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Abstract:
This qualitative research study explored the experience of clients in classical Jungian dream analysis due to a paucity of outcome research on Jungian analysis. The study sought to understand the perspectives of clients who participated in classical Jungian dream interpretation. Eight Caucasian participants, 2 males and 6 females, ranging in age from 45 to 64 years, who had been in analysis for 2 to 10+ years, were interviewed. Data collection consisted of a semi-structured interview, the administration of the Dream Activities Scale—Second Revision (Boucek, Crook, & Hill, 2008) and further follow-up interview questions that assessed how particular dream work activities are helpful. Lastly, the study explored how the participants' experiential accounts compare to Jungian theory on both dreams and the affects of Jungian dream work. The experience of the participants offered evidence of dream activation consistent with Jungian theory and provided insight into how dream work activities contribute to the overall process of dream interpretation. Lastly, the participants also discussed how the work impacted multiple areas of their lives, including symptom reduction, self-confidence, self-understanding, authenticity, spirituality, meaning, internal resources, and interpersonal relationships. The discussion reviews the results in the context of Jungian theory, and speculates upon the ways that classical Jungian dream work leads to change. The results also point to possible directions for future dream interpretation research as well as the types of measures useful for future outcome studies on Jungian analysis.
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