A reader writes:

I notice that there were blog entries about both the Inner Champion and the Inner Mentor.

I had thought that the Inner Champion was just a new name for “Bonnie’s” Inner Mentor but from what I understand now they are two separate parts. The Inner Mentor is the Inner Critics POSITIVE helpful role to guide us when needed.

AND because I had just read that….

Today when being the therapist for my IFS partner, I recognized her Inner Critic Part who was becoming much more of a Mentor and could suggest the new role for the Inner Mentor.  This was completely appreciated by all the involved parts as well as my partner’s SELF. (At the end I let her know where I had “come up” with the idea of the new role.)

Jay responds:

You are right that the Inner Champion is our new name for what Bonnie used to call the Inner Mentor. But since then we realized that there are two different functions that these supportive parts can provide, so we now call them by two different names. Your Inner Champion supports you in feeling good about yourself and moving ahead in your life. Your Inner Mentor helps you to see where you can improve yourself. This will be explained in more detail in our upcoming book on the Inner Critic.