Why I Took the Leap — A Foundation Year Student's Story

This post is written by Carol, a current Foundation Year in Transactional Analysis student, who came to Physis Scotland after a career in nursing and frontline work. Here she shares what the experience has meant to her.

If you are considering the Foundation Year training, I wanted to share a little about my own journey and what this path has meant to me.

My route here has been far from linear. I have worked in travel and tourism, with vulnerable adults, with Women’s Aid, and with refugees. In my 40s I trained as a nurse, yet something still never quite felt like it fully fitted.

Finding TA

During Covid, while working in ICU, I experienced burnout. Around that time, by what felt like a stroke of luck — or perhaps something more meaningful — I began working with a Transactional Analysis therapist. Suddenly, ideas that had once felt confusing or out of reach began to make sense. TA gave me language for things I had long felt but never been able to name. My therapist became both my compass and my co-pilot, and the experience changed the direction of my life.

For months I found myself returning to the Physis page, wondering quietly to myself: Am I good enough? Am I smart enough to do this? Eventually, despite those doubts, I decided to take the plunge.

I am so glad that I did. Choosing to try something new, challenging, and deeply meaningful has been one of the most profound decisions I have made.

What the training is really like

I have never experienced training like this. Physis welcomes you carefully, thoughtfully, and profoundly into the fold. You will grow, you will confront parts of yourself, and you will form deep and lasting connections. Your life may change in ways you never imagined possible.

Under the guidance of the trainers and coaches, the language and insights of Transactional Analysis are woven into everyday life. The training thoughtfully considers issues such as power, privilege, learning styles, personal history, and the educational or personal traumas people may carry.

For me, it has been transformative. I began to reconsider my relationships, how I show up in them, and to ask myself when I am being authentically me. Every area of my life has been touched by TA and the Foundation Year. It is challenging work, but deeply worthwhile.

"trust the pull that brought you here."

The people I have met on the Foundation Year have shown up with remarkable vulnerability. With the care and attention of the tutors, we have shared, grown, and deepened our connections with each other and with ourselves.

The academic side

Academically, the training is demanding. Studying at Master’s level is a real undertaking. However, there is a huge amount of support available. Different learning styles are recognised and valued, and the tutors work hard to ensure that everyone has the tools they need to engage with the material and grow.

If you're considering the Foundation Year

If I could offer any advice to someone considering the Foundation Year, it would simply be this: trust the pull that brought you here. It may feel daunting, and you may wonder if you are good enough or ready enough. I certainly did. But growth rarely happens in places that feel completely comfortable.

Taking this step has changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. If something in you is curious about this path, I would encourage you to follow it. You may find, as I did, that you grow beyond your imagination.

Find out more about the Physis Scotland Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis (TA) and other routes training.