Therapist Dreams about Clients

Abstract

Little empirical research has been conducted on therapist dreams about clients. The purpose of the current study was to learn more about this phenomenon, with a focus on four specific areas: (1) themes that occur in such dreams, (2) the meaning therapists make of the dreams, (3) what methods therapists use for gaining understanding of these dreams, and (4) what uses therapists make of their understanding. The consensual qualitative research method was used to analyze transcripts of interviews with 8 experienced therapists. Results indicated that the dreams typically had primarily negative interpersonal patterns, deepened therapist awareness of a known issue; therapists used multiple methods to work with the dreams; and therapists used their understanding of the dream in deciding how to proceed with the case. Specific meaning of the dreams included signals of unmanaged countertransference and indications to make fundamental changes in the therapeutic relationship or the therapist's life.