First published in 1998. This is Volume VI of twenty-two in the Sociology of Social Theory and Methodology series. Written in 1964, this is seen as the first study on the teaching of casework skill to be published in this country. conveys vividly the accepted precepts and principles of casework practice and conveys them simply. Throughout she has drawn attention to the inter-related processes of study, diagnosis and treatment, and has laid stress on the importance of understanding the mechanisms of defence, which she rightly considers basic to casework skill.