The Counselor's Guide for Facilitating the Interpretation of Dreams

Family and Other Relationship Systems Perspectives

Evelyn M. Duesbury

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9781136920431
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychologie
• Subtopic: Psychothérapie

For both students and practicing counselors, this book fills the gaps that exist between many current academic programs and practitioner's needs for focused training on how to better assist clients with dream interpretations. Its main focus is on dreams concerning family members and other major figures in the dreamer's life with whom he or she interacts. Readers will first learn how to understand and use their own dreams, and then how to apply this in order to facilitate their clients' interpretations of dreams. They will be amazed and fascinated by the issues, emotions, and problem-solving suggestions that are often revealed as they guide their clients' use of a personalized dream interpretation method developed by the author. Through the use of a detailed case example of a client and her dreams, the author shows how each step of this method can be applied and carried out in practice and is easily integrated with contemporary psychotherapies, especially cognitive behavior therapies.

Section II
Personalized Method for
Interpreting Dreams (PMID)

In a few years, after you have interpreted many of your dreams, who will you be then?

Tonight, after you have interpreted this morning’s dream, who will you be then?

INTRODUCTION

Not only has my own use of the Personalized Method for Interpreting Dreams (PMID) model helped me far beyond my greatest expectations, but also, as shown throughout this book, when others have used the PMID model, it has benefited them beyond their expectations. In addition to using the model to alleviate stress arising from relationship issues, we use it to find guidance in most circumstances of our waking lives.

Will the PMID model work for you? Will it work for each person who comes to you for counseling? Only you and your clients as individuals can answer that question. To expand your horizons on the value of dream guidance, I summarize several other dream models (Section I) and explain and demonstrate two other dream interpretation models (Section III).

The PMID model was developed during my thesis research. My thesis achieved recognition as the thesis of the year in 2000 at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.

My colleagues and I refined the PMID model during three additional research projects (Okocha & Duesbury, 2005–2006; Van Doren & Duesbury, 2000, 2005– 2006) and four explorations (Duesbury, Bynum, & Van Doren, 2002, 2003, 2004; Van Doren & Duesbury, 2001). (See Appendix A for results of those projects.) It is significant that the PMID model was used as a stand-alone process in all these projects. It is also significant that information obtained in all projects shows that the model has potential for use with most psychotherapy approaches.

A unique feature of the PMID model is its attention to influences arising from reactions to family and other major relationships in relationship experiences. The systems approach to dream interpretation considers influences, both past and current, arising from our reactions to other people. That is, each member of a family (or other major group) affects and is affected by others to the extent it makes no sense to attempt to understand the individual in isolation. With the PMID model, the dreamer, either facilitated by a counselor or working alone, studies his or her dreams about major relationships instead of meeting with others in the system of relationships to discuss concerns.

Another unique feature in the PMID model is that the dreamer himself or herself selects major phrases from the dream and defines them in the context of the dream. The general definition for phrases as used here is “a string of words.” Strings of words can be phrases, clauses, or whole sentences. The dreamer’s ability to define dream phrases from personal experiences is a significant key to finding meanings in the dream. A combination of intuitive insights and logical reasoning is often needed to develop these meanings.

Each step in the PMID model builds on previous steps. That is, ability to do each step blends with performing the succeeding steps. Each step also has a unique purpose.

PMID Step 1: Connect your previous-day (often the day before) events to the dream to discover the theme of this dream. The events may appear in either symbolic or literal terms in your dream. Write down the appropriate events and record when they occurred. (Chapter 4 explains this step.)

PERSONALIZED METHOD FOR INTERPRETING DREAMS (PMID)

PMID Step 2: Connect your previous-day (often the day before) thoughts to your dream to detect which thoughts may have prompted this dream’s responses.
Like events, your thoughts may appear in your dream in either literal or symbolic terms. Write “I thought” statements and record when you thought them. (Chapter 5 explains this step.)

