Susanna Federici

It’s been about three years now since Susanna Federici (Italy) created the Relational Voices project, and I suspect it may be one of IARPP’s most under-utilized resources. In fact, I wonder how many IARPP members even know exactly what it is.

Relational Voices is the name given to a series of in-depth video interviews conducted with, and by, leading relational analysts from around the world. The project was created to give IARPP members the sense of a more personal connection with thinkers whom we may know only through their books and papers, in dialogues that are as much about the subjects’ personal journeys as their theoretical and clinical thinking. A Relational perspective, after all, emphasizes the value of the therapist’s subjectivity.

The series was inaugurated by Adrienne Harris, Tony Bass and Donnel Stern jointly interviewing Philip Bromberg nearly 10 years ago. In years following, Gianni Nebbiosi and Susi Federici conducted interviews with Hazel Ipp and Malcolm Slavin (jointly), Lewis Aron and Tony Bass. Joan Coderch of Spain was interviewed by two of his Institute of Relational Psychotherapy colleagues (the interview is conducted in Spanish, with English subtitles). Most recently, Lew sat for a second interview, with Steven Kuchuck. To be sure, the recent passings of Philip and Lew bring special poignancy to the experience of viewing their discussions and re-encountering their presences.

Taken as a whole, the interview series constitutes a unique treasure, giving voice to the history and development of the Relational sensibility from a variety of vantage points. The opportunity to see and hear some of the field’s leading lights distill their thinking, through dialogue with equally gifted colleagues, offers us a richly embodied, if virtual, encounter with some of the best of Relational thinking, feeling, relating and being.

With the approach of the holidays, you may perhaps find you have a little more idle time at your disposal than during the rest of the year. If so, I imagine that investing some of this precious time, roughly an hour of it, in one of these interviews would make for an energizing, restorative and rewarding treat. I encourage you to give it a try when time and interest allow.

According to Susi, one or two new interviews are currently in the planning stages. “We will work during 2021 to add more pieces,” she writes, “with the hope of improving our sense of connection within our wonderful community, especially during this difficult time in which we cannot meet in person.”

All these videos can be viewed through IARRP’s website. Because the videos are an exclusive benefit of IARPP membership, they are password-protected. For those of you who find navigating websites to be less than intuitive, here are detailed instructions for accessing the video gallery:

Go to the Iarpp.net homepage. In the top right of the page, you will see the phrase “Login to the IARPP Intranet.” Click on this phrase, and when you arrive at the next page, enter your username and your password. This will bring you to a page entitled “Members Intranet Home Page.” Look to the column to the right; click on the phrase “Online Resource Logins” (contained in a red box). On the next page, scroll to the very bottom, until you see the heading “IARPP Relational Voices program.” The text under this heading contains the password you need in order to enter the video gallery.

(Perhaps we should post a video on how to access the videos…?)

– M.A.