There are several individuals who helped me in the formulation, thinking through and the writing
of this book. First, let me express my appreciation and love for the most supportive person in
my life, my wife, Eileen, who offered, as she always has, astute feedback and encouragement at
every step of the journey.
Colleagues who were of inestimable assistance included the late Dr Herb Goldberg, Dr Bruce
Burnett and my long time friend and collaborator, Dr Bernie O’Brien, as well as Dr Esther
Urdang and Dr Paul Kline.
The ideas in this book were germinating over the years and my primary place of employment,
Boston College, provided the context in which they could develop. I especially want to
acknowledge the Graduate School of Social Work and the Department of Counseling,
Developmental and Educational Psychology.
I also want to acknowledge the following professional journals in which many of ideas in this
book were originally published. These article provided a basis for some chapters, notably those
on the biopsychosocial framework of the self, the importance of psychological intimacy in
meaningful adult relationships, couples therapy and the significance of personal therapy to the
professional self of a psychotherapist. The journals included Clinical Social Work, Sex Roles,
The Psychotherapy Patient and Psychotherapy: Theory/Research/Practice/Training.
Individuals at Bentham who were most helpful were Sara Moqeet who guided me through the
initial stages of the process of preparing a proposed book for publication and Bushra Siddiqui who
offered valuable help in seeing the proposal become a book.
