The transformative power of dreams in psychotherapy
Current scientific studies and theoretical-methodological reflections
Keywords:
Dream, dream activity, clinical methodology, Maladaptive DaydreamingAbstract
More than a century after The Interpretation of Dreams by Freud, dreams are still of great importance for psychotherapeutic practice today. The intuition that dreams have a role in human psychic life in representing an emotional meaning, and therefore are a valid clinical tool, currently finds support in the knowledge that neuroscience and cognitive experimental psychology provide on memory processes and systems and on the influence that emotions exert on these processes. This knowledge opens new perspectives on understanding the mental phenomenon we call 'dream', considering it a particular form of consciousness. The article presents a brief summary of these developments with the aim of offering a more solid scientific basis to some theoretical and methodological elements, oriented according to a phenomenological perspective, which are valuable for clinical practice. The work is completed by clinical examples and reflections on dream activity in some particular psychological and existential conditions (mourning, pandemic, maladaptive daydreaming).
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