Introduction To Dream Therapy

This blog series is about my experiences as A Dream Therapist and how Dreams can transform us if we only pay attention to the messages they bring. I hope to share stories of True events that will inspire you and grow your faith as well as increase your knowledge about DREAMS. I hope that by sharing my experiences as a dream therapist and one who has been transformed by Dreams, you too will have a better understanding of their symbolic messages, their spiritual meaning and so much more. Acknowledging your dreams is the first step to self-discovery and purpose.

I began my private practice as a Christian Counselor in 1992 just after graduating from college with my Doctorate. I completed my internship at a Psychiatric hospital in Florida and worked part-time at church groups as a consultant. There were few Christian Counselors at the time and Church leaders were looking for answers about how to help counsel their parishioners.

What is a Dream Therapist

A dream therapist is a professional who helps you explore and understand the meaning of your dreams. Dream therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses dreams as a source of insight into your subconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires. By analyzing your dreams with a dream therapist, you may be able to discover hidden aspects of yourself, resolve emotional conflicts, enhance your creativity, and improve your well-being. Dream therapy can also help you cope with nightmares, trauma, anxiety, and other mental health issues that may affect your sleep quality and your waking life.

Biblical counseling and secular counseling are two different approaches to helping people with their problems. The main difference is the source of knowledge and authority they rely on. Biblical counseling uses God’s word as the ultimate guide, while secular counseling uses human wisdom and science as the basis. I would not say that one is better than the other, but if combined, success is greater. There are mental health issues that can’t be explained by the church, and there are spiritual issues that can’t be explained by science, but both are just as important. As a counselor, I incorporated holistic healing (before it became a thing) and added Dream therapy as well.

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life.

What is Dream Therapy?

Dream therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses dreams as a source of insight into the subconscious mind. Dream therapy can help people understand their emotions, relationships, goals, and challenges by interpreting the symbols, themes, and messages that appear in their dreams.

Dream therapy is based on the assumption that dreams are not random or meaningless, but rather reflect the inner workings of the psyche. Dreams can reveal hidden aspects of one’s personality, fears, desires, conflicts, and potential. By analyzing dreams with the help of a therapist, one can gain a deeper understanding of oneself and one’s life situation.

Dream therapy can have various benefits for mental health and well-being, such as:

Enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills
Improving mood and self-esteem
Resolving trauma and emotional issues
Finding meaning and purpose in life
Developing personal growth and transformation

Dream therapy can be done individually or in groups, depending on the preference and needs of the client. The process of dream therapy typically involves the following steps:

Recording dreams in a journal or a voice recorder as soon as possible after waking up
Sharing dreams with the therapist in a safe and supportive environment
Exploring the personal and universal meanings of the dream symbols, images, and events
Relating the dreams to the current issues and goals of the client
Applying the insights and lessons learned from the dreams to the waking life

Dream therapy can be combined with other therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, or humanistic therapy, to provide a holistic and comprehensive treatment. Dream therapy can also be integrated with other modalities, such as art therapy, music therapy, or hypnotherapy, to enhance the expression and understanding of the dream content.

Dream therapy is not a one-size-fits-all method, but rather a personalized and flexible one. Each dream is unique and has different meanings for different people. Therefore, dream therapy does not rely on fixed interpretations or rules, but rather on the individual’s associations and intuitions. The therapist’s role is not to tell the client what their dreams mean, but rather to guide them in discovering their meanings and solutions. Dreams are a message to you, about you (most often) therefore the therapist mustn’t make assumptions without first consulting the dreamer.

Dream therapy can be a rewarding and enlightening experience for anyone who is interested in exploring their subconscious mind and improving their mental health. If you want to learn more about dream therapy and how it can help you, you can find some helpful resources online.

In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams. -Acts 2:17

In 1978 John Sanford wrote a book called, “Dreams and Healing” and then wrote “Dreams: God’s forgotten Language,” in 1989. His books put me on a quest to research more about dreams and their messages which eventually became a full-time passion.

I began using Dream interpretation and Dream Therapy along with Biblical principles and other modalities as part of my counseling sessions. Ultimately it was the voice of God that gave me insight into what the interpretation was regarding the dreams of each client. Online, my clients knew me as the “Spiritual Dream Doctor.” In my private practice, I was Dr. Kathy.

For a while, dreams became a trend and dream books were published like crazy by established authors and good copywriters who wanted a piece of the trendy pie. I started writing a book about my experiences back in the 90s, but it was rejected by publishers because I was a no-name author and couldn’t afford to self-publish. I figured that now was a good time to tell my story since the TREND has passed about dream interpretation. However, “Dreams are not a trend” and should not be marketed like a Harry Potter series that eventually comes to an end. The Bible says that dreams will increase in the last days which I believe we are currently experiencing. People are dreaming more than ever because God is making his last calls to all those who will pick up the phone to hear his message.

Until next time, keep dreaming.

Dr. Kathy

“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.”

― Carl Gustav Jung