Part history, part review of theory, part casebook, this masterful work will long stand as the definitive text on object relations and its role in mental health and mental illness. An invaluable contribution to our understanding of the theory and its use in clinical practice, Object Relations Individual Therapy is one of those rare finds-a volume that belongs in every practitioner's library. -- Theodore J. Jacobs, M.D., New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute
Arguably the finest contemporary teachers of object relations theory, Drs. Jill and David Scharff have put their teaching in writing in what must certainly be the most comprehensive text to date. It is thoughtfully organized and strikes a fine balance between theory and practice; readers can trust the Scharffs' accounts of others' work. Perhaps the heart of the book is a chapter on chaos theory and 'fractals'-yep, fractals-that is deeply interesting and suggestive. The book's unparalleled accomplishment, however, lies in the quality of the clinical writing, especially in these authors' accounts of their own passing states of mind-or countertransferences-in work with their patients. A truly fine book. -- Christopher Bollas, PhD, British Psychoanalytical Society
