Philosophy's traditional concerns with the nature of knowledge, good conduct and the self cannot be ignored by psychotherapists, while the growth of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis have had a profound impact on philosophy.

The essays in the books cover topics central to both psychotherapy and philosophy such as the nature of the self, motivation and subjectivity; the limits of certainty and objectivity in interpersonal situations; and the scope of narrative, dialogue and of therapy itself. Contributions draw on a wide range of different philosophical approaches and examine how they can deepen our understanding of the processes involved in different types of psychotherapy in a wide range of clinical settings.