The authors offer eight guiding principles that summarize what is known about the healing nature of the therapeutic relationship, revealing specifically how these principles can be applied to individual therapy sessions - from first contact to closure - to optimize the relationship as a dynamic healing agent or recognize when and why it sometimes fails.

They show, for example, how the relationship can be an indispensable tool as a diagnostic aid, as a springboard for social change, or as a basis for a personal support system.