'This wonderfully readable collection of some of Tony Bass’s key papers and essays, gathered together in one volume, conveys above all, to me, Bass’s sensitivity, compassion and profound humanity. Every sentence seeks and responds to the other, without a shred of jargon. Bass’s emphasis on mutuality – how it grew in him and developed into a credo for a new perspective on the psychoanalytic relationship – reveals a lifelong search for freedom of thought and communication without sentimentality or reification of theory. His capacity to listen in the clinical setting is remarkable and puts me in mind of another credo - E.M. Forster’s ‘Only connect’. This book will enrich the minds and hearts of beginners and seasoned clinicians alike, or anyone seeking to discover how good psychoanalysis works.'Paul Williams, psychoanalyst and author'Not all wonderful writers are brilliant teachers. Tony Bass is both. His thinking about the analytic relationship, which is the focus of every single chapter in this marvelous book, is never anything less than fully vital and alive. The writing is deeply felt, fresh, continuously astute, lucid, and gripping. The nature of Bass’s psychoanalytic work comes across in living color. The book is highly readable. You will remember it. It will make a difference in your work. I know, because Bass’s thinking has made a difference in mine. I can think of no more fitting an accolade for this stellar volume than this: Bass is the most important clinical and intellectual heir of Ferenczi writing today.'Donnel Stern, Ph.D., author of On Coming into Possession of Oneself (2024)'I have been a great admirer of Tony Bass’ writings for many years, and am delighted to be able to give this book a whole-hearted endorsement. Dr. Bass is a distinguished senior representative of the relational perspective in psychoanalysis. His writing is witty, lucid, and backed by solid scholarship. In our current state of clinical and theoretical fragmentation, Bass spells out clearly the nuanced mutuality that defines the interpersonal/relational perspective and underlies its therapeutic effort. Bass seeks to be a seeker, not a savior and this humility and respect for the patient permeates his work. This magisterial book deserves to be a classic and a guide for future psychoanalytic endeavor. I recommend it highly for everyone in or out of our field.'Edgar Levenson, MD, author of The Fallacy of Understanding'Tony Bass’s stellar collection of essays contained in his book “It Takes Two to Understand One-Unconscious Dialogues in the Therapy Relationship”” is a truly outstanding contribution to our field. The title of his book offers an exquisite portal into Bass’ long established and highly valued thinking and clinical approach where mutuality, unconscious communication and compassion are underscored and demonstrated. Each of the papers is a clinical masterpiece in itself and each takes us to the very heart of relational psychoanalysis where the relationship is not only central to the clinical endeavour but to therapeutic action itself. Beautifully written, deftly and sensitively crafted, Bass brings each clinical moment vividly to life with a compelling sense of immediacy and engagement and in his own unique way.While profoundly steeped in theory, his focused embrace of clinical experiences throughout the book, invites the reader to immerse themselves in the complexity of the relational analytic process, where each member of the dyad is continuously shaping and enriching the other in the pursuit of greater meaning and connection.I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a must read for everyone in the field and promises to be an ongoing and inspiring reference text for beginners and seasoned clinicians alike, both within and beyond the Relational canon.'Hazel Ipp, PhD, Chief Editor Emeritus, Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Founding Director and Past President: IARPP
