The Meaning of Dreams: The
Storytelling Method of Dream Interpretation
Dr. Tereasa L. DeCicco is
an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Trent University in
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, specializing in personality,
abnormal psychology, health and dreams, and dreaming. Research and
applied interests include personality, health and dreams,
prodromal dreaming and continuity dreams from the waking state to
the dream symbols.
Abstract
Dream interpretation has had a
long history across many cultures, yet the meaning of one’s dreams
is often still perplexing to the dreamer. Authors have speculated
that dream images can be anything from God’s messages to reworking
unresolved emotional tensions.
A
current theory of dreams as described by the continuity
hypothesis, states that dreams reflect aspects of the dreamer’s
waking life. This hypothesis was adopted by Bell and Hall (1971)
after their research revealed that major waking life circumstances
were reflected in dream images. Since their original work,
considerable supportive research followed. Given these findings,
dream interpretations can bridge dream images to the dreamer’s own
waking life and provide valuable insight into waking day
circumstances. Jung (1964) describes dream images as the theatre
in which the dreamer is himself the scene, the player, the
prompter, the producer, the author and the public. The dreamer is
creating imagery from his or her own personality and life
experience.
The
Storytelling Method is a new method that helps the dreamer
discover how dream images directly relate to personal life
circumstances. The method guides the dreamer to translate core
images to conscious meanings. Following from previous dream work
such as amplification, the Delaney method and the Ullman method,
core dream images are said to have a deeper meaning and are in the
dreamer’s own context. Ullman also notes that “safety” and
“discovery” are key factors when working with dreams since the
dreamer is exposing personal information. Safety must be
incorporated into any dream interpretation. Discovery then occurs
when the dreamer discovers something meaningful about his or her
own life.
There
are 5 steps to the technique and the dreamer is provided a
worksheet to follow through the steps. In step 1 the dreamer
records the dream in full sentences. In step 2 the dreamer circles
the word that is the most important word in the sentence. These
words reflect core images. Step 3 involves writing out the circled
words. In step 4, a word association is conducted for each word.
In step 5 a short story is made with the associated words. If
discovery occurs, the story will reflect some aspect of the
dreamer himself or a waking life circumstance.
After
5 pilot studies, three studies were conducted (N=52, N=55, N=56)
in order to improve on the technique’s usability. The final
worksheet from Study 3 resulted in a significant correlation
between discovery and waking life events for the participants. The
technique was found to be a brief and practical method, useful for
therapy or dream groups. At a 2-month follow-up, 54% of
participants reported still using the technique. Most importantly,
this method can get people started on dream work and can also be
used in dream programs along with other techniques such as the
Delaney or Ullman methods, to provide a repertoire of techniques
for dreamers. The Storytelling Method is a simple and practical
method enabling dreamers to benefit from important dream
information in their everyday lives.
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