For beginners, advanced practitioners, and experienced therapists. Even with the first edition, this book has become a "must-have" for all candidates in training and continuing education, and it serves as a reference work for experienced psychotherapists to look up and refresh their knowledge. Accordingly, the second edition builds on the proven structure, combined with important additions and updates that you should be aware of. The range covers everything from classical psychoanalytic concepts to current neurobiological approaches. It includes illustrative case examples from therapeutic practice and practical summaries. The thematic spectrum extends from the key concepts of classical psychoanalysis to modern approaches such as findings from infant research, neurobiology, and current therapeutic methods like transference-focused psychotherapy.