This paper describes my experience reading Horney's (1942) Self-Analysis which when published more than 80 years ago, was innovative in introducing a path of self-help that has largely remained unexplored. Even today, it might still be considered controversial among the various psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic perspectives.

After presenting some background on Horney I describe her principal ideas on self-analysis as expressed in her book, how it was reviewed, and its relevance to current psychotherapeutic practice. I will end with a clinical vignette and a personal reflection.