The qualities and deficiencies of teacher training are currently the focus of public and disciplinary debates. In this context, Friedrich Ewert examines the already well-established concept of Theme-Centered Interaction (TCI) regarding its broader application in schools and universities to further develop the pedagogical professionalism of educators. TCI, a method of group work based on the ideas of psychoanalysis and humanistic psychology, proves to be an important component of a holistic pedagogy that perceives and promotes learners in all aspects of their personality beyond just the transmission of subject knowledge. The biographically oriented interviews underlying the study also provide insight into the professional actions of teachers who successfully work with TCI in various contexts.