The Power of Dreams
August 5, 2011 10:16 AM Subscribe
Is dream analysis as a form of therapy common these days? I've been looking for a new therapist. (I love my old one, but I'm moving.) I found one guy who seems pretty great... except I'm a little worried about his claim that he does a lot of dream analysis.
I don't know much about psychology, but I had been under the impression that dream analysis was a bit outdated -- something Freud relied on heavily but modern psychotherapists had moved away from. I thought the general consensus was, "Yeah, dreams are weird. Brains sure do random shit, huh?" Furthermore, that's how I understand dreams: sure, the content of dreams is generally pulled from one's experiences and thoughts, but there isn't any deep symbolism to discern from them.
Am I wrong about this? Is dream analysis still a well-respected form of psychotherapy? Or should I see this as a warning sign that I should find a different therapist?
I don't know much about psychology, but I had been under the impression that dream analysis was a bit outdated -- something Freud relied on heavily but modern psychotherapists had moved away from. I thought the general consensus was, "Yeah, dreams are weird. Brains sure do random shit, huh?" Furthermore, that's how I understand dreams: sure, the content of dreams is generally pulled from one's experiences and thoughts, but there isn't any deep symbolism to discern from them.
Am I wrong about this? Is dream analysis still a well-respected form of psychotherapy? Or should I see this as a warning sign that I should find a different therapist?
I think it depends. If you feel weird about it, I would look for another therapist that is more comfortable to you.
On the other hand, if you like the rest of him, it can't hurt to go once. I think analyzing anything, dreams, runes, daily activities, relationships, etc. are all just a catalyst to start an analytical conversation. If it is used that way, it would just be a tool for a jumping off point, and that might be acceptable. If he's super specific and literal with your dreams, that is a whole other thing that might not work as well for you.
posted by Vaike at 10:22 AM on August 5, 2011
On the other hand, if you like the rest of him, it can't hurt to go once. I think analyzing anything, dreams, runes, daily activities, relationships, etc. are all just a catalyst to start an analytical conversation. If it is used that way, it would just be a tool for a jumping off point, and that might be acceptable. If he's super specific and literal with your dreams, that is a whole other thing that might not work as well for you.
posted by Vaike at 10:22 AM on August 5, 2011
If you're interested in working with this therapist but have this concern, why not just ask in your initial meet and greet session? Psychoanalysis is itself considered outdated while CBT is the new hotness, but that doesn't mean there are not highly skilled psychoanalysts in practice or that there are not numerous patients getting benefit from their analysts.
You may find that this therapist uses dreams as a way to help you draw connections and think critically about things, without being all "Ah yes, a yew tree" as Garm says. If he seems like an otherwise good fit, it seems hasty to not even meet with him to, as they say, "explore this issue." It's a perfectly valid thing to ask about and you should.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:26 AM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
You may find that this therapist uses dreams as a way to help you draw connections and think critically about things, without being all "Ah yes, a yew tree" as Garm says. If he seems like an otherwise good fit, it seems hasty to not even meet with him to, as they say, "explore this issue." It's a perfectly valid thing to ask about and you should.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:26 AM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
My shrink once told me that sometimes dreams mean something, and sometimes they don't, and it's pretty hard to figure out which is which. A lot of dream analysis is probably a crapshoot.
posted by Gilbert at 10:30 AM on August 5, 2011
posted by Gilbert at 10:30 AM on August 5, 2011
I've never seen a dream analyst but I used to think dreams were symbolism for something. I come to realize for myself, they're only magnified projections of what I'm already feeling subconsciously. No interpretation needed. Dreams are not representative of you. So, like Garm said, if he explores your feelings in what you're dreaming out, then he's on to something.
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 10:32 AM on August 5, 2011
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 10:32 AM on August 5, 2011
Yeah definitely ask questions. I have talked about dreams with my therapist on occasion but mostly as a way of gauging my attitudes. We both knew there had been a real shift in my way of thinking when I got to the point where I was having dreams where I spoke up, took action and resolved conflicts in mutually agreeable ways.
posted by trunk muffins at 10:49 AM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by trunk muffins at 10:49 AM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
A mental health pro of my acquaintance has made statements that tend to confirm Garm's statement - I would liken them to the ink blots and the discussions that ensue.
posted by randomkeystrike at 10:49 AM on August 5, 2011
posted by randomkeystrike at 10:49 AM on August 5, 2011
Exactly, he's not analyzing your dreams, but rather your thoughts about them.
posted by xammerboy at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2011
posted by xammerboy at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2011
I'm an actual psychoanalyst (but not yours). Back in the old days, theory was that you "had" an "unconscious" which was the real power behind the throne of the ego. Think "shadow government." Dreams were the wikileaks of this government and would be decoded to find out what was really going on in the centers of power. Some people still work this way.
