Relational Interpretation of Dreams: When it's About More Than Your Mother

This book explores the use of dreams as a tool in psychotherapy to provide meaning, establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship, and enhance and progress treatment. It includes interviews with four eminent dream researchers and scholars and describes how dreams provide a foundation for relating, provide a container for the unthought known, create meaning through relationships, and foster dispersion of relational dynamics. It is ideal for students and clinicians looking for additional and alternate ways to connect with patients.

Format: Hardback
Length: 62 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the fascinating realm of dreams, exploring their profound role in psychotherapy. By harnessing the power of dreams, therapists can offer clients a unique avenue for self-discovery, emotional healing, and personal growth. Through in-depth interviews with renowned dream researchers and scholars, the book sheds light on the intricate connections between dreams and relationships, highlighting their potential to facilitate therapeutic change.

The author emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between dreams and relationships, recognizing that dreams provide a rich source of information and insights into a client's inner world. Dreams can reveal deep-seated fears, desires, and conflicts, offering a window into the client's emotional landscape. By incorporating dreams into the therapeutic process, therapists can gain a deeper understanding of their clients' experiences and help them work through challenging issues more effectively.

One of the key themes of the book is the idea that dreams can serve as a foundation for relating. Dreams offer a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their relationships with others, including their therapists. Through dreamwork, clients can gain a new perspective on their relationships and develop more empathy and understanding for their partners and loved ones. This can lead to improved communication and more fulfilling relationships in both personal and professional contexts.

Another important aspect of the book is the role of dreams in providing a container for the unthought known. Dreams often contain symbols and images that carry profound meaning and can be difficult to interpret. By working with dreams, therapists can help clients decode these symbols and gain a deeper understanding of their unconscious thoughts and feelings. This can lead to increased self-awareness and self-compassion, as well as a greater sense of coherence and integration in the client's overall personality.

Dreams can also create meaning through relationships. The dreams of individuals in close relationships often reflect the dynamics and tensions within that relationship. By exploring these dreams together, therapists can help clients gain a deeper understanding of their relationships and develop strategies for resolving conflicts and improving communication. This can lead to more fulfilling and lasting relationships, both in personal and professional contexts.

From a relational psychoanalytic perspective, the book describes the role of dreams in shaping our relational living. Dreams can serve as a mirror of our interpersonal relationships, reflecting our unconscious desires, fears, and conflicts. By working with dreams, therapists can help clients gain a deeper understanding of their relational patterns and develop strategies for navigating complex social situations more effectively.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the use of dreams in psychotherapy. By leveraging the power of dreams, therapists can offer clients a unique and powerful tool for self-discovery, emotional healing, and personal growth. Whether you are a student of psychotherapy or a clinician seeking new approaches to connect with your patients, this book is a valuable resource that will deepen your understanding of the therapeutic potential of dreams.

Weight: 212g
Dimension: 142 x 222 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367754150