Patterns in
Dreams in the Second Half of Life, Midlife, Aging, and Dying
Alan B. Siegel, PhD, is
Past President of IASD, current Education Chair and
Editor-Emeritus of IASD’s publication, DreamTime. He
practices psychotherapy and assessment and is Assistant Clinical
Professor, U.C. Berkeley and faculty at Alliant University (CSPP).
He is the author of Dream Wisdom: Uncovering Life’s Answers in
Your Dreams.
Abstract
Beginning at midlife and
continuing until we approach death, dreams reflect profound
developmental changes in identity, relationships, spirituality,
perceptions of health and illness, and mortality. This
lecture/workshop, geared toward mental health and health
practitioners, will explore patterns of dreams and provide
guidelines for exploring dreams in the 2nd half of life. Vignettes
provided by the presenter will be supplemented by dreams of
attendees and their clients.
At mid-life, dreams
begin a transformation that reflects a transformation that
parallels increasing internal perceptions of mortality,
questioning and re-evaluation of values and relationships and
changes in identity, body image and spirituality. Exploring and
understanding these dreams will assist individuals and caregivers
in helping those at midlife gain reassurance, awareness, and new
perspectives on many aspects of life.
Issues such as body
changes in aging, loss and separations occurring in older
adulthood, life‑altering illnesses, and the finiteness of time are
reflected in dream imagery. Identifying common patterns in these
dreams will help individuals and caregivers provide support and
solace and assist them in transforming fear and loss into greater
meaning as they age and approach death.
Psychotherapists,
health care providers, clergy, hospice workers, dreamworkers and
those who assist older adults in various ways will benefit from an
overview of common dreams themes and their meaning. This will
allow them to guide older adults and to understand their needs and
orient formal and informal support and treatment strategies as
well as providing insight and guidance to dreamers and care
providers.
To supplement dreams
and themes outlined by the presenter, and to make the presentation
more lively and relevant, participants will have an opportunity to
share dreams from their lives or professional practices. Dreams
that are shared will be briefly discussed and not worked on
in-depth.
