Dream Therapy For Overcoming Nightmares

CONTENT 

• Dream Therapy For Overcoming Nightmares
• The Main Causes Of Nightmares
• The Connection Between Constant Nightmares And Insomnia
• Why Choose Dream Therapy Over Other Therapeutic Approaches?
• Dream Therapy Sessions

DREAM THERAPY FOR OVERCOMING NIGHTMARES

Dream Therapy is a natural and highly effective approach for overcoming nightmares and has a number of distinct advantages over other approaches including Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and hypnosis. By understanding the symbolic meaning contained within each nightmare, a Dream Therapist can determine exactly what is triggering the nightmares and then can immediately begin the therapeutic dialogue with the individual to begin healing those triggers.

Nightmares (bad dreams) are far more common in adults than most people realise. At least 80% of adults experience one or more nightmares in a year, with somewhere between 5% to 10% of adults experiencing frequent or constant nightmares. The severity of nightmares differs significantly from person to person; from nightmares that do not wake the dreamer but leave a strong feeling of fear and foreboding upon waking, to nightmares that wake the dreamer in a genuine state of terror & fear and can include night terrors.

As a Dream Therapist & Dream Interpreter, I have been working intensively in the dream-space for over 10 years. I have studied both Jungian & Depth Psychology extensively and so the branch of Dream Therapy I practice is Jungian Dream Therapy. Please see my About Page and Results Page for more information. 

Most of my work is with people who are experiencing constant nightmares, anywhere from one or two nightmares per week to multiple nightmares every night. The key to Dream Therapy’s effectiveness with treating nightmares, is that unlike other therapeutic approaches, our focus includes understanding the actual psychological content of the nightmares themselves. Each nightmare/ bad dream contains important symbols and narratives that help the therapist further understand what archetypal content in the subconscious is actually triggering the nightmare in the individual. 

After careful analysis and interpretation of at least 3 to 5 nightmares that the person has experienced, I can then target the right therapeutic dialogue pathway with the individual. Over a number of sessions, this will gradually reduce the potency of their nightmares until they are replaced with more positive dreams. Importantly, the individual will very likely begin to see positive changes in their dreaming experience within 1 or 2 sessions.

THE MAIN CAUSES OF NIGHTMARES

In working with nightmares/bad dreams over the last 10 years, these are the most common causes that I have encountered:

• Both childhood and adult trauma
• PTSD
• Depression & anxiety
• Substance abuse – alcohol and recreational drugs
• Frequent watching of high levels of horror and violent media content. This includes movies/series and computer gaming
• Social isolation resulting in a lack of positive relationships / friendships. Social media is increasingly activating this isolation.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NIGHTMARES AND INSOMNIA

Insomnia and nightmares are deeply interconnected, potentially forming a cyclical relationship where one exacerbates the other. It is only natural for people who experience terrifying nightmares to have a fear or resistance to falling asleep, and this can then lead to insomnia. Insomnia is complex, but if you currently have insomnia and you are experiencing nightmares, it is highly likely that overcoming your nightmares will reduce, or potentially eliminate your insomnia.

WHY CHOOSE DREAM THERAPY OVER OTHER THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES?

Why choose Dream Therapy over other therapeutic approaches such as Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or hypnosis? Because Dream Therapy and in particular Jungian Dream Therapy, is a deeper, more human approach that is based on transforming the negative subconscious content that is generating the nightmares, rather than manipulating the subconscious in some other way.

Dream Therapy values and works with both the outer personality of the individual, as well as the subconscious which is where dreams and nightmares are created while we sleep. Jungian Psychology understands that human behaviour and personality are in-part, shaped by the subconscious forces and internal conflicts. No one wants negative subconscious forces and internal conflicts in their lives, but nightmares clearly indicate that they exist strongly enough within the individual to be generating nightmares.

Nightmares / bad dreams are subconscious stories and cannot be understood in the same way that we understand traditional stories and themes. What sets Jungian Dream Therapy apart from other approaches, is that we can accurately interpret and understand subconscious generated dream and nightmare content. (Please see the introduction video further below). While dreams and nightmares often seem bizarre to people, they are not bizarre to someone who has studied Jungian Psychology. Once we have interpreted the nightmares accurately and gained some important insights from the individual’s own history, this will lead us to the deeply human work of together working through the subconscious content of what is causing the nightmares. As difficult and painful as nightmares are, the silver-lining is that if properly interpreted and understood, nightmares always point the way clearly as to what needs to be understood and healed within the subconscious. 

DREAM THERAPY SESSIONS

Dream Therapy is not purely an intellectual based approach. Working with the root causes of nightmares is deeply human work with compassion, empathy and intuition at the forefront of my sessions.

Before a first Dream Therapy session, I ask people to send through up to 5 nightmares that they have experienced – particularly recent ones. If the nightmares contain difficult personal moments, they can be generalised, leaving out anything particularly difficult and graphic. Receiving the nightmares ahead of the session allows me to review and interpret them thoroughly and prepare the session to ensure you get the most out of it.

I run all my Dream Therapy sessions using Zoom. Using Zoom is easy and works incredibly well, including the benefits of being a very secure program and being able to discuss personal matters in the comfort of your own home.

In Dream Therapy, when working with nightmares / bad dreams, it is very likely that you will see measurable, positive responses within 1 or 2 sessions. Multiple sessions are usually required to overcome nightmares and the number of sessions required will depend on the individual and the severity of the root causes of the nightmares / bad dreams. 

An initial Dream Therapy Session is a 2 hour session and the cost is $140 AUD. Follow-up sessions go for 90 minutes and the cost is $120 AUD. To book a session or if you have any questions regarding Dream Therapy, please visit my Contact Page