Dreamwork in Psychotherapy: An Invitation to Go Deeper

I have always believed the stories we carry about who we are, what we fear, and what we hope deserve our attention. Most of the time those stories appear in our relationships, our work, or our inner dialogue. However, sometimes, they come to us in dreams.

Dreams can seem random or confusing. They might feel intense or even unsettling. But when a client brings a dream into therapy, I pay close attention. Not because I have a formula to interpret it, but because I see the dream as part of the client’s inner world. It may be expressing something they haven’t yet put into words.

Recently I came across the work of Debra Flics, LCSW, a clinician who uses a Jungian approach to dreamwork. Her writing helped me think more deeply about how dreams function in therapy. As Jung believed, she sees dreams as creative and symbolic expressions of the psyche. They are the clearest expression in symbolic form of what needs to be communicated from the psyche to the dreamer. She asks that our perspective be to respect the language of the dream, and from that can come a deep sense of meaning. That perspective lines up with how I approach therapy in general. We are not looking for one right answer. We are creating space to explore what feels meaningful and what wants our attention.

In Jungian psychology, dreams are not only about processing past events. They often point toward something new. They might show us what is beginning to emerge before we are fully aware of it. A dream about a baby or a stranger at the door might not make immediate sense, but symbolically, it could represent a new part of the self that is ready to grow.

This idea reflects something I see often in my work. Change usually begins before we are consciously aware of it. We feel uncomfortable or unsettled. Our emotions shift. The dream reflects that shift before it becomes clear in waking life. In this way, dreams can act as early signals of inner movement.

Some dreams feel poetic. Others feel jarring. Nightmares, in particular, often bring up fear or confusion. But even the most difficult dreams can carry meaning. A Jungian approach asks us to approach dreams with curiosity instead of judgment. If we do so, we may discover that what looks frightening is also protective or symbolic. We can ask questions like, “What might this image be trying to express?” or “What part of you might this figure represent?” Often, we find that the dream is pointing to a deeper need. Not just fear, but a longing for change or safety or clarity.

This way of working with dreams is similar to how I approach attachment stories. The unconscious does not give us clear-cut explanations. It speaks in metaphors and images. Whether it is a dream or an emotional reaction during the day, the question is the same. What does this tell me about how I see myself? What does it reveal about what I need or fear?

You don’t have to remember every detail of your dreams for them to be helpful. Many dreams will appear to be unintelligible when we first recall them. But as Debra describes, If we stick with them, take a curious and receptive approach, and allow the images to ‘speak’ to us, their meaning can become clear. If we can ‘listen’ to the dream with curiosity and patience, it can become a powerful way to understand ourselves more fully.

If you are curious about how your dreams may be guiding you, or how unconscious patterns are shaping your relationships and work, we can explore that together. At Values Aligned Therapy, based in New York and licensed in both New York and Florida, I work with clients who want to better understand themselves and create meaningful change. If you are interested in learning more about a Jungian approach to dreamwork specifically, I encourage you to read the work of Debra Flics. Her thoughtful and creative perspective opens the door to deeper insight and healing.

Sometimes the parts of us we most need to hear from do not speak in words. They speak in images, like a symbolic poem made just for us. When we respect what these images have come to tell us, we can gain deep insight into our lives and a greater sense of meaning.