Waking Up To Dream Therapy 

Dream groups have been described as a blend of psychology, mysticism and poetry. The groups usually meet regularly to share their dreams. After a dream is related, participants are encouraged to share any feelings or associations evoked by the dream; the dreamer, however, is never told by others what their dream might mean. Some groups work with a professional therapist, while others do not find this necessary. All participants agree to keep the contents of their meetings confidential.

Dreams can be a barometer of our emotional lives, letting us know if we are paying attention to crucial parts of ourselves. Important issues can be brought to the surface by being dramatized symbolically in dreams. People often become wrapped up in the details of life, such as doing the laundry, meeting work deadlines, etc., and never take time to focus on the bigger issues. In dream groups, people deal with big questions, such as, whether they are meeting their life goals, or whether they should remain in a relationship. Participants sometimes claim that they achieve results equal to or better than regular therapy. 

Besides fostering self-awareness, dream groups allow people to relate to each other at a deeper level than usually occurs in most social interactions. 

About three-quarters of dream group attendees are women. Perhaps due to hormonal differences, women seem to be naturally more connected with the dreaming world than men, remembering their dreams in more detail and talking more about them. When estrogen and progesterone levels are high, women dream more often than at other times in their cycle, recalling their dreams more clearly than usual. Women also dream more during pregnancy.

Based on information in: American Health, April 1997