The Presence of the Therapist uses clinical studies based on the author's publications over the past 18 years to illustrate work with severely deprived and disturbed children. The intricacies of the 'present' relationship and the impact of the therapist's personality on the therapeutic encounter is explored as a strand of the total therapeutic relationship, alongside the transference relationship, and the wise work with the network of adults, which together bring about the transition and change in the patient.