Dissertation Title:

The Role of Dreams in Processes of Change in Psychotherapy: Phenomenological Study

Candidate:

Ciara Murray-Young

Date, Time & Place:

October 27, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Room A, Ladera Lane campus


Abstract

In the literature and research on processes of change in psychotherapy the role of the unconscious has received little attention, more specifically there is almost a complete absence of research on the role of dreams in processes of change. In an attempt to respond to this neglect this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study explored the role of dreams in processes of change in psychotherapy as experienced by 8 Jungian analysts who were also clinical psychologists. The clinical experience of the clinicians in the research ranged from 25- 60 years of clinical practice. This study focused particularly on theses clinicians’ experiences of working with clients’ earliest recalled dreams, recurring dreams, clients’ initial dreams, transference in client dreams, and countertransference in their own dreams. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, the interviews were transcribed, and an interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted on the data to discover the superordinate and subthemes contained in the interviews. Five superordinate and 18 subthemes emerged. The findings reflect the experience of change through dreams for both clients and clinicians, on how dreams facilitate change, unique aspects of dreams in Jungian psychotherapy, therapeutic contraindications for dream work, and reasons for the absence of dream work in clinical psychology. The results of this study contribute to clinicians’ understanding of the role dreams can play in processes of change in psychotherapy.

Note

Please note:  Parking is available on the Ladera Lane campus, therefore shuttle service is not available.

Details
  • Program/Track/Year: Clinical Psychology, Track OP, 2013
  • Chair: Dr. Oksana Yakushko
  • Reader: Dr. Joseph Cambray
  • External Reader: Dr. August Cwik
  • Keywords: Dreams, Processes Of Change, Psychotherapy, Jungian Psychotherapy