The phase of initial contact between patient and psychotherapist is a unique, irreplaceable moment that provides valuable insights into the unconscious. While the initial interview and follow-up conversations are part of the everyday work of psychotherapists, the literature on this topic is not particularly extensive. In practice, it becomes evident that psychotherapists are often insufficiently informed about their patients' life stories. This book helps to bridge such gaps by providing a structured guide to psychodynamic history-taking, diagnostics, indication setting, and therapy planning.