PMID Step 3: Select and define major dream phrases and symbols from your write-up of this dream to discover the dream’s personalized meanings. Consider effects of your events and thoughts of the day before your dream and earlier experiences on the meaning of each major dream phrase and symbol. The general definition for phrases as used in this step is “a string of words.” The strings of words can be phrases, clauses, or whole sentences. (Chapter 6 explains this step.)

PMID Step 4: Compare your emotions in your dream with your pre-dream, waking-life emotions to discover whether your waking-life emotions accurately reflect how you feel about the issue in this dream. Note that the issue may be a relationship issue. What differences, if any, do you find between your emotions in your dream and your waking-life emotions? It is useful to periodically review your emotions in your dreams regarding the main issue or relationship at hand. (Chapter 7 explains this step.)

PMID Step 5: Explore your dream for possible solutions to problems, including changing (or affirming) your thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors. Consider your responses to each PMID model step, including Step 6, as you search for solutions and suggestions in this dream. Give primary attention to the power of your thoughts before your dream (PMID Step 2) to act as questions that your dream answers. (Chapter 8 explains this step.)

PMID Step 6: Explore your dream for family and other relationship systems perspectives, which are influences arising from reactions to family and other major relationships, both past and current. Use these perspectives to discover whether this dream reflects your reactions during experiences with family members or other important people in your life. Compare and comment on your dreaming and your waking-life reactions to the primary relationships in this dream. (If this dream is not about a relationship, type the words “Not Applicable” in this space.) (Chapter 9 explains this step.)

PURPOSE OF EACH PMID MODEL STEP

The purpose of Step 1 (connect your previous-day events to this dream) is to uncover the theme of the dream, which provides a foundation for the rest of the steps.

The purpose of Step 2 (connect your previous-day thoughts to this dream) is to determine whether the dream responds to any of the dreamer’s pre-dream (often day-before-the-dream) thoughts. Our thoughts are powerful antecedents to our dreams and frequently act as questions that the dream answers.

The purpose of Step 3 (select and define major dream phrases and symbols from your write-up of this dream) is to find personal meanings for phrases (strings of words) taken directly from our recalled dream. Our ability to find personal meanings in our dream phrases frequently overlaps into Steps 4, 5, and 6. For instance, solutions (Step 5) found in our dreams can become apparent while we are interpreting dream phrases. The purpose of Step 4 (compare your emotions in your dream with your pre-dream waking-life emotions about the issue in this dream) is to discover whether the emotions we feel in our dreams about the main issue accurately reflect our waking-life appraisal of how we feel about the main issue. When emotions in dreams and waking-life emotions are in disharmony, this is a clue that the dreamer’s waking-life appraisal of his or her emotions is off target for that issue. But, be aware that dreams exaggerate. We all know that. Disharmony can refer to differences in intensity, direction, and types of emotions.

The purpose of Step 5 (explore your dream for possible solutions to problems, including changing [or affirming] thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors) is to assimilate all the responses from the other steps (including Step 6) to arrive at solutions to problems or issues the dreamer is facing. Solutions and suggestions are often connected to the waking-life events and thoughts that prompted this dream.

The purpose of Step 6 (explore your dream for family and other relationship systems perspectives) is for the dreamer to determine whether the dream contains information about his or her reactions (past or current) during relationship experiences and, if so, how those reactions affect his or her current functioning.

Note that Step 6 is only applicable to dreams about reactions to major relationships. The dreamer’s responses to Step 6 should be considered when completing Step 5.

OVERALL STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF RESEARCH AND EXPLORATIONS OF THE PMID MODEL

The general goal of our PMID research and exploration projects was to increase the availability of professionally researched and explored dream interpretation models. The specific objective of projects beyond my thesis was to examine the efficacy of the PMID model in guiding participants to elicit problem-solving suggestions from their dreams and use those suggestions to alleviate stress. The focus of research was on relationship concerns.

