Shrinkle #17 · Classic idea · 5 letters
Dream analysis
Dream analysis is the idea that dreams can reveal hidden wishes, worries or feelings. Scientists still debate what dreams are for, but many people find thinking about them a useful way to reflect.
In the room
Some people keep a notebook by the bed and jot down dreams on waking, then notice which feelings or themes keep coming up.
Something a client might say
“I keep having the one where my teeth fall out right before an exam.”
An illustrative line, not a real client.
Online vs in the room
Online dream dictionaries promise that each symbol, like falling teeth, has one fixed meaning. In therapy, if dreams are explored at all, the focus is on what the images mean to that particular person.
Where it comes from
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung both saw dreams as a window into the unconscious mind.
Related ideas
The unconscious · Sleep · Nightmares
Made by Alembic Labs. Educational, not clinical advice.