Semrad: The Heart of a Therapist

For the past half-century, Harvard-trained psychiatrists who learned their art and skill from a genius have quoted his wisdom in their work with patients and in teaching others the practice of psychotherapy. Here is the unique and heralded collection of remarks by this extraordinary teacher, Dr. Elvin Semrad, originally recorded by Susan Rako and Harvey Mazer during residency-training at Harvard’s Massachusetts Mental Health Center in the 1960’s.

For the past half-century, Harvard-trained psychiatrists who learned their art and skill from a genius have quoted his wisdom in their work with patients and in teaching others the practice of psychotherapy. Here is the unique and heralded collection of remarks by this extraordinary teacher, Dr. Elvin Semrad, originally recorded by Susan Rako and Harvey Mazer during residency-training at Harvard’s Massachusetts Mental Health Center in the 1960’s.

Susan Rako practices psychiatry in Newton, Massachusetts. She is the author of several books, including the memoir, That’s How the Light Gets In: Memoir of a Psychiatrist, which details Dr. Rako’s experience in training with Dr. Elvin Semrad, as well as the ways in which she has incorporated Dr. Semrad’s teaching in the living of her life. Harvey Mazer has an office in Harvard Square. He practices psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology. He is basically an optimist, and believes that someday the Boston Red Sox once again will win the World Series.