Present
It Takes Two to Know One
A Book Talk with Anthony Bass, PhD
in conversation with Ali Shames-Dawson, PhD
Join us to celebrate the publication of Anthony Bass’s book: It Takes Two To Know One: The Therapy Relationship and Unconscious Dialogues. Framed as an intimate dialogue, this one-hour virtual book talk will explore the ideas at the heart of It Takes Two to Know One, most notably  the author’s development of Ferenczi’s idea of a “dialogue of unconsciousness,” the essential mutuality of the psychoanalytic relationship, and the possibilities for mutual transformation within a flexible analytic frame.

Friday
November 6th, 2026
1:00 to 2:00 PM, Eastern Time
Online via Zoom
Registration HERE
A free event
For students and practitioners of all levels
About the book

It Takes Two to Know One demonstrates the depth, scope, and healing power of mutual transformation for patient and analyst within an elastic and flexible analytic frame. Patient and analyst demonstrably co-create the psychotherapeutic space, situation, structure, and experience, and together, promote mutual growth and healing. Drawing on the revolutionary work of Sándor Ferenczi, this book expands our understanding of therapy as “dialogue of unconsciousness,” revealing the ways in which the bi-directional currents of unconscious communication may be creatively utilized as an essential therapeutic tool. It sheds light on the conditions and approaches best suited for actualizing a flexible, contextual, creative use of the therapist’s self in therapy, establishing an ever-deepening foundation for therapeutic work.

* * *

“I have been a great admirer of Tony Bass’ writings for many years, and am delighted to be able to give this book a whole-hearted endorsement. Dr. Bass is a distinguished senior representative of the relational perspective in psychoanalysis. His writing is witty, lucid, and backed by solid scholarship. In our current state of clinical and theoretical fragmentation, Bass spells out clearly the nuanced mutuality that defines the interpersonal/relational perspective and underlies its therapeutic effort. Bass seeks to be a seeker, not a savior and this humility and respect for the patient permeates his work. This magisterial book deserves to be a classic and a guide for future psychoanalytic endeavor. I recommend it highly for everyone in or out of our field.”
Edgar Levenson, MD, author of The Fallacy of Understanding