There are some situations in which it is appropriate for people to be in symbiosis. This is known as healthy symbiosis.

1. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
Transactional Analysis

2. Prepared By
Manu Melwin Joy
Assistant Professor
Ilahia School of Management Studies
Kerala, India.
Phone – 9744551114
Mail – manu_melwinjoy@yahoo.com
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3. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
There are some situations
in which it is appropriate
for people to be in
symbiosis. This is known
as healthy symbiosis.

4. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
For example, I have just
come out from under
anesthetic after an
operation. Nurse is holding
my hands and telling : “ You
will be alright. Just hang one
to my hand”. At that point,
my Adult and Parent are out
of commission.

5. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
I am in no condition to
start assessing here and
now problems. I don’t
have the energy to access
the messages I got from
my parents about how to
look after myself.

6. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
I am doing what is
appropriate for me to do :
regressing to being a child
again, feeling my pain and
letting myself be cared for.

7. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
The nurse is giving the
parent and the adult input I
needed. She is dealing with
my current problems while
giving me protection and
reassurance. This is her job,
so she also is appropriately
in her symbiotic position.

8. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
In Schiffian terms, we say
that the nurse and the
patient are in healthy
symbiosis. When the word
symbiosis is used alone, it
normally implies unhealthy
symbiosis.

9. Healthy Vs Unhealthy Symbiosis
How do we distinguish
formally between healthy
and unhealthy symbiosis?
The answer is that a
symbiosis will be unhealthy
whenever it involves
discounting.

10. References

11. Thank You