Dreaming together is an important element of the therapy of the English psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion. It means the analysis of dreams by the patient and the therapist, taking into account both night dreams and daydreams. It serves to reach thoughts, feelings and needs that have been repressed from consciousness, which, according to Bion, is essential for the healing process and mental development.
The role of dreams in Bion’s therapy
Wilfred Bion, as a psychoanalyst, assumed that the content hidden in the unconscious has a significant impact on human well-being and functioning, and dreams are a very good way to achieve them. According to him, dreaming takes place constantly – both during sleep and in the waking state. Bion even suggested that the patient may not be able to properly distinguish between the state of a true dream and daydreaming images.
In order to take full advantage of the unique possibilities offered by sleep, it is necessary to create such conditions in which it will be possible to dream for the patient. A therapeutic session takes the form of a waking dream, in which memories of various places and events are revealed and intertwined.
Dreaming together allows you to observe how unconscious content is transformed into conscious content, which makes it possible to understand the processing of experiences and your own emotions. The focus here is not only on the content of the dreams themselves, but also on how the patient works through their experiences.
How long does bionic therapy last?
Bionic therapy, like other therapeutic currents that derive from psychoanalysis, is a long-term process. It usually lasts from a few months to several years, depending on the patient’s problems and the goals of therapy.