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Neutrality, anonymity and abstinence are three important aspects of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This paper examines the varying ideas inherent in these principles with particular reference to the influence upon the therapeutic process of extraordinary situations in the lives of therapists: a serious, life threatening illness and a notorious situation. Treatment dilemmas, problems of transference and countertransference are illustrated by case studies. The discussion reiterates the importance of neutrality in the psychotherapeutic encounter, with guidelines for therapeutic interventions.