Dreams
Freud was known for calling dreams ”the royal road to the unconscious”. Although not the only road, dreams are certainly an effective way of reaching what lies beyond our conscious thoughts. During the day, since we are alert and more guarded, logic and reason reign more often than not. Essentially, we are more equipped and able to ward off anxiety provoking thoughts and feelings while awake. On the contrary, when we are asleep, logic and reason recede into the background. Although disguised and distorted, the unconscious, which logic and reason are often experts at protecting from emerging, is able to seep through into our dreams giving us important information about where we are stuck, what core conflicts are hampering our development, and what issues need working through. I find dreams are a great supplement to the psychoanalytic process, as they often help to piece together the puzzles of a picture slowly emerging by talking alone. In addition, dreams are sometimes ahead of the game, in the sense that they lend information one might not be privy to through conscious awareness and analysis. Although, I find dreams to be helpful, I do not require patients to bring them into session and think a successful analysis can be conducted without them, as there are many “royal roads” to the unconscious.