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Permit me first of all to express my deep appreciation to The Academy of Psychoanalysis for conferring on me the Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Award and for the privilege of thus paying tribute to the memory of Frieda, who played such an important role in my life. I also want to thank the President of The Academy, my friend Silvano Arieti, for a most generous introduction. While one expects on such occasions the introduction to be flattering, what my friend Silvano has said far exceeded my expectations, and was very moving. Silvano's warmth, humor, charm, generosity and praise have heightened my feeling that this is for me a great honor and a special occasion. I even feel somewhat embarrassed, and have to reconcile myself to the possibility of disappointing you.
It is not always the case, when an award is given to honor the memory of an outstanding individual, that the recipient has had the privilege I had of knowing Frieda as a teacher and intimate friend. She was instrumental in my becoming an analyst, and also served as my supervisor. In retrospect, I recognize that our meeting in 1948 took place at the crossroads of our destinies: Frieda was nearing the end of her activities, while I was embarking on a new, meaningful venture which actually changed the direction of my life, and was just making the U.S.A. my home.
A friend of mine remarked that one should start writing memoirs when one is beginning to forget. I now find myself at the point when my memory is less reliable than it used to be. I feel like indulging today in some reminiscences about the period when I started my work of intensive psychotherapy with schizophrenics.
I wish I could convey to you the extraordinary atmosphere