A major strength of the PMID model projects is that they were all longitudinal, and lasting at least 3 months. The investigators in all the PMID model projects were either counselor education faculty members or degreed counselors, which lent credence to the conclusions.

Another strong point in the PMID projects was that both qualitative and quantitative measures were used, with the qualitative measures (the actual data, participants’ dreams and interpretations) given the greater attention. Quantitative results are generally accepted in dream studies.

Qualitative studies are increasingly being given credence. For instance, one aim in Bulkeley’s 2002 study of cultural differences in political ideologies was to “illustrate the fruitfulness of combining quantitative and qualitative modes of investigation. … Statistics … are important, but they do not by themselves tell the full story” (p.).

Advantages of qualitative assessments were presented by Goldman (1992). Qualitative studies, Goldman wrote, help participants become aware of and understand themselves, usually integrate several components of a situation, and tend to operate within a developmental framework and are conducive to intimate counselor–client relationships and flexible and adaptable to varied populations.

The PMID model projects used small sample sizes (ranging from 5 to 17 participants), which allowed me sufficient time to teach, facilitate, and explore individual uses of the model. Time spent on interactions with participants provides confidence in the outcome, although limiting sample sizes can lead to results that are unable to be generalized to other populations.

INSTRUMENTS DEVELOPED DURING THE PMID PROJECTS

Three key instruments were developed for the PMID model projects (see Appendix B for the format of these instruments). In 2000, Van Doren and I developed a screening application to evaluate applicants’ emotional stability to work with their dreams. In 2002, I developed a periodic feedback instrument (PFI) and an emotional change instrument (ECI) to evaluate participants’ self-rated success with the PMID model.

The PFI, which is a series of statements related to the PMID steps, was designed to increase participants’ learning and self-awareness of the level of their success in using the model. Participants used this form to rate their abilities to do each step. Rating is on a 1-to-7 Likert-type scale, with 7 the highest rating.

The ECI is a series of questions designed to increase the dreamer’s awareness of differences between his or her dreaming emotions and pre-dream, waking- life emotions regarding the people in the dreams. We used the ECI as one technique to evaluate each participant’s progress in reducing stress while using the PMID model.

Our use of the screening application began with Van Doren and Duesbury’s (2000) pilot study. Use of the PFI and ECI instruments began with Duesbury and colleagues’ (2002) explorations. Thus, from 2002, participants submitted both qualitative and quantitative data.

QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTED FOR THE PMID PROJECTS

The primary qualitative data were the participants’ dream narratives and their corresponding interpretations. Participants also wrote paragraphs about the major people who appeared in their dreams. Collection was by means of a privately owned Internet Web site. Dreams and interpretations were examined for correct use of the PMID model.

Facilitative feedback was provided for each participant. Qualitative data were analyzed for all projects.

MULTICULTURAL ...

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• TITLE PAGE
• COPYRIGHT PAGE
• FOREWORD
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• ETHICS STATEMENT
• SECTION I: PRELIMINARIES OF DREAM INTERPRETATION
• SECTION II: PERSONALIZED METHOD FOR INTERPRETING DREAMS (PMID)
• SECTION III: TWO BREAKTHROUGH DREAM INTERPRETATION MODELS OF THE LATER 20TH CENTURY
• SECTION IV: CONCLUSIONS
• REFERENCES
• APPENDIX A: THE PMID MODEL RESEARCHED AND EXPLORED
• APPENDIX B: INSTRUMENTS USED BEFORE AND DURING FACILITATION OF CLIENTS’ DREAM INTERPRETATIONS
• APPENDIX C: CAVEAT ON BAD OR WORRISOME DREAMS
• APPENDIX D: THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF TAKING PERIODIC REFRESHING BREAKS FROM INTENSIVE WORK WITH RELATIONSHIP DREAMS
• APPENDIX E: ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN DREAMING
• APPENDIX F: ANSWER KEY FOR CHAPTER QUIZZES