What Kinds of Questions do experianced clinicians ask theselves when meeting a new client the first time? what are the main issues that must be explored to gain a basic grasp of each individual's unique psychology? How can clinical expertise be thought? This invaluable book shows that while seasoned practitioners rely upon established diagnostic categories for record-keeping and insurance purposes, their actual clinical concepts and practice reflect more inferential, subjective, and intuitive processes. From the authors of the landmark text Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, the volume takes clinicians step by step through developing a dynamic case formulation and using this information to guide and inform treatment decisions. Synthesizing extensive clinical literature, diverse psychoanalytic viewpoints, and empirical research in psychology and psychiattry, Nancy Mc Williams does more than simply bring assesment to life - she illuminates the entire psychotherapeutic process.