Abstract

Dream imagery presents a special opportunity to lead patient and analyst through the patient's network of memories to the discovery of unconscious memories that have complicated and interfered with the patient's attempts to resolve important life problems. This is an important, perhaps indispensable, first step on the way to successful working through to solutions that are more rational and realistic than the neurotic symptoms that brought the patient to treatment in the first place. Theoretical and empirical rationales are presented for a technical approach to dreams that takes full advantage of the special opportunities that working with dream imagery provides: for deepening the psychoanalytic process and for acquainting the patient with principles of mental function applicable to aspects and phases of the analytic process that he/she will encounter as the work progresses.