This book would not exist were it not for the belief, handed down to me by
my parents, that what one chooses for work must be something one cares
deeply about. Conversations over many years with my father, Marvin Becker,
have been encouraging and enlightening. He is a scholar whose methods of
disciplined study, whose intellectual fearlessness, and whose passion for ideas
have always inspired me.

I have become a better thinker about women's problems because I have
worked hard to understand my own journey, and because my clients have
permitted me to understand theirs. My clients, supervisees, and students
continue to be instrumental in my learning.

Many others have contributed to this project in ways direct and indirect.
Sharon Lamb is a mentor and friend who has encouraged, cajoled, and ad-
vised me at every turn, and who has provided important criticism of the
manuscript. The interest that Rachel Hare-Mustin has shown in my work
has been a source of great satisfaction, given my tremendous admiration for
her. Jeanne Marecek gave valuable time to go over the entire manuscript with
me, and her suggestions were right on the mark. These are just a few of the
feminist thinkers whose work has influenced me profoundly.

I have been lucky to have had wonderful mentor-friends who have helped
me to learn to take myself and my ideas seriously. Sally Russo, as a person, a
therapist, and a teacher, has had an enormous impact on my way of feeling
and thinking. Rose Schneiderman has always been helpful, interested, and
interesting; so has John Steidl.

Howard Liddle has helped me become both a better therapist and a more
careful thinker about the process of therapy. The agility of his mind, his con-
fidence in me, and his generosity in providing me with fascinating work over
the past five years are greatly appreciated. I have also learned much from my
colleagues at the Center for Research on Adolescent Drug Abuse at Temple
University.

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