What is Dream Analysis?
Smart Therapy’s approach to working with dreams in order to improve mental health is based on two core principles from the psychodynamic and depth therapy tradition:
1. We have an Unconscious (a.k.a., “the subconscious”), and “making conscious what is unconscious” can relieve symptoms of mental health conditions, from anxiety and depression to trauma or relationship issues.
2. Dreams contain an abundance of material from the Unconscious that can give us insight into our feelings, needs, and experiences, as well as point to personal strengths and internal resources we can turn to when facing difficulties.
Dream work requires you to bring a dream to the session, so we can work together to explore the deeper meanings in its content.
What Does Dream Analysis Treat?
Research has suggested that dream work can help with mental health issues such as:
- Childhood trauma
- Relationship issues
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dissociation
- Conflict and defensiveness
- Family-of-origin issues
- Severe trauma
What are the results of Dream Analysis?
Dream exploration with a therapist can deepen your connection with sources of personal meaning. It can help you:
- Increase your self-awareness
- Realize your ability to make self-initiated decisions
- Decrease feelings of helplessness about your current life situation
- Increase insight into yourself and your experiences