🔺Drama Triangle | Free Course
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Free Course by Everything IFS Academy | Personality Systems Series
Welcome to the Free Drama Triangle Course for Everyday People
In 1968, a psychiatrist named Stephen Karpman noticed something hiding in the fairy tales everyone grows up on, and drew it as a simple triangle. His insight was that when conflict goes sideways, people aren't just clashing; they're moving through a small set of positions, trading places mid-argument, and that rotation is what turns an ordinary disagreement into a drama. The little diagram won the Eric Berne Memorial Scientific Award, escaped the therapy world almost immediately, and is now used in counseling rooms, workplaces, and leadership trainings across the globe. It was built for recognition, never for labeling anyone, and once you've seen the pattern it maps, you'll start spotting it everywhere.
This course teaches the pure Drama Triangle, with no other systems blended in. It's written in plain, emotionally relatable language anyone can follow, whether you work in the field or have never set foot in a therapy room. It isn't clinical training for therapists; it's the Drama Triangle you can put to use in your own life, your relationships, your family, and your workplace. Each module offers clear teaching, real-life examples, and the practical lens this model is famous for, and every lesson ends with an IFS and parts work practice so you can begin working with what you noticed right away.
This course is self-paced, with no tests, exams, or homework. Feel free to go through it in order, or jump around to whatever interests you most.
Course outline
Click any lesson below to begin.
Orientation
Module 1
What Is the Drama Triangle
Module 2 Who Is Stephen Karpman
Core Teachings
Module 3
The Victim
Module 4
The Rescuer
Module 5
The Persecutor
Module 6
The Switch
Module 7 The Winner's Triangle
Closing
Bonus
Bonus Module The Empowerment Dynamic (TED)
Disclaimer: Everything IFS Academy is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the IFS Institute. While we strive for accuracy, errors can occur, and users are encouraged to cross-reference critical information. These courses, lessons, skills, and practices are offered for educational and self-reflection purposes only. They do not constitute therapy, mental health treatment, clinical training, or crisis support, and they should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care.
Crisis Support: 🚨 If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feel unsafe, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or feel too overwhelmed to safely use self-directed practices, please pause this material and reach out for immediate support. Contact a licensed mental health professional, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada, or use your local emergency or crisis resources.
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