6. TCI - Ruth Cohn

TCI emerged out of the experiences and knowledge of psychoanalysis and was influenced by the work in groups and experiential therapies. Dr. Ruth C. Cohn formulated the most basic concepts in the 1960's and progressively further developed by her colleagues in the organization Workshop Institute for Living Learning IWILL) in the USA and later in Europe.

TCI emphasises

• the attentive awareness of oneself and others in personal and in professional contexts;
• the strengthening of independence and autonomy in relationships;
• imparting knowledge in a lively way and involving participants in this process;
• integrating the demands of the working task with a regard for the individual and for interpersonal relationships (in profit as well as in non-profit groups);
• leading discussions at work, at conferences, congresses, etc., in a spirit of lively communication, thereby promoting cooperation rather than rivalry; TCI is founded on certain basic assumptions without which the system would disintegrate into disconnected techniques. They are:
  • The more consciously we recognise and activate our social and universal interdependence, the greater our autonomy.
  • Actions based on values are indispensable; decisions for such action should be made in a spirit of respect for life and its enfolding. Decisions are taken within internal and external limitations. The boundaries of these limitations can be expanded. TCI aids in achieving such expansion by providing a systematic approach to guiding psychodynamic and educational group processes.