This talk helps clinicians to recognise and avoid common mistakes that therapists make in the consulting room. It gives ideas about how to improve the outcome of your clinical work. The theoretical framework of this talk is broadly psychoanalytic. The importance of the transference and what really makes therapy work are discussed in some detail. The paternal function is explored, particularly in relation to child and family work. The talk goes on to illustrate what often goes wrong in the therapy process and it gives suggestions about how to preserve yourself as a clinician. This talk aims to get the clinician thinking about how to provide a therapeutic intervention that is most beneficial to his or her patients.