How to Use Dreamwork in Your Sessions

An uninterpreted dream is like an unopened letter.

-  The Talmud

Incorporating dream work into spiritual direction, coaching or counseling is a natural way to help your clients gain access to the Divine and salient messages that dwell within and without. But if you’re not familiar with dreams and dream work methods, dream exploration can feel like strange terrain.

If you want to incorporate dream work into your private practice, get started with the following techniques:

1. Have your client share her dream with you by describing it in the present tense and giving as much detail as possible. Have her tell it to you as though she is sharing a story, not like she’s giving a description of something that happened in the past. This keeps the dream alive, helping you and your client connect with the feeling of the scenario.

2. Have your client give the dream a title, something that captures the essence of the dream. It can be as long as a few sentences, like a caption in a newspaper article.
After your client has finished sharing her dream, ask clarifying questions.

3. Realize that you and the dreamer now have a unique experience of the dream. Perhaps state this out loud.

4. Ask the dreamer how she felt when she woke up and how she feels now in the retelling of the dream.

5. If you have ideas about what the subjects and objects of the dream mean use the “If it were my dream” language made popular by dream worker Jeremy Taylor. In essence, reference all dream related thoughts in the first person and say, “If it were my dream, X means this…” or “I really feel uncomfortable in this situation (referring to the dream). If it were my dream, I’d want to get out of that room.” This type of language lets the dreamer decide what is true for her. Never impose your thoughts onto a dreamer by telling them outright what their dream means.

6. If you are not comfortable with symbolism, simply explore the feelings the dreamer has as she reflects on her dream scenes. Ask if she’s felt these feelings in waking life. If she has, have her explain the waking life situation to you. Or, perhaps you can sit in silence as she goes within and reconnects with the feelings. Ask her where in her body she feels the feelings. Continue to ask questions about her responses. Allow space for silence so the two of you can observe the dreamer’s responses.

7. Using crayons, have the dreamer create a simple drawing of the emotions she feels relative to the dream, or have her create a literal representation of a dream scene. The two of you can refer to the drawing as you contemplate the dream scenario.