Why is working with dreams important, and how will it help me?

Our dreams offer a rich opportunity to explore our personal stories in a way that is unclouded by the distractions and agendas of our waking mind.  Complex, cinematic productions that describe our deepest personal truths play themselves out as we sleep. Pictured in symbolic language and produced by the creative part of us that represents the messages of the Whole Self, dreams are perhaps the most potent resource material we have for the work of healing, self-regulation, and cultivating meaning in our lives. 

Here are some key points describing different ways Dream Therapy can help you on your journey:

1. Self-Discovery and Personal Growth

• Access to the Unconscious: Dreams provide a direct line to the unconscious mind, revealing hidden thoughts, feelings, and desires that we might not be aware of in our waking life.

• Integration of the Psyche: Through dreamwork, individuals can integrate different parts of their psyche, leading to greater self-awareness and a more balanced personality. This process is central to what Carl Jung described as the process of “individuation.”

2. Problem Solving and Insight

• Creative Solutions: Dreams often present solutions to problems or new perspectives that the conscious mind hasn’t considered.

• Emotional Insights: Dreams can highlight emotional issues or conflicts that need to be addressed, offering a deeper understanding of personal struggles.

3. Emotional Healing

• Processing Trauma: Dreams can help process and heal past traumas by bringing them to the surface in a symbolic form, allowing for emotional release and understanding.

• Stress Relief: By working through difficult emotions in dreams, individuals can reduce stress and anxiety in their waking life.

4. Spiritual Growth

• Connection to the Divine: Jung believed that dreams could connect us to a deeper spiritual reality, offering insights that transcend ordinary consciousness.

• Exploring Archetypes: Engaging with archetypal symbols in dreams can lead to profound spiritual and existential understanding.

5. Improving Relationships

• Understanding Others: By exploring dreams, individuals can gain insights into their relationships with others, understanding dynamics and patterns that may not be apparent while awake.

• Healing Relationships: Dreamwork can reveal underlying issues in relationships, allowing for healing and improved communication.

6. Enhancing Creativity

• Inspiration: Dreams can be a rich source of inspiration for artists, writers, and creators, offering vivid images and unique ideas.

• Innovative Thinking: Engaging with dream content can enhance creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

7. Balancing the Psyche

• Shadow Integration: Dreams often bring up shadow aspects of the self—parts that are repressed or denied. Integrating these aspects can lead to a more harmonious and whole personality.

• Persona Examination: Dreams can help individuals understand the masks they wear in daily life and how these personas affect their behavior and interactions.

Practical Example

Imagine someone frequently dreams about being chased by a shadowy figure. Through dreamwork, they might discover that this figure represents their fear of failure. By engaging with this dream symbol, they can begin to understand and confront this fear, leading to personal growth and reduced anxiety.

How Does Dream Therapy work?

When we first begin working together, I’ll ask you to begin to pay particular and close attention to your dreams, and record as many details as you can remember. Then, when we are in session, I’ll ask you to describe any recent dreams that feel significant to you. From there, we will begin to explore one or more dreams from a symbolic standpoint, looking for clues and connections that are meaningful for you.  When you experience that “Aha!” moment, we’ll know that we’ve come upon an interpretation of your dream imagery that points the way towards a useful and expansive understanding of your own experience.  

Once you’ve found some clarity around the dream’s meaning, I’ll encourage you to follow through with a relevant “active imagination” process, wherein you can embody and enact the takeaways of the dream. This can take place in any number of creative ways, such as through art-making of any kind, or a positive personal ritual of your own design.