Psychoanalysis has undergone many changes since then, with one of the more significant ones being the distinction between "experience near" and "experience distant." The latter characterized interpretations which resembled a secret code--e.g., famously, a cigar would (or wouldn't) represent a penis. The former were interpretations that felt meaningful to the dreamer, the idea being that dreams, like all thought, were grounded in metaphor and images, and ones choices could give insight into how one thinks and experiences the world in a way that actually made sense to the person being analyzed. Dreams, then, would be more like poems which, rather than being assigned by the teacher, are ones chosen by the dreamer and that choice is significant. E.g. a person whose dreams never had anyone in them but the dreamer would be a very different sort of person from one whose dreams were very populated. Or dreams characterized by rage or fear or submission or embarrassment may not be just random neurons firing but some reflection on how the dreamer experienced themselves in the world.
Personally, I would be suspicious of a therapist who insisted my dreams meant something other than I thought they did, and who considered my skepticism to be resistance, but not because I was sure he/she was wrong, but because I felt I wasn't being listened to.
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:24 AM on August 5, 2011 [4 favorites]
Psychoanalysis has undergone many changes since then, with one of the more significant ones being the distinction between "experience near" and "experience distant." The latter characterized interpretations which resembled a secret code--e.g., famously, a cigar would (or wouldn't) represent a penis. The former were interpretations that felt meaningful to the dreamer, the idea being that dreams, like all thought, were grounded in metaphor and images, and ones choices could give insight into how one thinks and experiences the world in a way that actually made sense to the person being analyzed. Dreams, then, would be more like poems which, rather than being assigned by the teacher, are ones chosen by the dreamer and that choice is significant. E.g. a person whose dreams never had anyone in them but the dreamer would be a very different sort of person from one whose dreams were very populated. Or dreams characterized by rage or fear or submission or embarrassment may not be just random neurons firing but some reflection on how the dreamer experienced themselves in the world.
Personally, I would be suspicious of a therapist who insisted my dreams meant something other than I thought they did, and who considered my skepticism to be resistance, but not because I was sure he/she was wrong, but because I felt I wasn't being listened to.
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:24 AM on August 5, 2011 [4 favorites]
he's not analyzing your dreams, but rather your thoughts about them
combined with this:
The former were interpretations that felt meaningful to the dreamer, the idea being that dreams, like all thought, were grounded in metaphor and images, and ones choices could give insight into how one thinks and experiences the world in a way that actually made sense to the person being analyzed
I agree. I used to be into all those dream interpretation books, dream symbolism, etc, but I don't buy into that stuff anymore because I believe that there is no way someone else can tell me what I'm dreaming means to anyone else. For example, if I dream I'm swimming in the ocean, and another person dreams of swimming in the ocean, it won't mean the same thing for us both. But what I think really matters are the details in the dreams, such as how the water was in the dream (calm, choppy, dark, scary, serene, etc.) and how I noticed I was feeling in the dream (was I feeling stressed, scared even though the water was calm?) The details of what the overall feeling you have during your dream are pretty significant and telling, IMO. But like others have mentioned, if I saw a psychologist about it, I'd presume that they might help me go from there and figure out what it is that I'm stressed or scared about in my waking life, etc., but not literally translate my dream for me - I wouldn't buy into that.
All that said, I usually just find that when I am worrying or anxious about something in waking life, it presents itself in alllll types of ways in freaky dreams. Then I realize "ok, time to deal with the daylight BS for real..." Whatever the case may be at the time.
posted by foxhat10 at 11:56 AM on August 5, 2011
combined with this:
The former were interpretations that felt meaningful to the dreamer, the idea being that dreams, like all thought, were grounded in metaphor and images, and ones choices could give insight into how one thinks and experiences the world in a way that actually made sense to the person being analyzed
I agree. I used to be into all those dream interpretation books, dream symbolism, etc, but I don't buy into that stuff anymore because I believe that there is no way someone else can tell me what I'm dreaming means to anyone else. For example, if I dream I'm swimming in the ocean, and another person dreams of swimming in the ocean, it won't mean the same thing for us both. But what I think really matters are the details in the dreams, such as how the water was in the dream (calm, choppy, dark, scary, serene, etc.) and how I noticed I was feeling in the dream (was I feeling stressed, scared even though the water was calm?) The details of what the overall feeling you have during your dream are pretty significant and telling, IMO. But like others have mentioned, if I saw a psychologist about it, I'd presume that they might help me go from there and figure out what it is that I'm stressed or scared about in my waking life, etc., but not literally translate my dream for me - I wouldn't buy into that.
All that said, I usually just find that when I am worrying or anxious about something in waking life, it presents itself in alllll types of ways in freaky dreams. Then I realize "ok, time to deal with the daylight BS for real..." Whatever the case may be at the time.
posted by foxhat10 at 11:56 AM on August 5, 2011
My nightmares came up a lot in my DBT individual sessions. It was very helpful to talk about what I thought they meant. My therapist never would say "ah, unable to run, unable to scream as something slices you in half! Clearly you're having conflicting feelings about something!!!"
