Conference Agenda

In line with phenomenology, a narrative and dialogical perspective conceptualizes dreams as stories embedded within a wider self-narrative in which different aspects or voices of the self are expressed aiming to make sense of experiences.

The present narrative study involved the analysis of a childhood dream from twenty clients, with each dream being compared to three corresponding autobiographical memories. At least one common theme ran across each client’s self-narratives. More specifically, the findings showed similarities in narrative and dialogical characteristics such as settings (e.g. main characters) and plots (e.g. basic omissions), clients’ voices but also emotions. A sense of agency varied especially when the childhood dream was recurrent. Case illustrations are used to exemplify findings. Themes and theme development are discussed as ways to organize experience over the life span. Working with childhood dreams and early memories can help therapists explore parental/family issues, whereas several techniques can promote clients’ sense of agency.