Working With Dreams in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy - A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies
March 25, 2026 Anna-Marie Ragaller, Lea Teresa Kaubisch, Corinna Reck et al. preprint
Working with dreams in child and adolescent psychotherapy can support emotional stabilization, reduce nightmares, and enhance coping, according to a systematic review of 39 studies involving 1,495 participants published from 1960 to 2025. Psychodynamic approaches addressed unconscious conflicts, fears, and relational experiences, while cognitive-behavioral methods targeted nightmares and anxiety. Other interventions, including lucid dreaming and EMDR, appeared promising for nightmares and trauma-related symptoms. However, the strength of evidence is limited by small samples, lack of controls, and insufficient blinding. Methodologically robust studies are needed to substantiate these effects and implement them in clinical practice.