Conference paper
DREAMS AND FANTASIES IN PSYCHODYNAMIC GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY OF PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS
Branka Restek-Petrović
; Psychiatric hospital „Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia
Nataša Orešković-Krezler
; Private psychiatric practice, Zagreb, Croatia
Majda Grah
; Psychiatric hospital „Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia
Nina Mayer
; Psychiatric hospital „Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia
Anamarija Bogović
; Psychiatric hospital „Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia
Mate Mihanović
; Psychiatric hospital „Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Work with dreams in the group analysis represents an important part of the analytical work, with insight into unconscious
experiences of the individual dreamer, and his transferrential relations with the therapist, other members of the group, and with the
group as a whole. The way dreams are addressed varies from one therapist to another, and in line with that, members of the group
have varying frequency of dreams. In groups of psychotic patients dreams are generally rarely discussed and interpreted by the
group, with analysis mainly resting on the manifested content.
This paper describes a long-term group of psychotic patients which, after sharing the dreams of several members and daydreams
of one female patient, their interpretation and reception in the group achieved better cohesion and improved communication and
interaction, i.e. created a group matrix. Furthermore, through the content of dreams in the group, traumatic war experiences of
several of the group members were opened and discussed, which brought with it recollections of the traumatic life situations of other
group members. In expressing a daydream, a female member of the group revealed the background for her behaviour which was
earlier interpreted as a negative symptom of the illness.
Keywords
dreams; psychotherapy; group; psychotic disorders
Hrčak ID:
266697
URI
Publication date:
26.8.2013.
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