The author states that the current pessimistic impression of the
potential of psychoanalysis as a therapy is largely due to the inclusion of
a disproportionate number of inexperienced analysts in reports on groups of
practitioners. To correct this bias, he summarizes his own experience of
two decades as a full-time psychoanalyst, describing his successful
analyses as well as his unsuccessful attempts. He concludes that the
satisfaction of commitment to a psychoanalytic career comes from the fact
that it confirms the usefulness of the analytic method as a means to assist
others to achieve personal growth and to illuminate human mental life.Abstract Teaser