'This book is a privilege to read: practical and accessible, and so intriguing, moving and vivid that it will be a page-turner for both experienced professionals and those considering starting any career relating to mental health. The writing is very clear, and shines with an approach to the suffering patient from which any of us could benefit, combining humanity and respect with a subtle awareness of the underlying meanings, purposes and true costs of distress.' - Professor Mary Target PhD, UCL and the Anna Freud Centre'Hobson and colleagues bring a novel approach to a familiar conundrum: how to identify those who can benefit from psychoanalytic psychotherapy, while remaining true to the idiographic nature of our discipline. Combining vivid and moving clinical examples with the wisdom of a world-class researcher, Hobson leads us through the 'minute particulars' of the initial therapeutic encounter, the eliciting and interpretation of transference, to 'the crunch' - the exhilarating and painful moment of choice at which a psychoanalytic journey begins. This remarkable volume is a must for all psychoanalytically minded clinicians, student or experienced, in public or private settings.'- Professor Jeremy Holmes MD FRCPsych University of Exeter UK'A valuable and impressive study of the role of psychoanalytically informed consultations within the National Health Service. The authors offer vivid illustrations of the value of psychoanalytical thinking and understanding in their encounters with patients at the Tavistock Clinic. They also demonstrate the importance of working within a group of colleagues who share certain basic theoretical assumptions, and who, at the same time respect each others' differences.

This framework facilitates thinking and working on the fascinating, and challenging task of engaging in a meaningful, truthful and constructive way with patients.'- Michael Feldman - Psychoanalyst, previously Consultant Psychotherapist, Maudsley HospitalContributors:David Bell, Ruth Berkowitz, Antony Garelick, R. Peter Hobson, Raman Kapur, Birgit Kleeberg, Karlen Lyons-Ruth, Jane Milton, Matthew Patrick, Joanne Stubley.