Paul Valent, retired medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and traumatologist, describes the struggles and discoveries in his varied four-decade career. Each chapter offers a glimpse into the psychotherapeutic encounter, from the author's field work with survivors of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, to the private challenges of unearthing childhood trauma in a sexoffender. Through the fascinating stories of his work with patients and the examination of his own life story as a Holocaust survivor, Valent articulates and grapples with ubiquitous human issues such as morality, trauma, illness and death.