MAKING CONNECTIONS IN A SAFE PLACE - IS DREAMING PSYCHOTHERAPY

Many similarities are noted between the process of dreaming-especially dreaming in REM sleep-and the process of psychotherapy as usually practiced in the many dynamic psychotherapies deriving from Freud's work. Dreaming and psychotherapy both involve freeing of associations, prevention of ''acting out,'' and making psychological connections in many different senses, all occurring in a safe environment. In REM sleep-the best though not the only setting for dreaming-safety is provided by the bed and by muscular paralysis; in therapy, by the relationship with the therapist (alliance), the setting and the rules of conduct. The essence of this similarity is captured in the phrase ''making connections in a safe place.'' The similarity can be seen particularly clearly in the period following an acute trauma. Dreaming and therapy each give the victim (patient) a safe place in which to work. The work consists of making connections between the trauma and other relevant memories, themes, and issues so that the trauma and its associated disturbing affect are eventually integrated into the patient's life. It is argued that the similarity of dreaming and psychotherapy is not simply an interesting metaphor, but a deeper relationship which can teach us something useful both about therapy and about dreaming, and suggests a ''quasi-therapeutic'' function of dreaming: Dreaming makes connections more broadly and more ''peripherally'' than does typical waking thought; making connections contextualizes the dominant emotions of the dreamer.