Well, if you listen to them.
In today’s modern hectic world, many people suffer from difficulty sleeping. There is much focus on “sleep hygiene” in order to improve sleep quality. What is often less discussed is the importance of dreaming. Many substances that people take to help them sleep, such as sleeping pills , alcohol, cannabis, and many common medications actually tend to suppress dreams.
There is no consensus in the academic community on the role of dreams. It is clear today, though, that dreams are not just random firing of neurons as we sleep. Many, or even most cultures recognized the importance of dreams and often seek to understand the message and the guidance contained in them. In our highly driven western culture, sleep and the dreaming that goes with it, are often viewed as a necessary waste of precious time in service of alert wakefulness. We forgot to listen to our dreams.
Many researchers view dreams as a way that we process our daytime experiences. Dreaming is often viewed as a healing process, where our deepest concerns are worked through. Sometimes in individuals with PTSD this mechanism may go into overdrive. The nightmares brought on by the trauma may make people fearful of falling asleep. In therapy there are methods to assist with this problem. People can learn lucid dreaming. They gain some control over their dreams, as paradoxical as it sounds. They learn to change their nightmares inro something else.
In therapy dreams may be used as a window into parts of ourselves that we are less conscious of. Because dreaming is a less tightly controlled form of thought, the dream may become a creative synthesis that can help us find a way forward in life. This message from our deeper consciousness may be somewhat cryptic but with thought and care the meaning may be unraveled. A trained therapist can assist you in this journey. Dreams can help you in the process of healing, personal growth and transformation.
Dreamwork enables individuals to access parts of themselves that may be hidden or suppressed, providing a platform for exploring unresolved emotions, traumas, fears, and desires. By engaging with dreams, clients can gain valuable insights, increase self-awareness, and develop a deeper understanding of their inner world.
Dream work can take various forms within psychotherapy. Therapists usually encourage clients to keep dream journals, recording their dreams upon awakening. This practice helps individuals establish a stronger connection with their dreams and enhances their ability to recall and analyze dream content. Sharing dreams in therapy sessions allows therapists and clients to collaboratively explore dream symbols, patterns, and themes, fostering a deeper understanding of the client’s psyche.
Interpreting dreams requires a delicate balance between objective analysis and subjective exploration. While there are universal symbols and archetypes, the meaning of dreams is highly personal and unique to the dreamer.
Dream work can also involve techniques such as active imagination, where clients engage in a dialogue with dream figures or symbols, allowing for a deeper exploration of their significance. Creative methods like drawing, painting, or sculpting dream images can provide additional channels for self-expression and insight.
The benefits of dream work in psychotherapy are numerous. It can help individuals gain clarity and perspective on their life challenges, uncover unconscious patterns that may be holding them back, and facilitate the integration of conflicting aspects of their personality. Dream work can also be a powerful tool in trauma therapy, allowing for the gradual processing and resolution of traumatic experiences in a safe and controlled environment.
Based mostly on Rubin Naiman presentation on dreams at IASD conference and his book “Healing Night”.