Instead she would ask questions like, "Does that remind you of anything?" or "Was there somebody in your life who did something similar?" or "Why do you think you chose to do x in your dream instead of y?"
So, I'm all for those kinds of conversations about dreams, but lots of people don't remember theirs. Can't analyze them if you don't recall having them. (But, seriously, keep a pen and paper by your bed, tell yourself you'll spend 5 minutes jotting down your dreams as soon as you wake. If I get up and shower before trying to write them down, poof, they're gone.)
posted by bilabial at 12:58 PM on August 5, 2011
Instead she would ask questions like, "Does that remind you of anything?" or "Was there somebody in your life who did something similar?" or "Why do you think you chose to do x in your dream instead of y?"
So, I'm all for those kinds of conversations about dreams, but lots of people don't remember theirs. Can't analyze them if you don't recall having them. (But, seriously, keep a pen and paper by your bed, tell yourself you'll spend 5 minutes jotting down your dreams as soon as you wake. If I get up and shower before trying to write them down, poof, they're gone.)
posted by bilabial at 12:58 PM on August 5, 2011
I have no doubt dreams are doing very important things, but it's not very clear yet what those things might be.
Newborn babies appear to dream about 8 hours a day, but by the time you're 50, that typically falls to less than a single hour.
Presumably, babies are not working on issues in their dreams which therapists could help them with, yet I've had many dreams that have seemed to be addressing problems I was having little success solving--or even recognizing the existence of in my waking hours, and such problems are precisely the purview of therapy.
Curiously, asthmatics seem to have around 3 times as many nightmares as normals or people with obstructive pulmonary disease. Parkinson's disease is also associated with greater frequency of nightmares.
posted by jamjam at 1:11 PM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Newborn babies appear to dream about 8 hours a day, but by the time you're 50, that typically falls to less than a single hour.
Presumably, babies are not working on issues in their dreams which therapists could help them with, yet I've had many dreams that have seemed to be addressing problems I was having little success solving--or even recognizing the existence of in my waking hours, and such problems are precisely the purview of therapy.
Curiously, asthmatics seem to have around 3 times as many nightmares as normals or people with obstructive pulmonary disease. Parkinson's disease is also associated with greater frequency of nightmares.
posted by jamjam at 1:11 PM on August 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't think that an individual dream can tell you everything about your life, but examining themes in your dreams can be indicative of your anxieties and thoughts
posted by radioamy at 1:14 PM on August 5, 2011
posted by radioamy at 1:14 PM on August 5, 2011
Garm pretty much sums it up (although I think they mean 'doesn't say...' in the first sentence.)
I just wrote and deleted a bunch about my own experiences with increasingly lower frequency psychodynamic therapy, because I think bringing up my dreams, which is not a per-meeting occurrence, has helped me (specifically, to develop a more subtle kind of creativity and my ability to empathize and generally see things from other points of view.)
But since that isn't really an answer, what I do want to say is that while my Dr has it listed as a modality on their website, they bring it up rarely - I think, at first, to judge how I'd react to it. In fact, I went to the Dr and said 'Hey, CBT, my anxiety, do you do this?' when we started and they said 'Not my thing.' But they were the best fit overall, and I was willing to explore doing dream analysis, and after a bit of reading on my part - therapist shouldn't be affixing meanings to images or scenes themselves, it is part of an exploration of self, plus 'of all the millions of things you see every day, why did your brain pick that one?', it's now become a small part of what works for us to discuss things in talk therapy. Sometimes it's a good way to introduce problems that are nebulous in normal words. Sometimes it helps look at things another way.
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 1:47 PM on August 5, 2011
I just wrote and deleted a bunch about my own experiences with increasingly lower frequency psychodynamic therapy, because I think bringing up my dreams, which is not a per-meeting occurrence, has helped me (specifically, to develop a more subtle kind of creativity and my ability to empathize and generally see things from other points of view.)
But since that isn't really an answer, what I do want to say is that while my Dr has it listed as a modality on their website, they bring it up rarely - I think, at first, to judge how I'd react to it. In fact, I went to the Dr and said 'Hey, CBT, my anxiety, do you do this?' when we started and they said 'Not my thing.' But they were the best fit overall, and I was willing to explore doing dream analysis, and after a bit of reading on my part - therapist shouldn't be affixing meanings to images or scenes themselves, it is part of an exploration of self, plus 'of all the millions of things you see every day, why did your brain pick that one?', it's now become a small part of what works for us to discuss things in talk therapy. Sometimes it's a good way to introduce problems that are nebulous in normal words. Sometimes it helps look at things another way.
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 1:47 PM on August 5, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
But, if it makes you uncomforatable or doesn't seem useful, dump him and find another therapist. Just give him a try first, especially if he seems like a pretty great guy.
posted by Garm at 10:22 AM on August 5, 2011 [4 favorites]