What advice can they give to younger therapists about the perils of psychotherapy? In this, the first study of how the developmental issues of mid-life and beyond affect the lives and practices of psychotherapists, 64 highly experienced practitioners address these questions and many more.

Speaking candidly of their own satisfactions, as well as their disillusionments, they reveal the challenges of practicing psychotherapy in a fast-paced, increasingly complex world. Dr. Goldberg draws upon his own three decades of experience as a psychotherapist and new theories of adult development to distill the wisdom of these therapists' reports. In analyzing the results from questionnaires completed by over fifty senior therapists and interviews with twelve master practitioners, he identifies the salient themes for psychotherapists in mid-life and beyond. From this empirical base he develops an existential, dialectical theory of human development. Most of the seasoned psychotherapists interviewed by Dr. Goldberg felt that they had triumphed over adversity at some point in their lives. Having come through the dark wood to the top of the mountain, they offer essential guidance to other therapists on how to keep one's practice vital and to deal with the various perils of psychotherapy.