This volume investigates the foundational principles and clinical applications of self psychology as a distinct school of psychoanalytic thought. Arnold I. Goldberg, a prominent figure in the field, compiles research and clinical observations to refine the theoretical framework established by Heinz Kohut. The text argues for the necessity of integrating the patient's subjective experience into the diagnostic and therapeutic process, moving beyond traditional drive-based models.

Experts recognize this volume as a foundational text for clinicians seeking to understand the formalization of self psychology. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for practitioners and students of psychoanalytic theory.