Interpersonal Psychology

Interpersonal Psychology is a study of the ways that people relate to others. How we function well, how we struggle, and what is going on in our depths that is behind all of it. Understanding this can help you if you are a therapist, coach, group leader, or work with people psychologically on interpersonal issues. It can also help if you are working on your own interpersonal patterns.

Jay is leading a Collaborative Course on Interpersonal Psychology to explore this terrain with those that are interested.

Learn More About the Collaborative Course

For the foundational material that will be covered in the course, see the articles linked below.

Capacities in IFS

I set out to clarify how Self is related to our healthy parts, especially those that are unburdened through IFS work. This article introduces a few key concepts:
1. Self has two modes—pure and active—depending on whether action is called for in the moment.
2. Capacities are aspects of Self.
3. Capacities also have two modes. Active capacities take action. Capacities of presence are aspects of pure Self that just are.

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Protector & Capacity Roles

IFS tends to focus on one particular role protectors play—blocking access to painful exiles so the system isn’t overwhelmed. But blocking is just one role protectors play. This article describes each role and shows how they look different when carried by a protector versus a capacity. Understanding these roles gives us a richer map of how our parts function—not just in therapy but in everyday life.

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