Dreamwork

Why Dreams?

Freud called dreams the “royal road to the Unconscious.” Dreams and dreamwork had tremendous significance to the development of psychoanalytic practice, and of course to its analytical offshoot vis-a-vis Carl Jung. But Fred’s Interpretation of dreams was published in 1899 (1). That is a long time ago! The larger field and practice psychotherapy has changed a lot since then - even Freud’s theory evolved much since that book was originally published. Are dreams still relevant in the context of therapy?

Dreamwork & Therapy

I admit I don’t really care as much about the science of dreaming as a way to explain its usefulness. I am more interested in the subjective and cultural experience of dreams as a way of relating to their role in our lives. That being said, there have been many modern scientific and clinical studies on the process of dreaming which give us insight into its role in our lives and into the therapeutic process of dreamwork.

Eudell-Simmons and Hillsenroth (2005, 2) reviewed clinical literature on dreamwork and found that dreams can be an excellent form of information, including information that the client may be hesitant to reveal about themselves otherwise. They discovered that dreams can be an indicator of progress in therapy and that dreamwork is at least as effective as other forms of therapy. Spangler & Hill (2015, 3) reported that dreamwork was correlated with significant improvement in client’s experience of the quality of therapy sessions, insight, and interestingly with ideas for ways to take action and for problem solving. Forms of dreamwork have also been found in several large clinical trials to reduce PTSD symptoms including nightmares (Krakow et. al, 2001, 4). According to Ellis “Dreams are honest and direct us to the heart of matters, so can make the process of therapy richer, deeper and more efficient (2020, 5).

The Science Behind Dreaming

The science behind dreaming focuses on the intricate workings of the human brain during sleep. Dreams primarily occur during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep, a phase characterized by heightened brain activity and vivid imagery. Neuroscientists have discovered that during REM sleep, the brain processes emotions, consolidates memories, and integrates new information with existing knowledge (Maliowski, 2021, 6). This stage is crucial for cognitive functions such as learning and problem-solving. Additionally, studies have shown that the amygdala, the brain's emotional center, is highly active during dreaming, which could explain why dreams often evoke strong emotions (Blake, et. al, 2019, 7) . Understanding the science behind dreaming not only sheds light on the complexities of the human mind but also underscores the importance of sleep for overall mental health and well-being.

Dream Therapy with Dr. Scott

Dr. Scott specializes in integrating dreamwork into therapeutic practice. He is a convert to experiential dreamwork methodology, and focuses on helping clients re-enter their dreams in order to develop embodied insight into their emotional lives. He has studied dreams through his own dreamwork in therapeutic process and through taking courses on dreams including a year long Embodied Experiential Dreamwork training with Dr. Leslie Ellis. Dr. Scott offers dreamwork for individuals and Dream Groups for those who want to experience the power of dreams in group process.

References

(1) Freud, S. (1899). Interpretation of dreams.

(2) Eudell-Simmons, E. M. & Hilsenroth, M. J. (2005). A review of empirical research supporting four conceptual uses of dreams in psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 12(4), 255–269.

(3) Spangler, P. T., & Hill, C. E. (2015). The Hill Cognitive-Experiential Model: an integrative approach to working with dreams. In M. Kramer and M. Glucksman, Eds.,Dream research: Contributions to clinical practice. New York: Routledge.

(4) Krakow, B., Hollifield, M., Johnston L., Koss, M., Schrader, R., Warner, T. D. … (2001). Imagery rehearsal therapy for chronic nightmares in sexual assault survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 286(5), 537–545.

(5). Ellis, L (2020). A clinician’s guide to dream therapy: Implementing simple and effective dreamwork. New York, NY: Routledge.

(6). Malinowski, J. The psychology of dreaming. New York, NY: Routledge.

(7) Blake Y, Terburg D, Balchin R, van Honk J, Solms M. The role of the basolateral amygdala in dreaming. Cortex. 2019 Apr;113:169-183. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.12.016. Epub 2018 Dec 25. PMID: 30660955.