It Takes Two to Know One: The Therapy Relationship and Unconscious Dialogues(Relational Perspectives Book Series)

This book explores the nature of relational psychoanalysis in clinical practice, drawing on the author’s over four decades of clinical experience as a first-generation relational psychoanalyst and many of his foundational papers written over the past 25 years.

Bass’s book demonstrates the depth, scope, and healing power of mutual transformation for patient and analyst within an elastic and flexible analytic frame. Patient and analyst demonstrably co-create the psychotherapeutic space, situation, structure, and experience, and together, promote mutual growth and healing. Drawing on the revolutionary work of Sándor Ferenczi, this book expands our understanding of therapy as a “dialogue of unconsciousness,” revealing the ways in which the bi-directional currents of unconscious communication may be creatively utilized as an essential therapeutic tool. It sheds light on the conditions and approaches best suited for actualizing a flexible, contextual, creative use of the therapist's self in therapy, establishing an ever-deepening foundation for therapeutic work.

With illuminating case studies and accessible language, this book is a must-read for psychotherapists practicing a wide range of dynamically informed approaches and for anyone interested in learning about new developments in therapy as it is practiced today.

1. It Takes Two to Know One: Mutual Relations at the Heart of Therapeutic Action 2. Whose Unconscious Is It, Anyway 3. When the Frame Doesn't Fit the Picture 4. One Frame, Many Framers: Bromberg, Gabbard and Me. 5. "E" Enactments in Psychoanalysis: Another Medium, Another Message 6.Mutual Analysis, the Dialogues of the Unconscious, and the Uses of the Self 7. The Ordinary Uncanniness of Psychoanalytic Life 8. Unmasked: Personal Transformations, Frame Alterations and Making the Conscious Unconscious in the Traumatic Times of the COVID Pandemic 9. Imagining Psychoanalysis: I’s Wide Open – Imagination, Seeing, and Change 10. It Ain't Over Till It's Over: Infinite Conversations, Imperfect Endings and the Elusive Nature of Termination 11. The Longest Goodbyes: Analysis Everlasting 12. I Am Home

Anthony L. Bass, Ph.D. is an associate professor and clinical consultant at the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. He is teaching faculty, training and supervising analyst at the Columbia Psychoanalytic Institute. He is currently the president of the Stephen Mitchell Relational Study Center and a founding director and board member of IARPP (The International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis). He is also an editor emeritus of the international journal Psychoanalytic Dialogues and serves on the board of the Sandor Ferenczi Center at the New School, NYC. He lectures and teaches workshops and seminars on his work and the work of Sandor Ferenczi all over the world.

'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

'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)

'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

'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