Therapist perspectives on their dreams about clients: a qualitative investigation.
The authors interviewed eight experienced therapists regarding their dreams about clients and analyzed the transcribed interview data using consensual qualitative research. Results indicated that dreams typically were about difficulties with clients, intense personal concerns, and negative interpersonal interactions. Therapists used multiple methods to work with the dreams and made gains in insight focusing on countertransference or overidentification and the need to make fundamental changes in the therapeutic relationship or in the therapist's life. On the basis of the insight, therapists made changes in the treatment of the dreamed-about clients and in their personal lives. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Spangler
Patricia
P
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. pspangler@psyc.umd.edu
Hill
Clara E
CE
Mettus
Carol
C
Guo
Ashley Huajing
AH
Heymsfield
Linda
L
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003469:Culture; D004325:Dreams; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations