The Role of Dreams in the Assessment and Analysis of Mental Health Conditions from the Perspective of Mental Health Practitioners

• Main Authors: Dampil, Jemina Ranzel V., Fernando, Cyrene Gabrielle S., Nuestro, Quinn Kirsten M.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: dreams; unconscious; dream analysis; mental health conditions; mental health practitioners
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2021/paper_ghi/1; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/1651/viewcontent/GHDI__The_Role_of_Dreams_in_the_Assessment_and_Analysis_of_Mental_Health.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Studies have proven that a person’s dreams and mental health condition have a connection with each other. In fact, major dream theories such as Freud’s and Jung’s have been the basis of practitioners in studying dreams. The purpose of this research is to explore the role of dreams in the assessment and analysis of mental health conditions. Moreover, this study focuses on the experiences and practices done by mental health practitioners with regards to their patient’s dreams. In this qualitative study, the researchers interviewed five mental health practitioners in the Philippines, specifically licensed psychologists and psychiatrists, given that they have the most experience in handling patients with mental health conditions. Through the semi-structured interviews with mental health practitioners, things such as the frequency of dream usage, its link to a person's conscious life, and what kinds are further examined were discussed. Dreams have also been described as an indicator for additional assessment, with the practitioners basing their chosen methods on the needs of their patients.