To describe the role of the consultant psychotherapist in the mental health services, we must start from the situation in regard to psychotherapeutic needs in the community and the kinds of resources that can be mobilized to meet them. I should make it clear that when referring to consultant psychotherapists in the psychotherapeutic clinic I assume that optimally these specialists would be part of a comprehensive psychiatric service. For convenience I shall use the term “psychotherapeutic centre” to allow for the location of the psychotherapeutic services to vary according to circumstances in any one area. Also, although I shall speak often of the psychotherapist as though his was a rather separate contribution, I want to stress that this is partly a reflection of the present situation. Much of what I have to say about his role must become increasingly a part of the work of all psychiatrists.