Common Factors Leading to a Universal Approach to Dreamwork: A Qualitative Analysis
L. Ellis
Dreaming March 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1037/drm0000098 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | The analysis identifies a shift in Western dreamwork toward experiential and collaborative methods and away from dreamworker interpretation. It finds general agreement on main practices across 14 approaches, except over associations and others' projections, which some see as helpful and others as leading too far from the original dream content. The author proposes a universal method for working with dreams. |
Abstract
Using 2 texts that survey the most prevalent current Western Euro-based dreamwork modalities, this qualitative analysis identifies common factors in dreamwork techniques. The results show a clear movement toward experiential and collaborative methods and away from interpretation by the dreamworker. The study found general agreement about the main dreamwork practices among the 14 approaches surveyed, except with respect to the use of associations and others’ projections, which some see as helpful and others see as leading too far from the original dream content. This analysis led to a proposed universal method for working with dreams.