Dreams Without Disguise: The Method
of Dream-Centered Dream Analysis
Dr. Jerry L. Jennings
is Vice President of Clinical Services for Liberty Healthcare.
Since completing clinical training at the University of
Pennsylvania, he has practiced for twenty years. He has taught
psychology at Temple University and Osteopathic Medical College of
Philadelphia and published nearly 30 articles across diverse
topics, including dream analysis and creative imagination.
Abstract
Most methods of dream
interpretation explicitly or implicitly presume that dream images
are “disguised” expressions of unconscious and/or conscious
desires, feelings and complexes. Whether it is the classical
psychoanalytic view that dream images conceal forbidden and
unacceptable desires, or more contemporary methods for analyzing
the content of dreams, nearly every approach presumes that: (1)
dreams are a peculiarly “different” medium of meaningful human
experience that is not readily understood, which therefore (2)
requires some process of review or analysis to be understood or
appreciated. It is certainly good that so many people believe that
dreams are not nonsense and that dreams hold important meaning for
their dreamers. However, the problem is the enduring presumption
that this peculiar medium needs to be “translated” into a
conscious form that can understand or appreciate the value and
meaning of the dream. In other words, there is a continuing
presumption that the meaning of dreams is, more or less,
“disguised” and needs to be somehow “revealed.” Depending on the
approach, this so-called “disguised” meaning could be considered
the intentional work of unconscious defenses or merely the
unintentional awkwardness of the peculiar imagistic language of
dreams.
Dream-centered dream analysis asserts the opposite, but
paradoxical, presumption that dream images are so obvious and
undisguised that the dreamer misses their direct meaning.
Dream-centered dream analysis is designed to allow the dream
images to “speak” in their own right, by giving the dream greater
authority than the dreamer to assert that meaning. In this
methodology, the person re-experiences his/her dream in its
original, natural chronology, allowing each dream image to convey
its very specific and personal meaning directly to the dreamer –
whereupon the dreamer can then affirm or verify that meaning.
Thus, for example, in traditional dream analysis, the dreamer
might try to figure out the “disguised” meaning of an asparagus.
In dream-centered approach, the asparagus re-appears to the
dreamer, and re-expresses itself in its original unique way,
whereupon the dreamer can then recognize that, “Yes, that is what
the asparagus is.”
Following a brief explanation of the theory and method of
dream-centered dream analysis, the workshop presenter will
demonstrate the method and techniques using an actual dream from a
volunteer participant(s): First, the dreamer describes the dream.
Then the “therapist” facilitates the re-experience of the dream.
The dreamer begins at the beginning of the dream, and then moves
through each dream image in its original chronology, recalling as
much detail as possible. The therapist keeps the dreamer focused
on the dream by helping the dreamer to re-enter a dream-like state
and by avoiding digressions into related waking-life events and
issues. The therapist continually reflects the dream images back
to the dreamer and/or uses a variety of simple techniques that
enable the dreamer to gain another vantage point on dream images.
In this way, the dreamer is better able to perceive and affirm the
direct personal meaning of each dream image. The demonstration
will be followed by discussion, clarification and questions.
