Dream Analysis - Psychodynamic Approach 🧊

Why might the client use a dream diary?

To allow them to accurately report their dream to the therapist, as dreams are easily forgotten. The diary would be kept by their bed so they could record the dream as soon as they wake

Aims of dream analysis

-To bring the unconscious to the conscious
-To uncover the latent content of a dream and offer insight into psychological issues

What is manifest content?

The dream as described by the client (the story of the dream)

What is latent content?

The underlying meaning of the dream

What is dreamwork?

The process of transferring the latent content of the dream into manifest content. It is the therapists job to reverse this process to uncover the latent content of the dream

What are the main processes of dreamwork?

Condensation, Displacement, Symbolism, Secondary elaboration

What is condensation?

Many elements that make up the latent content of the dream may be represented by one image/picture

What is displacement?

The emotional significance of the dream object is displaced onto another object or person to protect our conscious mind (censored/disguised).

What is symbolism?

Any significant features of a dream may be replaced by a symbol

What is secondary elaboration?

Fitting all of the items of a dream together to make sense, giving it a logical story. This can also be mixed into real life past events to further disguise the latent content of the dream

What would the process of dream analysis involve?

-The client would recall their dream to the therapist (using their dream diary to help)
-Dreamwork is used to understand the dream
-The therapist then reverses the dreamwork process to uncover the latent content.
-The therapist will provide multiple interpretations of the dream for the client to choose