The Awakening of Fanita English: The Journey from ”Sleeping Beauty” to Transactional Analysis

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the book ”Fanita English A Therapist’s Life and Work: From Psychoanalysis to Transactional Analysis and Gestalt Therapy”, written and published by professional journalist and psychotherapist Sigrid Röhl in 2004 in German language and subsequently translated into English in 2021 by ”Books on Demand”. The article sheds light on the key moments in the biography of Fanita English, delving into her childhood, youth, and adulthood. Through the lens of unique encounters and dialogues with renowned figures in psychotherapy, this article unveils how Fanita English emerged as a significant figure and mentor for generations of practicing therapists and amalgamated various therapeutic approaches in her work, such as Transactional Analysis and Gestalt therapy. The author of the article provides readers with a unique perspective from Sigrid Röhl on this remarkable woman in the world of Transactional Analysis. Additionally, the article emphasizes Fanita English’s courage, endurance, and lust for life, which were expressed in her research and professional practice: her story has become not only a narrative of personal transformation and the strength of the human spirit, but also a source of inspiration for many of us.