How to work with dreams in psychodrama: developmental therapy from an existential-dialectical viewpoint. 1995

L M Verhofstadt-Denève
University of Ghent, Belgium.

As Moreno has shown, the method of psychodrama can be effectively used to work on dreams. The first part of this article describes the theoretical framework. Special reference is made to a personality model based on self-reflection in relation to dialectic processes, existential questions, self-evaluations, and personality development. The theoretical introduction is followed by a description of the basic elements, techniques, and stages associated with classic psychodrama and psychodramatic dream work. After situating this approach in the wider context of dream analysis in the field of group therapy, the different stages of the working model are illustrated by means of a "dream session" conducted with an adolescent therapy group. Finally the session is analyzed from the perspective of a number of basic Morenian tenets and from the point of view of developmental therapy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007602 Jungian Theory A theoretical psychoanalytical system centered around symbols of the unconscious with the unconscious material derived from two sources - the personal unconscious (repressed or forgotten experiences, thoughts and feelings) and the collective or objective unconscious (the universal inherited qualities which dispose individuals to behave in ways similar to their ancestors). Theory, Jungian
D008297 Male Males
D010553 Personality Development Growth of habitual patterns of behavior in childhood and adolescence. Development, Personality
D011573 Psychoanalytic Interpretation Utilization of Freudian theories to explain various psychologic aspects of art, literature, biographical material, etc. Interpretation, Psychoanalytic,Psychoanalytical Interpretation,Interpretation, Psychoanalytical,Interpretations, Psychoanalytic,Interpretations, Psychoanalytical,Psychoanalytic Interpretations,Psychoanalytical Interpretations
D011577 Psychodrama Primarily a technique of group psychotherapy which involves a structured, directed, and dramatized acting out of the patient's personal and emotional problems. Drama Therapy,Dramatherapy,Therapy, Drama
D011615 Psychotherapy, Group A form of therapy in which two or more patients participate under the guidance of one or more psychotherapists for the purpose of treating emotional disturbances, social maladjustments, and psychotic states. Group Therapy,Group Psychotherapy,Therapy, Group
D004325 Dreams A series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep which are dissociated from the usual stream of consciousness of the waking state. Nightmares,Dream,Nightmare
D005086 Existentialism Philosophy based on the analysis of the individual's existence in the world which holds that human existence cannot be completely described in scientific terms. Existentialism also stresses the freedom and responsibility of the individual as well as the uniqueness of religious and ethical experiences and the analysis of subjective phenomena such as anxiety, guilt, and suffering. (APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed.) Existential Psychology,Psychology, Existential
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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