ABSTRACT
The Introduction to this book highlights how the lived experiences of the contributing chapter authors have informed who they are both as individuals and as psychotherapists. The idea that our own personal history affects the tone and tenor of our presence in the consulting room is a central tenet of relational psychotherapy which promotes paying closer attention to enactments, intersubjectivity and transference–countertransference dynamics. Our early life, as well as seminal events in later years, shape who we are, influencing our choice of theory and technique. The importance of delving into our innermost self, exploring what has remained unspoken and undisclosed, can help the therapist avoid favouring interventions that can too easily lead to either a repetition of our own pasts or a defence against experiencing that repetition. Being in touch with what is usually hidden from sight – initially, from our own view as well – is essential if we are to embrace our humanity and that of our clients.
