics, I noticed that a great number of women came to therapy with the mild to severe symptoms of burnout. I also noticed that this burnout was not job-related, it was life related. Taking care of the kids, tending and mending relationships with partners or parents, working and doing the invisible house work, seems to have become too much. When we explored this, I often found that the common denominator was the lack of social capital – after the pandemics relationships got distant, for the menu it was a time of realisation how easy it is to be left alone to manage the life that was meant to be a village, community life. It is important to note that in our context, institutions that are the way societies enable help and support (kindergartens, social services, schools, health care, community centres…) are either non existent or not functional – so, ‘alone’ is a really scary thing to be.

I wanted to do something about this. So in 2021. I started small and invited women to join, what I called, Women Village. We had a couple of meetings that year. In 2022. we participated in the international festival Woman Scream and organized it in Gornji Matejevac. Now, in 2025., we organize four types of activities. All of them are free of charge and open to all women who want to participate.

Our activities are:

Library under the walnut tree – we meet, leave our phones at the door and spend time reading outdoors. We have a Storytelling for the kids that come (so moms can read in peace 🌷), we usually choose folktales to keep them alive for the next generations.

Writing circle – women gather search for inspiration, write together and share their creations. Circle is also a sounding board for the writers to test their materials and get feedback.

The New Moon gathering – support group for women. On the night of the new moon we find our way to the fire. We dance, share stories and sing together.

Prelo – named after the traditional way of women spending time together, Prelo is a time when we work together. We are teaching each other different crafts, we make and fix clothes, art, jewellery… Kids have their own activities, and when they are interested they can help and learn crafts, also. This is a time for sharing stories and singing traditional songs.

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