This book examines the tension, caused by the conflict between poise and catastrophe, in the therapeutic relationship. It emphasizes positive contributions to growth of self made by seemingly pathological or disruptive movements within the therapy situation.

Introduction -- Introductory Notes -- Abstinence and the Schizoid Ego -- Psychopathy and Individuation -- The Recoil on Having Another Person -- Working with “Unwanted” Patients -- Breathing and Identity -- The Significance of the Face -- Instinctual Fantasy and Ideal Images -- Creativity, Instinctual Fantasy, and Ideal Images -- Ideal Images, Creativity, and the Freudian Drama -- Soft and Hard Qualities -- The Area of Faith in Winnicott, Lacan, and Bion -- Guntrip’s Analysis with Winnicott -- Breaking the Frame: Stopping the World -- Dual Union or Undifferentiation? -- The Structure of Freud’s Theory of Creativity -- Demonized Aspects of the Self -- Between Catastrophe and Faith -- Omnipotence -- Mindlessness-Selflessness -- Omniscience -- Afterword -- Credits